Erie County does not run a countywide leash law. Dog licensing, leashing, running-at-large, and dangerous-dog control are administered by each town, city, and village under New York Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7, while the county's role is limited to rabies and animal-bite investigation.
In New York, dog control is a municipal function. Under Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7, each town, city, and village licenses dogs and may enact leash and at-large rules, enforced by its own dog control officer. AGM Section 109 requires any dog reaching four months of age to be licensed with the town or city clerk, and AGM Section 121 lets a municipality require dogs to be confined. Erie County does not issue dog licenses or set a leash rule; Buffalo, Amherst, and other municipalities apply their own ordinances. The Erie County Department of Health advises that for a dangerous animal, residents must contact local animal control or police, because the county does not do so.
Leash and at-large violations are prosecuted by the town, city, or village that issued the local ordinance, not by Erie County; typical penalties are municipal fines and impoundment of a loose dog until licensing and fees are satisfied.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Erie County, NY
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See how Erie County's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
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