Sandy Springs, GA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 10-11(a) prohibits the running at large of dogs, domestic animals, livestock, owned wildlife, exotic animals, and dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs anywhere in the city, with cats specifically excepted. Section 10-11(b)(1) spells out the dog rule: it is unlawful for an owner, custodian, or harborer to let a dog leave the owner's premises unless it is "securely under leash, said leash being not more than six feet long, and under the control of a competent person," and on the home property the dog must be confined by a fence, wall, or enclosure, or restrained individually by a leash or chain.

The chapter carves out dogs actively participating in or training for obedience trials, field trials, dog shows, tracking work, or law enforcement work, and it exempts dogs used for hunting on agriculturally zoned land when the handler carries a valid hunting license and proof of vaccination. Electronic ("invisible") fence systems count as an acceptable enclosure under section 10-11(b)(2) as long as the equipment works properly and the dog wears the matching collar, but section 10-11(b)(3) bars using an electronic system as either the primary or secondary enclosure for any dog a court has deemed dangerous or that has been trained as a guard dog. Section 10-11(c) extends the same leash-or-carrier restraint duty to owners of domestic animals, livestock, and exotic animals whenever those animals leave the owner's premises.