Oregon, OH Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

23 requires every dog owner, keeper or harborer to do one of two things at all times: physically confine or restrain the dog on the owner's premises using a leash, tether, adequate fence, supervision or secure enclosure sufficient to prevent escape, or keep the dog under the reasonable control of a person. A violation is a strict liability offense, meaning the City does not have to prove the owner intended to let the dog loose, only that it happened. The penalty structure escalates sharply based on the dog's designation.

For an ordinary dog that has not been designated a nuisance, dangerous or vicious dog, a first offense carries a fine of $25 to $100, and each subsequent offense runs $75 to $200 with up to 30 days in jail possible; the court may also order the owner to personally supervise the dog or complete obedience training. If the dog involved is a designated nuisance dog, a violation is a fourth-degree misdemeanor on the first offense and a third-degree misdemeanor on repeat offenses. Where the dog is a designated dangerous dog, the offense jumps to a third-degree misdemeanor on the first violation and second-degree on repeat violations, and the court may order the dog held at the county dog pound at the owner's expense pending a final ruling.

The section carves out a lawful-purpose exception in subsection (f) for a dog that is not designated dangerous or vicious while it is actively engaged in hunting under its owner's accompaniment.