New Britain, CT Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 6-18
- At-large fine, altered dog
- $50.00 per occurrence
- At-large fine, unaltered/unvaccinated
- $199.00 per occurrence
- Leash exceptions
- bench shows, approved dog parks
- Impoundment
- police, one dog per kennel, Sec. 6-20
- Redemption fee
- $15.00 plus $10.00 per day boarding
Summary
New Britain bans dogs from streets, parks, and other public or unenclosed private places unless securely leashed in a responsible person's hands or confined in a ventilated vehicle, under Sec. 6-18(a). A dog caught roaming draws a $50.00 fine if it is spayed or neutered, or $199.00 if it is not altered or not vaccinated.
(a)No person owning or keeping a dog, shall allow such dog to be in or upon any street, park or other public place, or in or upon any unenclosed lot or other private premises, unless such dog is attached to a secure leash held continuously in the hands of a responsible person capable of controlling it ... or unless such dog is securely confined within a motor vehicle which is adequately ventilated. This section shall not apply to any dog while performing or being exhibited in a bench show or other exhibition or any dog park or use approved by the parks and recreation commission and the common council.(b)Any violation of this section for a spayed or neutered dog shall be punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each occurrence.(c)Any owner or keeper of any unaltered or unvaccinated dog who intentionally or unintentionally allows their dog to roam shall be guilty of a city ordinance violation which shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred ninety-nine dollars ($199.00).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 6-18(a) prohibits an owner from allowing a dog onto any street, park, or other public place, or onto any unenclosed lot or private premises, unless it is attached to a secure leash held continuously by a responsible person capable of controlling it, or is securely confined inside an adequately ventilated motor vehicle. The section exempts dogs performing or being exhibited in a bench show or other exhibition, and any dog park or use approved by the parks and recreation commission and the Common Council.
Sec. 6-16 defines "at large" as being off the owner's premises and not under immediate control by leash, cord, chain, or otherwise. A separate rule at Sec. 6-19 requires anyone walking a dog to remove its feces from public or another's private property, backed by its own $150.00 fine, and Sec. 6-20 lets the police department capture and impound any dog found running at large, holding it one dog per kennel, scanning for a microchip, checking the state MACO report, and charging a $15.00 one-time redemption fee plus $10.00 per day of boarding before an owner can reclaim it.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 6-18(b) fines the owner of a spayed or neutered dog $50.00 for each occurrence of running at large. Sec. 6-18(c) raises that to a $199.00 city ordinance violation fine when the roaming dog is unaltered or unvaccinated, whether the owner let it roam intentionally or not. The New Britain Police Department carries out impoundment of dogs caught at large under Sec. 6-20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog have to be on a leash in New Britain?
What's the fine if my dog gets loose in New Britain?
What happens if the police catch my dog running loose?
Are there exceptions to New Britain's leash law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Britain
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