Hendersonville, TN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Dogs in Hendersonville must be under the control of their owner at all times. Title 10 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code (Animal Control) follows the standard MTAS Tennessee municipal pattern: it is unlawful for any dog to run at large in the city, every dog three (3) months of age or older must be vaccinated against rabies and wear a current rabies tag, and Animal Control Officers (ACOs) may impound dogs found at large, with reclamation fees and per-day boarding charges. At the state level, TCA 44-8-408(a)(1) makes it an offense for the owner of a dog to allow the dog to go uncontrolled by the owner upon the premises of another without that person's consent, or to run at large in a place where the public commonly gathers or has a right to gather. Violation of TCA 44-8-408 is a Class C misdemeanor on the first offense. TCA 44-8-413 imposes a strict-liability civil-damages standard on owners whose dogs are running at large and cause injury - even on a first incident - while injuries by a dog kept under reasonable control are governed by ordinary common-law negligence and the 'one-bite rule.' Tennessee law (TCA 68-8-108) requires every dog three (3) months of age or older to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Hendersonville operates its own municipal animal-control agency (distinct from Sumner County Animal Control in Gallatin, which serves unincorporated areas and the other Sumner cities). Hendersonville Animal Control is located at 1 Executive Park Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075, phone 615-264-5355, with regular hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ACOs respond to stray, at-large, bite, cruelty, and barking complaints inside Hendersonville city limits; Sumner County Animal Control (Gallatin) handles the unincorporated balance of Sumner County.