Richland County, SC Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- All animals must be restrained or confined (§ 5-5)
- Cat exception
- Sterilized cats and TNR community cats exempt
- Event exception
- Hunting, obedience, herding events not "at large"
- Dog park exception
- Enclosed dog parks not "at large"
- Repeat impound penalty
- Fees double within 12 months; 2nd impound forces sterilization
Summary
It's unlawful for any animal, not just dogs, to run loose in unincorporated Richland County. Section 5-5 requires every animal to be kept "under restraint or confinement," with narrow exceptions for sterilized cats, dogs at licensed events, and dogs inside a fenced dog park.
It is unlawful for an animal to be at large. All animals must be kept under restraint or confinement and an animal not so restrained or confined will be deemed unlawfully running at large. This section shall not apply to domestic cats that have been sterilized or community cats trapped, sterilized, and returned. ... An animal found running at large may be impounded by an Animal Care Officer and may be redeemed pursuant to Section 5-17 only upon authorization by the county Animal Services Department, with assurance from the owner or custodian that proper care and custody will be maintained.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-24: This supplement is current through Ordinance No. 033-25HR).
Full Breakdown
Section 5-5(a) states flatly that "it is unlawful for an animal to be at large. " The rule reaches beyond dogs to any animal covered by Chapter 5, though it carves out domestic cats that have been sterilized and community cats that have been trapped, sterilized, and returned under the county's TNR program. Three narrow exceptions keep dogs from being cited: participation in "hunting events, obedience trials, conformation shows, tracking tests, herding trials, lure courses, and other events similar in nature" under subsection (b); being properly inside the fenced boundary of a public or private dog park under subsection (c); and being on patrol for a licensed security company under Section 5-7(b)(1)d.
" Running at large is also listed as a form of nuisance animal conduct under Section 5-6(b)(1), which layers on additional impoundment exposure for repeat violations.
Violations & Fines
A loose animal can be impounded on the spot by an Animal Care Officer under Section 5-5(d). Redemption requires Animal Services Department authorization and proof the owner will maintain proper care and custody, plus payment of impound fees under Section 5-17, and those fees double if the same animal is impounded twice within 12 months. A second at-large impoundment also triggers Section 5-6's nuisance provision and mandatory sterilization before release under Section 5-17(f).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Richland County require dogs to be leashed?
Are there exceptions to the leash law?
What happens if Animal Services picks up my loose dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richland County
Compare Richland County to another location·View the South Carolina animal ordinances overview
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