Henry County, GA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Sec. 3-4-9(2), (11)-(12); definition Sec. 3-4-2
- Restraint means
- Leash/collar, fence, or supervised control
- Tethering
- Prohibited except a 4-hour supervised exception
- Enforcement
- Animal Care and Control or peace officers
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine and/or 60 days jail
Summary
Henry County requires every animal to be kept "under restraint": on a leash and collar, behind a fence, or under the direct control of someone at least 16 on the owner's property. Letting an animal run loose is an unlawful act, and tethering a dog outdoors is banned except in a few narrow, time-limited situations.
Animal under restraint means: (a)Any animal secured by a leash or lead with a collar, or enclosed by way of a fence or other enclosure;(b)Any animal under the immediate supervision and immediate proximity of a responsible and competent person at least sixteen (16) years of age, obedient to the person's commands, and located within the boundaries of property owned, leased or occupied by the owner (as defined herein); or(c)A dog in the act of being trained or used for hunting in conformance with the game laws of the State of Georgia. ... (2)Failure to keep an animal under restraint; ... (11)Except as provided in subsection 3-4-9(12), tethering of a canine is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 3-4-2 defines "Animal under restraint" to mean an animal "secured by a leash or lead with a collar, or enclosed by way of a fence or other enclosure"; an animal "under the immediate supervision and immediate proximity of a responsible and competent person at least sixteen (16) years of age, obedient to the person's commands," while on property the owner controls; or a dog being trained or used for hunting under state game law. Sec. 3-4-9(2) lists "Failure to keep an animal under restraint" among the subchapter's unlawful acts, alongside failing to display a current rabies tag and allowing an animal to become a public nuisance.
The 2026 amendment adds a tethering ban: Sec. " The exception in (12) allows a running cable, trolley, or swiveling tether only while the dog is being groomed, given veterinary care, or actively engaged in a show, field trial, agility event, or similar competition, for no more than four hours, with the owner close enough to take control and video or photo evidence available before an officer responds. Enforcement runs through the Henry County Animal Care and Control Department or any peace officer under Sec. §§ 15-10-62 and 15-10-63, and officers may enter property to investigate or impound a violating animal under Sec. 3-4-7(c).
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep an animal under restraint, or tethering a dog outside the narrow Sec. 3-4-9(12) exception, is punished under Sec. 3-4-10 by a fine not to exceed $1,000, imprisonment in the county jail for up to 60 days, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as keeping a dog "under restraint" in Henry County?
Can you tether or chain a dog outside in Henry County?
What happens if my dog is caught running loose in Henry County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henry County
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