Georgetown, TX Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Sec. 010 makes it unlawful and a nuisance for the owner of any animal, other than a cat, to permit or allow such animal to run at large within the City limits, meaning dogs must be leashed, fenced, or otherwise controlled whenever off their own property. Cats get a narrower rule: it is unlawful only for the owner of a cat that has not been altered or vaccinated for rabies to allow it to run at large, so a spayed/neutered, vaccinated cat is not in violation for roaming.

Beyond leashing, Sec. 040 governs how an owner may physically restrain a dog outside of on-leash walking, veterinary care, grooming, training, or law enforcement activity: a person may not chain or tether a dog unless actually holding the restraint, with the listed exceptions, must attach the restraint to a properly fitting collar or harness rather than wrapping a chain directly around the dog's neck, and cannot use a restraint weighing more than 1/18th of the dog's body weight; the restraint must also be designed and placed so it is unlikely to tangle.

An Animal Control Officer, Police Officer, or designee may impound any animal found at large under Sec. 020, and the animal shelter board sets impoundment fees and reclaim procedures. Repeated at-large violations, along with other nuisance conduct listed in Sec. 090, are reported to the Animal Control Unit for enforcement.