Ridgefield, CT Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Chapter 269, Parks and Recreation, is the Town's only codified at-large rule for dogs. Section 269-9(B)(1) makes it the owner or keeper's responsibility to prevent a dog or other animal from running loose or roaming at large 'at any time' on park land, and separately bars letting the animal injure, chase, harass or otherwise disturb a person or wildlife. The Ridgefield Parks and Recreation Commission may go further under § 269-9(B)(2), which lets it prohibit dogs entirely from specific parks, buildings or structures. A related but distinct rule, § 262-8, covers Town-owned open space rather than parks: dogs and other pets are allowed there only if kept under the control of their owners or keepers at all times.

Neither section sets a leash length or requires a physical leash by name; both use a control/at-large standard enforced by Town officials and the Commission's own posted rules under § 269-5. Chapter 120, Animals, separately requires owners to remove dog litter but does not add a general leash mandate outside park and open-space land.