Ramapo, NY Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Leash or full control required off owner's property
- Exemptions
- Guide dogs, police dogs, permitted hunting dogs
- Impound hold
- 10 days (owner known) / 5 days (unknown)
- Redemption fee
- $10 per day plus confinement costs
- Penalty
- $25 first offense, up to $100/15 days later
Summary
Ramapo forbids letting a dog run at large anywhere but the owner's own property, or another person's property with consent, unless the dog is on a leash or under the full and immediate control of a handler. Guide dogs, police work dogs and hunting dogs on permitted land are exempt under § 93-6.
Running at large. It shall be unlawful for any owner of a dog within the limits of the Town of Ramapo to permit such dog, whether licensed or not, to be at large elsewhere than on the premises of the owner or on the premises of another person without the knowledge and consent of such other person, unless such dog is on a leash or under the full and immediate control of a person in charge of said dog. [AT LARGE, § 93-3:] Any dog that is unleashed and on property open to the public or is on private property not owned or leased by the owner of the dog, unless permission for such presence has been obtained.
Full Breakdown
Under Ramapo Code § 93-3, a dog is 'at large' if it is unleashed and on property open to the public, or on private property it is not owned on or leased to, without permission. Section 93-6(A) makes it unlawful for any owner in the unincorporated Town to let a licensed or unlicensed dog be at large away from the owner's premises or another's premises without consent, unless the dog is leashed or under full and immediate control of a person in charge of it.
The exemptions in § 93-3 cover a guide dog actually leading a blind person, a police work dog in active use, and a dog accompanied by its owner and actively hunting or training to hunt on unposted land, or posted land with the landowner's permission. A Dog Control Officer or peace officer who finds a dog at large must seize and impound it at a Town-contracted pound or shelter under § 93-7; if the owner is identifiable the dog is held ten days for redemption, or five days if not, after which it may be offered for adoption or humanely destroyed.
Redemption requires proof of license, payment of a $10-per-day redemption fee, plus confinement costs. All dogs over four months old must also be licensed with the Town Clerk under § 93-4.
Violations & Fines
Under Ramapo Code § 93-10, running a dog at large is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine not exceeding $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second offense within five years, and $100 or imprisonment for up to 15 days, or both, for a third or later offense within five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be off-leash in my own yard in Ramapo?
What happens if a Dog Control Officer catches my dog running loose?
Is a hunting dog off-leash always in violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ramapo
New York rules heatmap·Compare Ramapo to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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