Loveland, CO Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

010 is Loveland's core leash law: no owner, harborer or keeper may let a dog be at large in the city, and any dog off its own premises must be on a leash or tether under the control of its owner or keeper, unless the dog and owner are inside a fenced park a public authority has specifically designated for off-leash use. The rule reaches beyond the street: subsection B bars a dog from running loose in the shared yard of a multi-unit building, the common areas of a mobile home park, apartment or condo complex, subdivision open space, or public parks, trails and fairgrounds, unless public authorities have posted permission for animals at large there.

It's prima facie evidence of an at-large violation if the dog is loose in the city without its owner's knowledge, so a dog that slips out unnoticed still counts. An owner who relies on a fence instead of a leash must keep that fence properly built and in good repair so it actually contains the dog under subsection G; a fence that fails to hold the animal is itself a code violation. If a dog is hit by a vehicle or dies while running at large on public property, the owner is on the hook for veterinary costs, impound fees, or disposal fees on top of any penalty.

A female dog in heat has to be confined in a secured building or enclosure during estrus except for planned breeding, and an animal control officer can order her removed to a boarding facility, vet hospital, or the shelter if the owner won't comply.