Hartford, CT Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

(a)No dog shall be permitted to leave the property of its owner, keeper or harborer and run at large in violation of the General Statutes.(b)No dog shall be allowed to leave the confines of its owner, keeper or harborer's property unless the dog has been properly fitted with and is presently wearing a proper dog leash or chain.(c)Similarly, the owner, keeper or harborer of a dog shall be held liable for violation of this section should a third party, who has authorized custodial control of the dog, allow such dog to run at large without a proper dog leash or chain.(d)Any violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00). Any person issued a citation for a violation of the provisions of this section may, within ten (10) days of receipt of the citation, appeal in writing to a citation hearing officer in accordance with section 1-5.(e)The animal control officer of the city, pursuant to the powers vested in him by the General Statutes, shall promulgate all regulations necessary and proper in executing the provisions of this section. The animal control officer and his duly authorized assistants shall have full authority to enforce the provisions of this section. (Code 1977, § 5-2; Ord. No. 22-80, 12-22-80; Ord. No. 99-89, 10-10-89; Ord. No. 23-94, 8-8-94)

State Law reference— Roaming at large generally, G.S. § 22-364.