Linn County, IA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Linn County Code § 6-24(a)
- First offense fine
- $50 civil penalty
- Repeat offense fine
- $100, then $200
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Linn County bans letting any animal run at-large in the unincorporated county, with impoundment and rising civil penalties for repeat violations.
(a) It shall be unlawful for an animal to run at-large.
(b) Any animal running at-large may be apprehended by a law enforcement officer or an animal control officer and may be impounded by the animal control agency. Upon impoundment of any animal the animal control agency employees shall make a registration for such animal, entering the species, breed most predominant, color and sex of the animal.
(c) It shall be unlawful for the owner of an animal or person having an animal in their possession, care, custody, or control to allow or permit said animal to create a disturbance by engaging in frequent and/or habitual howling, yelping, barking or other vocalizations when such disturbance interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property of another. This subsection (c) shall not apply to animals kept in kennels or shelters which are properly licensed and/or zoned.
(Code 2006, § 28.6; Ord. No. 7-7-2011, § 28.6, 7-13-2011)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Linn County Code § 6-24(a) makes it unlawful for an animal to run at-large anywhere in unincorporated Linn County. Under § 6-24(b), a law enforcement or animal control officer may apprehend and impound any animal found running loose, logging its species, breed, color and sex at intake. This applies outside Cedar Rapids, Marion, and the county's other incorporated cities, which enforce their own leash rules.
Violations & Fines
County infraction under § 6-33(1): $50 first offense, $100 second, $200 third and subsequent, cited under § 6-24(a) or (c).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this leash law apply inside Cedar Rapids?
What happens if my dog is caught running loose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linn County
Compare Linn County to another location·View the Iowa animal ordinances overview
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