East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Sec. 14:110 defines a dog as "at large" unless it is inside the owner's home, dog yard, dog pen, primary enclosure or automobile, or restrained by a chain or tether confining it to the owner's property, or on a leash no longer than six feet. A cat is at large unless it is in the owner's home, cat yard, primary enclosure or physical possession. Sec. 14:204(a)(1) makes the owner responsible for confining a dog so it cannot escape and states dogs "shall be kept, at all times, from running at large," while Sec.

14:204(b)(1) applies the same running-at-large ban to cats. Sec. 14:205(a)(2) bars any dog or cat, licensed or not, from running or being at large on any street, road or other public place in the city-parish, and Sec. 14:205(a)(1) requires a leash no longer than six feet (or physical possession for a cat) inside parks, schools, public buildings, airports, bus terminals, hotels and restaurants. The Animal Control and Rescue Center is authorized to patrol and impound animals found at large anywhere in the parish, public or private property, and officers in hot pursuit may follow an animal onto private property to seize it.

Community cats enrolled in the Sec. 14:113 management program are exempt from the at-large ban. Redemption fees for an at-large impoundment escalate under Sec. 14:207: $30 (infertile) or $40 (fertile) for a first infraction, $60/$80 for a second within two years, $120/$160 for a third, and $160 for each subsequent infraction in the same two-year window, on top of daily boarding charges.