Rock Hill, SC Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 6-36, 6-38
- Minimum tether length
- 10 feet with swivels both ends
- Banned collars
- Chain, choke or pinch as primary collar
- Minimum impoundment hold
- 5 days for dog at large
- Vicious dog fine
- $50 first offense, up to $100 later (§ 6-38(b))
Summary
Rock Hill requires every dog owner to keep the animal under restraint at all times under City Code Section 6-36, with detailed tether, collar and trolley-system standards, and authorizes impoundment of any dog running at large under Section 6-38.
(a)The owner or keeper of every animal shall keep the animal under restraint at all times. If a responsible adult is physically outdoors with their animal on the property where the owner of the animal resides and the animal is under the owner's direct control and is obedient to the owner's commands, this section shall not apply during the duration of the time the animal is under the control of that person.(b)When a tether is utilized as a primary means of restraint, a responsible adult must be physically outdoors with their animal, and the animal must be under the owner's direct control. The tether must be at least ten feet in length, have swivels on both ends and allow the animal to utilize the entire 360 degree circular area designated by the tether. ... Any animal found to be running at large may be captured, confined and/or impounded by an animal control officer and held in an animal shelter for a minimum period of five days.
Full Breakdown
Section 6-36(a) of the Rock Hill City Code requires the owner or keeper of every animal to keep it under restraint at all times, with a narrow exception while a responsible adult is physically outdoors with the dog on the owner's own property and the dog is under direct voice control. Where a tether serves as the primary restraint, Section 6-36(b) and (c) set exacting standards: the tether must run at least ten feet, carry swivels on both ends, allow the dog the full 360-degree circle it defines, and give the dog free access to food, water and shelter; it must attach to a properly fitted collar or harness and weigh no more than ten percent of the dog's estimated body weight.
Chain, choke and pinch collars are banned as a primary collar under subsection (f). A trolley-system alternative is allowed under subsection (d), with its own minimums, including a running line suspended at least three feet above the dog's head and at least ten feet between pulley stops. Section 6-38(b) makes it a separate offense to keep a vicious or unruly dog outside restraint so that it can reach persons off the owner's land, punishable by a $50 fine for a first offense and up to $100 for each later offense.
Section 6-38(h) allows animal control to impound any dog found running at large and hold it for a minimum of five days. Section 6-39 exempts hunting and working dogs from the restraint rule only while actively hunting or working livestock on the owner's or a consenting landowner's property.
Violations & Fines
A dog found off its owner's property without restraint can be impounded on the spot under Section 6-38(h) and held at least five days. Keeping a vicious or unruly dog unrestrained where it can reach the public is a separate violation under Section 6-38(b), carrying a $50 fine for a first offense and up to $100 for each later offense; other restraint violations fall under the Chapter 6 general penalty at Section 6-52, up to $500 or 30 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must a dog's tether be in Rock Hill?
Can I let my dog off-leash in my own yard in Rock Hill?
What happens if animal control picks up my dog running loose in Rock Hill?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rock Hill
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