Gaithersburg, MD Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Under Montgomery County Code Chapter 5, all dogs in Gaithersburg must be kept on a leash or otherwise physically restrained when off the owner's property. The owner or custodian must maintain direct control of the animal at all times in public spaces, including sidewalks, trails, parks, and common areas of apartment and condominium communities. Dogs are not permitted to roam at large under any circumstances. The county code does not specify a maximum leash length, but the handler must be able to control the dog effectively, and retractable leashes are discouraged in high-traffic areas. Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center, located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood, handles enforcement and complaints for all of Gaithersburg. Officers can issue civil citations in the field for leash violations. All dogs over four months of age must carry a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian and be licensed through Montgomery County. The annual license fee is $12 for spayed or neutered dogs and $25 for intact animals. Failure to license a dog is a separate violation carrying its own fine. Dog waste must be picked up immediately and disposed of properly in all public areas, including city parks, the Gaithersburg Greenway trail system, and neighborhood common areas. Gaithersburg parks follow county rules and do not permit off-leash dogs except in designated dog park areas such as the Olde Towne Dog Park on South Frederick Avenue. At designated dog parks, dogs must still be licensed, vaccinated, and supervised at all times by an adult handler. Aggressive dogs must be removed immediately. Maryland does not have a statewide breed-specific ban, and Montgomery County has repealed its former pit bull restrictions, so no breed-specific leash requirements apply in Gaithersburg. However, the county does maintain a dangerous and potentially dangerous animal classification system, and dogs that have bitten or attacked may be subject to additional restraint requirements including muzzling in public.