Jackson, MS Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 18-13
- At-large penalty notice
- $50.00, payable in 72 hours
- Impoundment hold
- At least 8 working days
- Dog redemption fee
- $30.00 plus $8.00/day impounded
- Enforcement agency
- Division of animal control / police
Summary
Jackson prohibits letting any animal run at large within city limits. City Code Sec. 18-13 lets animal control impound a loose dog or issue a $50.00 violation notice payable within 72 hours before a criminal warrant is sought.
(a)Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit it to run at large within the corporate limits of the city.(b)Impoundment of animals at large. Animals running at large may be impounded as provided in sections 18-56 and 18-57.(c)Violation notice; penalty; failure to pay; warrant; penalty for violation of section. In addition to, or in lieu of, impounding an animal found at large, the animal control officer or police officer may issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of ordinance violation. Such notice shall impose upon the owner a penalty of $50.00 which may, at the discretion of the animal owner, be paid to the division of animal control within 72 hours in full satisfaction of the assessed penalty.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 18-13(a) makes it unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit it to run at large within the corporate limits of the city, a rule that applies to dogs as the animal most commonly impounded under this section. Sec. 18-13(b) allows animals running at large to be impounded under the impoundment procedures in Sec. 18-56 and Sec. 18-57. Sec. 00 penalty, which the owner can pay to the division of animal control within 72 hours to fully satisfy the violation. If the owner does not pay within that 72-hour window, a criminal warrant is initiated before a magistrate, and a conviction is punished under Sec.
18-3, the chapter's general penalty section. Once impounded under Sec. 18-56(a), an unrestrained dog must be held for at least eight working days unless the owner reclaims it sooner; Sec. 00 for each day of impoundment, provided the dog is properly vaccinated, licensed and tagged, with unvaccinated animals requiring arrangements for vaccination before release. 00 fee, or humanely euthanized.
Violations & Fines
A first at-large notice carries a $50.00 penalty payable within 72 hours under Sec. 18-13(c); unpaid penalties escalate to a criminal misdemeanor warrant, punished under Sec. 18-3. Impounded dogs cost $30.00 plus $8.00 per day of impoundment to redeem under Sec. 18-56(b), and unclaimed dogs after eight working days become city property for adoption or euthanasia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal for my dog to be off-leash in my Jackson yard?
What happens if animal control catches my dog running loose in Jackson?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jackson
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