Leominster, MA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 6-2 of the Leominster Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful to own, keep or harbor a dog outside the confines of the owner's or keeper's property, whether owned, rented or leased, unless the dog is held firmly on a leash or chain no more than six feet long by a person able to control it. Retractable leashes with handles are allowed, but they cannot be capable of extending past sixteen feet, and the handler must reel the dog in to no more than six feet whenever it may come into contact with another person in a public area.

On the owner's own property, the ordinance still requires every dog to be confined by a leash, chain, tether, run or enclosure, and any fence or enclosure relied on for confinement must be tall and sturdy enough to actually stop the dog from escaping. The leash requirement does not apply while a dog is actively engaged in a sporting event such as hunting, field trials or training, and only in an area where that activity is otherwise lawful. The animal control officer, assistant animal control officer, the director of public health and the police department enforce Chapter 6 under Section 6-6, and Section 6-3 directs the animal control officer to impound any dog found running at large, with the owner able to redeem it for twenty dollars per twenty-four-hour period after securing a license.