Milton, WI Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 6-91 of the Milton Code of Ordinances, in Chapter 6's animal-nuisances article, prohibits all dogs, cats and other animals from running at large within the City of Milton. The ordinance defines "at large" precisely: an animal is running at large if it is off the premises of its owner and not under the leash control of its owner or another person, and the leash used to maintain that control may not exceed six feet in length. That six-foot cap means even a leashed dog on a long retractable line longer than six feet can still be cited as running at large under this section.

The rule sits alongside companion nuisance provisions in the same article: Sec. 6-92 requires carcasses to be buried or disposed of sanitarily within 24 hours, Sec. 6-93 makes the person controlling a dog, cat or other animal responsible for immediately picking up its excrement on property they do not own or occupy, and Sec. 6-95 makes it unlawful to own, keep or harbor a dog that injures a person, domestic animal or property, with a carve-out for police service dogs performing law enforcement functions. Any animal found running at large may be seized, restrained and impounded by a Milton police officer or the city's contracted animal-control agent under Sec. 6-131, and release requires the owner to show identification and current dog or cat licensing plus proof of rabies vaccination under Sec. 6-133.