Grand Forks, ND Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Restraint required off premises
- Leash, cord, chain, invisible fence or enclosure, § 11-0121
- Covered public areas
- Streets, sidewalks, parks, bike paths, greenways, private land
- Leash-free park exemption
- Designated dog parks exempt dogs from the leash rule
- Government dog exemption
- Active-duty or training government dogs under officer supervision
- At-large penalty
- 4-day impound, $35 redemption fee, § 11-0112
- Max fine
- $1,000 per incident, City Code § 11-0128
Summary
In the City of Grand Forks, City Code Section 11-0121 requires every dog to be kept under restraint by leash, cord, chain, an electronic or invisible fence, or an enclosure whenever it is off the owner's premises. No person in control of a dog may let it onto a street, sidewalk, park, bike path, greenway or another person's land unless it is effectively restrained.
All dogs shall be kept under restraint either by leash, cord, chain, electronic/invisible fence, or by being kept in an enclosure; provided, however, that all dogs owned or used by local, state or federal governmental bodies, while in active duty or during training, and under the supervision of a peace officer, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. ... No person having the custody or control of any dog shall permit the dog to be within or upon any street, sidewalk, public park, public place, bike path, greenway, or upon any private land belonging to another without the dog being effectively restrained by chain, rope, cord, or other restrictive leash or by an electronic/invisible fence or enclosure effectively preventing such animal from reaching any street, sidewalk, public park, public place, or any private land belonging to another.
Full Breakdown
Section 11-0121 sets the restraint standard in two parts. Subsection (1) requires every dog to be kept under restraint by leash, cord, chain, electronic or invisible fence, or enclosure, with an exemption for dogs owned or used by local, state or federal governmental bodies while on active duty or in training under a peace officer's supervision. Subsection (2) makes it unlawful for anyone with custody or control of a dog to permit it on a street, sidewalk, public park, public place, bike path, greenway or private land belonging to another person unless it is effectively restrained by chain, rope, cord, another restrictive leash, or an electronic or invisible fence or enclosure that keeps the dog off those areas.
Subsection (3) exempts dogs inside an officially designated leash-free dog park, an area the Grand Forks City Council or the Grand Forks Park District can set aside under the definitions in Section 11-0101. A dog that gets loose in violation of Section 11-0121 is also caught by the at-large impoundment rule in Section 11-0112: the Grand Forks Police Department can hold it at the pound for up to four days, and the owner pays a thirty-five dollar fee at the finance department to redeem it, with the license current before release. Section 11-0128 caps the fine for a leash violation at one thousand dollars per incident.
Violations & Fines
Letting a dog off leash, cord, chain or enclosure on a street, sidewalk, park, bike path, greenway or another person's land violates Section 11-0121 and exposes the owner to impoundment under Section 11-0112, plus the thirty-five dollar redemption fee. Section 11-0128 sets the maximum penalty for a leash violation at a fine of up to one thousand dollars per incident on conviction in municipal court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog have to be on a physical leash at all times in Grand Forks?
Where can I legally let my dog off leash in the city?
Are police dogs exempt from the leash requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Forks
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