Mount Pleasant, SC Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

29(B)(1) declares it a public nuisance, and therefore unlawful, for any owner or possessor to allow an animal to run without control or not under restraint as defined in the chapter. 01 defines CONTROL or UNDER RESTRAINT to mean the animal is on the premises of its owner or keeper, or is accompanied by its owner or keeper and under that person's physical control by means of a leash not more than eight feet in length or a similar restraining device, or under the active control of an owner or trainer while hunting or training on property with the owner's permission.

The same section defines RUNNING AT LARGE as being off the owner's premises and not under physical control by leash or similar device, and STRAY ANIMAL as a running-at-large animal with no identifiable owner. 65, the Animal Control Officer must seize all dogs and cats found running at large and impound them, though a harmless, rabies-vaccinated, license-tagged animal may be exempted from impoundment at the officer's discretion unless a nuisance or vicious-animal complaint has been lodged, in which case impoundment becomes mandatory. 54 requires every dog or cat over six months old to wear a collar or harness with a tag from a licensed veterinarian showing current rabies vaccination.