Portland, ME Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Sec. 1 defines 'at large' to include being on a public street or publicly owned property unless controlled by a leash no longer than 8 feet, being left unrestrained in a parked vehicle with its head able to project out, and being off-leash beyond specific longer limits (up to 25 feet) in ten named city parks and all city cemeteries, including Bayside Park, Deering Oaks, and Payson Park. Some city-owned properties, including Baxter Woods and Capisic Pond Park, allow voice control instead of a leash if the owner stays within 50 feet and the dog returns immediately on command, capped at three dogs per owner under voice control at once.

Sec. 5-17(a) then prohibits any dog from being at large within the city at all, and doubles the penalty for a dog that assaults a person, animal, or property while running at large without provocation (unless the more serious 'dangerous dog' provision at Sec. 5-21 applies instead). Sec. 5-17(b) sets a minimum fine schedule that escalates with each violation and is assessed against the owner regardless of whether the same dog was involved each time. Sec. 5-16 separately requires every dog kept in the city to be licensed under state law and the license displayed, except for out-of-state visitors' dogs. Sec. 5-18 addresses nuisance barking separately, giving a first-time warning before fines of $10 to $100 apply to repeat violations within six months.