Leash rules are set by each Hampshire County town under authority of MGL c.140 §173. Statewide, MGL c.140 §155 makes a dog's owner strictly liable for any damage the dog does, regardless of whether it ever bit before.
Massachusetts empowers each city and town, under MGL c.140 §173, to make its own leash and animal-control bylaws, so leash rules vary: Northampton, Amherst, and South Hadley require dogs restrained or under control off the owner's property. There is no county leash law. The statewide backbone is MGL c.140 §155, which holds the owner or keeper strictly liable for any damage a dog does to a person or property, with no need to prove the dog was dangerous or had prior notice. The owner of a minor keeper is liable instead. Annual licensing through the town clerk and rabies vaccination are required in every town.
A loose dog violating a town leash bylaw can be impounded and the owner fined. Under MGL c.140 §155 the owner is liable for all damage the dog causes, with no prior-bite requirement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Hampshire County's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
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