Kenosha, WI Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 14.01.D.1 states: 'It shall be unlawful for any person owning or possessing any dog or cat to permit it to run at large,' defining 'Run at Large' as the presence of an animal 'which is not on a secured leash of six (6) feet or less on any public property or thoroughfare or on any private property without the permission of the property owner or occupier.' Dogs and cats riding unleashed in a vehicle are not considered at large if secured against escape, and the rule doesn't apply to dogs used for law enforcement.

An exception in § 14.01.D.3 lets owners run dogs off-leash, in the owner's presence, at two designated Retaining Basins (west side of 39th Avenue between Bradford High School and Bullen Junior High School, and the south side of 18th Street between 26th and 24th Avenues) daily between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; it is unlawful to have a dog on either basin at any other time. Animals found running at large are picked up and impounded by a City Humane Agent, police officer, or Chief of Police designee under § 14.01.D.2, and held four days to let the owner reclaim them before disposal under state law. A dangerous animal found at large may be disposed of immediately instead of impounded.