Hempstead, NY Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- "At large" leash threshold
- 6 feet or more
- Max unattended tether time
- 2 hours per 12-hour period
- Minimum tether age
- 6 months old
- First-offense penalty
- Up to $250 fine or 15 days jail
- Repeat offense (within 1 yr)
- $250-$1,500 fine
Summary
Town Code § 152-8 bars letting a dog run at large off its owner's premises, treats any dog on a leash of six feet or more as "at large," and separately caps outdoor tethering at two continuous hours within any twelve-hour period, with detailed restraint-device restrictions.
§ 152-8. Dogs at large. A. Dogs at large prohibited; restraining dogs outdoors. (1) It shall be a violation of this section for any owner to permit a dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to be at large within the Town other than on the owner's premises. For purposes of this section, a dog on a leash of six feet or more shall be considered a "dog at large." (2) No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to a stationary object outdoors, or cause such animal to be so restrained, for longer than two continuous hours in any continuous twelve-hour period.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4863878; v67 updated 2026-04-28; through 04-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
'" That means a hand-held leash longer than six feet does not satisfy the restraint requirement when off the owner's property. A separate rule in § 152-8A(2) caps unattended outdoor tethering at two continuous hours in any twelve-hour period, and requires that any tethered dog be given adequate food, water and shelter, except when the restraint lasts 15 minutes or less. Subsection B bans several specific tethering devices outright, regardless of duration, including choke or pinch collars, collars embedded or likely to become embedded in the skin, restraints heavier than one-eighth of the dog's body weight (capped at 10 pounds), running cables shorter than 10 feet or stationary tethers shorter than 15 feet, and devices not designed for dogs.
Dogs under six months of age may not be tethered at all under Subsection D, and only one dog may be tethered per device under Subsection E. Evidence of a violation can include time-stamped photos or video, complaint records and sworn witness statements per Subsection H.
Violations & Fines
A first offense against § 152-8 is a violation punishable by a fine not to exceed $250, imprisonment of not more than 15 days, or both. A second offense within one year raises the fine to between $250 and $1,500, still with up to 15 days imprisonment possible, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a leash be before a dog counts as "at large" in Hempstead?
How long can I leave my dog tethered outside in Hempstead?
What restraint devices are banned outright?
What's the penalty for violating the dogs-at-large law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hempstead
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