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Kootenai County, ID Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Leash length
No longer than five feet
First offense fine
$25 civil penalty
Repeat fines
$50, then $100, doubling to $800 cap
Exemptions
Hunting, police, search and rescue, herding dogs
Appeal window
14 days to request a hearing
Impound hold
5 days before sale or destruction

Summary

Kootenai County requires dogs off their owner's property to be on a leash no longer than five feet and under control of someone able to restrain them (Code 5.1.106). Six categories of working and supervised dogs are exempt, and a first violation draws a twenty five dollar civil penalty that climbs with repeat offenses.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Kootenai County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

5.1.106: DOGS AT LARGE: A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, no owner or keeper of a dog shall allow or permit the dog, whether licensed or not, to be or remain upon any street, alley or public place, or upon any premises other than the premises of the person who owns or harbors the dog, unless the dog is maintained on a leash no longer than five feet (5') in length and of sufficient strength to restrain the animal, and is in control of a person of sufficient age and physical character to restrain and control the dog. B. A leash shall not be required for: ... 5. Any licensed dog at large on private property with the express permission of the property owner. 6. Any licensed dog who is kept at all times under the direct supervision of a person of sufficient age to restrain and control such animal via direct voice control. C. Except as otherwise provided in this article, a violation of this section shall constitute a civil violation subject to the civil penalty set forth in subsection 5.1.111A of this article.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Code current through: Ord. 633, passed December 23, 2025).

Full Breakdown

103 as rope, strap, chain or similar material meeting that five foot cap. Subsection B carves out six exemptions from the leash requirement: dogs actively hunting or retrieving under voice control, dogs on active law enforcement duty, dogs working a search and rescue operation, dogs herding or controlling livestock, any licensed dog on private property with the owner's permission, and any licensed dog under the direct voice control of someone old enough to manage it. 111(D)). 113). 105, including impound and daily care fees, and can be sold, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of if unredeemed five days after impoundment.

Violations & Fines

At-large violations are civil, not criminal: $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second within two years, $100 for a third, and double the previous fine (capped at $800) for each violation after that, with every day treated as a separate offense (5.1.111). Unpaid penalties become an infraction under Code 1-4-1, and a seized dog can be sold or destroyed if unredeemed within five days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can a dog's leash be in Kootenai County?
No longer than five feet, per Code 5.1.106(A), and it must be strong enough to actually restrain the dog and held by someone capable of controlling it. The same five foot cap is written into the county's definition of "leash" at 5.1.103.
Are any dogs exempt from the leash requirement?
Yes. Six categories are exempt under 5.1.106(B): dogs actively hunting or retrieving, dogs on law enforcement duty, dogs on search and rescue operations, dogs herding livestock, any licensed dog on private property with the owner's permission, and any licensed dog under an owner's direct voice control. All still require the dog to be under adequate control.
What's the fine for a dog at large in Kootenai County?
Twenty five dollars for a first offense, fifty dollars for a second within two years, one hundred dollars for a third, and double the previous penalty for each one after that, up to a maximum of eight hundred dollars (5.1.111(A)). Each day a dog remains at large counts as a separate violation.
Can I contest an at-large citation?
Yes. File a written request for a hearing with the sheriff's hearing officer within fourteen days of the citation (5.1.113). The hearing officer must hold the hearing within fourteen days and issue a decision, and either side can appeal that decision to the board of county commissioners within another fourteen days.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kootenai County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsChickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsPet LimitsSome RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic ZoningSignificant RestrictionsPet Store RulesSome RestrictionsExotic PetsSome RestrictionsBreed RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Brush ClearanceSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Wildfire ZonesSignificant Restrictions

All Kootenai County rules

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