Philadelphia requires all dogs in public to be on a leash no longer than six feet, held by a person able to control the animal, under Phila. Code §10-104. Off-leash is permitted only inside designated dog parks. PA Dog Law also requires annual county licensing for dogs three months and older.
Philadelphia regulates dogs in public spaces under Phila. Code §10-104 ("Dogs Running at Large") and §10-104.1 (waste removal). All dogs must be on a leash not exceeding six feet in length when off the owner's property, and the leash must be held by a person physically able to restrain the dog. This applies to sidewalks, streets, parks (outside designated off-leash zones), and any other public area. Retractable leashes longer than six feet violate the ordinance.
The city has roughly a dozen official off-leash dog parks (Seger Park, Schuylkill River Dog Park, Chew Playground, Pretzel Park, and others) where leashes may be removed if the dog is under voice control and current on vaccinations. Outside these specific zones, off-leash dogs may be impounded by Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly).
State law (PA Dog Law, 3 P.S. §459-101 et seq.) requires every dog three months or older to have an annual license issued by the Philadelphia County Treasurer ($8.50 spayed/neutered, $16.50 intact). Rabies vaccination is also mandatory under 3 Pa.C.S. §2381. Failure to clean up after a dog on public or private property is a separate violation under §10-104.1.
Off-leash violation: $100–$300 per occurrence. Failure to pick up waste: $50–$300. Unlicensed dog: $300 plus license back-fees under PA Dog Law. Dangerous dog determination triggers $500+ fines, mandatory liability insurance, and confinement orders.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia caps amplified music and other sound by decibels above background at the property boundary: 3 dB near hospitals/schools/houses of worship, 5 dB ...
Philadelphia, PA
On-street parking in Philadelphia is governed by Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code and enforced by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA), with restriction...
Philadelphia, PA
No zoning permit is needed for a fence at or below the Zoning Code limits; exceeding them requires a permit and a ZBA appeal. A building permit is required f...
Philadelphia, PA
No Philadelphia-specific ordinance directly imposes wildland-style defensible-space or brush-clearance requirements; the dense urban setting means there is n...
Philadelphia, PA
True backyard ground fires (recreational fires and bonfires) are not freely allowed in Philadelphia. The Air Management Code Section 3-202 prohibits open fir...
Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania's Act 43 of 2017 (the Fireworks Law) legalized consumer fireworks statewide and largely preempts local bans, but it imposes strict use limits th...
See how Philadelphia's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.