Maui County, HI Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash length limit
- Not more than 10 feet
- Governing sections
- § 6.04.010, § 6.04.040(A)
- First-offense fine
- $50 to $500
- Third-offense minimum
- $200
- Impoundment
- Seized dogs held under § 6.04.050
- Key exceptions
- Service dogs, hunting, dog parks
Summary
Maui County requires every dog owner to keep the dog 'under restraint' at all times, meaning enclosed on the owner's property or on a leash no longer than ten feet held by a responsible person. A short list of exceptions covers law enforcement, hunting, competition, dog parks, farm work and service dogs.
"Under restraint" means kept on real property with the express consent of the property owner, in a manner which prevents the dog from exiting the property of its own volition. Examples shall include, but not be limited to, fully enclosed property, kennels, and tethers; or kept secured by a leash or lead of not more than ten feet in length held by or tied to a responsible person; or, if in the bed of a truck, secured to prevent the dog from climbing or falling out of the truck bed. ... A.An owner of a dog shall keep the dog under restraint, except for the following:1.A dog being used by law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes.2.A dog used during hunting, accompanied by its owner, and used with the consent of the owner of the real property upon which the hunting occurs.
Full Breakdown
010 defines 'under restraint' as kept on real property with the owner's consent in a way that prevents the dog from leaving on its own, including a fully enclosed yard, a kennel, a tether, a leash or lead of not more than ten feet held by or tied to a responsible person, or, if riding in a truck bed, secured against climbing or falling out. A dog that is off the owner's property and not under restraint is 'at large' under the same section. The restraint duty carries six narrow exceptions: dogs working with law enforcement, dogs hunting with the owner's consent on the property where the hunt occurs, dogs in organized competition or training for one, dogs supervised in an authorized off-leash dog park, dogs actively engaged in farming or ranching, and service dogs whose work or handler's disability makes restraint impractical. 050 until the owner redeems it and pays the impoundment fee.
Violations & Fines
Section 6.04.110(A) fines a first restraint violation at not less than $50 and not more than $500. A second violation within five years after a prior one carries a minimum of $100, and a third within five years of two priors carries a minimum of $200, still capped at $500. None of the minimum fine can be suspended, and a dog impounded while running at large is held until the owner pays the impoundment fee under section 6.04.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maui County require dogs to be on a leash?
Are there exceptions to Maui's dog restraint law?
What happens if my dog is caught running at large in Maui County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii animal ordinances overview
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