Goodyear, AZ Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 7-2-9
- Max leash length
- 6 feet
- License tag required
- Dogs over 4 months old
- Minimum pound hold
- 72 hours
- Owner liability
- Full liability for injury/damage
Summary
Goodyear requires every dog off its owner's property to be on a leash, chain, rope or cord no longer than six feet, or confined to a suitable enclosure. City Code § 7-2-9 also requires a valid license tag on any dog over four months old and tightens the rule further inside a declared rabies quarantine area.
(A) In a rabies quarantine area, no dogs shall be permitted at large. Each dog shall be confined within an enclosure on the owner's property, secured so that a dog is confined entirely to the owner's property or on a leash not to exceed six feet in length and directly under the owner's control when not on the owner's property. (B) Any dog over the age of four months running at large shall wear a collar or harness to which is attached a valid license tag. ... (D) Any person whose dog is at large is in violation of this article. A dog is not at large if: (1) The dog is restrained by a leash, chain, rope or cord of not more than six feet in length and of sufficient strength to control action of said dog.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1648, passed April 27, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 7-2-9 governs when a dog is legally 'at large' in Goodyear. Subsection (D) makes it a violation for any dog to be off the owner's property unless it is on a leash, chain, rope or cord no longer than six feet and strong enough to control the dog, or is confined to a suitable enclosure that actually confines it. Subsection (B) adds a second, independent requirement: any dog over four months old must wear a collar or harness carrying a valid license tag whenever it is off the owner's property, with narrow carve-outs for dogs actively working livestock, hunting, competing at a sanctioned kennel club event, or racing under Arizona Racing Commission rules.
During a declared rabies quarantine area under subsection (A), the leash rule tightens further: a dog must be confined entirely to the owner's property or on that same six-foot leash and under the owner's direct control at all times it leaves the property. § 13-3903, and, if the dog is dangerous and cannot be safely impounded, to have it destroyed on the spot. Any dog picked up at large goes to the pound under § 7-2-10 for a minimum 72-hour hold before it can be reclaimed, sold or disposed of.
Violations & Fines
Allowing a dog at large is a misdemeanor under § 7-2-15, carrying the general penalty schedule set out in Article 1-8. Owners are separately liable in full for any injury to a person or damage to property their dog causes while at large, under § 7-2-16, regardless of whether a citation was also issued. A dog running loose is impounded on sight and held a minimum of 72 hours before disposition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can my dog's leash be in Goodyear?
Does my dog need a tag if it's only in my backyard?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Goodyear
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