Salem, OR Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Salem Revised Code chapter 94, "Offenses in Parks," governs animals only inside city parks, not the city at large. SRC 94.020(a) bars any domestic or other animal, other than a dog in the company and control of its owner, from entering or being at large in a park at all. SRC 94.020(b) then sets the leash rule directly: it is unlawful for any person to permit any dog to be within, or to enter upon, any park unless the dog is kept on a leash held by the person at all times, except within that portion of the park posted by the Director as a "dog exercise area." The exception does not apply to public safety officers performing their duties.

SRC 94.020(c) adds that a dog may not enter a portion of a park the Director has posted as off-limits to dogs entirely, and SRC 94.020(d) requires anyone whose animal, including a dog, is in a park to immediately remove any and all feces deposited by the animal on park property. SRC 94.020(e) lets the Director issue permits allowing animals into a park for a special event under conditions the Director sets. Because this chapter only reaches property owned, supervised or controlled by the City, Salem's own code does not set a leash requirement for sidewalks, yards or other non-park property; leash and at-large rules outside city parks fall to Marion County's animal control code.