Kokomo, IN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large definition
- § 90.01, off-property and unrestrained
- At-large prohibition
- § 90.02(B)
- Minimum tether length
- 10 feet with swivels, § 90.03(B)
- Tether weight limit
- 1/8 of the dog's body weight
- Tethering fine (1st offense)
- $250 under § 90.03(F)/§ 90.99
Summary
Kokomo prohibits letting any dog run at large, meaning off the owner's property and not restrained by a leash or under an owner's immediate control, under § 90.01 and § 90.02(B). Owners who tether instead of leash must follow the tethering standards of § 90.03, including a minimum ten-foot line with swivels and a weight limit tied to the dog's own body weight.
“AT LARGE.” Elsewhere than on the owner’s premises, and: (1) Not restrained by a leash; or (2) Not under the immediate and complete control of a person capable of controlling such animal. ... (B) It shall be unlawful for any owner to allow, suffer, or permit an animal to be at large within the city; except that it shall be permissible during hunting season prescribed by state law for hunting dogs to be allowed to hunt with their owners on private property when permission has been obtained from the owner of the real estate and to hunt on state lands where allowed. ... § 90.03 RESTRAINT BY TETHERING. Restraint by tethering may be used provided the following conditions are met: (A) The tether shall not weigh more than one-eighth of the animal’s body weight. ... (B) The tether shall be at least ten feet in length with operative swivels on both ends;
Full Breakdown
Section 90.01 defines "AT LARGE" as being elsewhere than on the owner's premises and either not restrained by a leash or not under the immediate and complete control of a person capable of controlling the animal. Section 90.02(B) makes it unlawful for an owner to allow, suffer, or permit an animal to be at large in the city, with a narrow carve-out for hunting dogs during the state-prescribed hunting season on private property with permission or on state lands. Owners who restrain a dog by tethering rather than a handheld leash must meet § 90.03's conditions: the tether cannot weigh more than one-eighth of the dog's body weight, must run at least ten feet with operative swivels on both ends, must attach to a properly fitted collar or harness rather than a slip or prong collar, and must still let the dog reach shelter, water, and food.
Animal control officers may remove an aggressive or vicious dog from a tether and impound it if the animal is accessible to children or the public without a secured enclosure.
Violations & Fines
An at-large violation under § 90.02(B) carries the § 90.99 civil fine schedule, and a tethering violation under § 90.03(F) is fined separately at $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $750 for a third. The Department of Animal Services may also remove a tether that violates the weight rule and take both the tether and the dog to the shelter under § 90.03(A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kokomo require dogs to be on a leash?
Can I tether my dog outside instead of using a leash in Kokomo?
What happens if my dog is caught at large in Kokomo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kokomo
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