Sarasota, FL Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Max leash length
- 26 feet
- Where it applies
- All city parks
- Exception
- Designated dog parks only
- Enforced by
- City + county officers
Summary
City of Sarasota park rules require every dog to stay on a leash no longer than twenty-six feet at all times, with off-leash access allowed only inside a designated dog park.
A dog must be on leash at all times in a city park, and it shall be unlawful for any person owning a dog, or having care, custody, or control of a dog, to allow the dog to run without restraint within city parks. For purposes of this section "without restraint" shall mean either off leash or on a lead or leash that is longer than twenty-six (26) feet; i.e., a proper restraint shall be a lead or leash not longer than twenty-six (26) feet. The only exception to the above leash requirement shall be in dog parks, as defined herein.
(Ord. No. 17-5209, § 2, 7-17-17)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33 | Zoning: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
City of Sarasota Code § 8-27 requires every dog in a city park to stay on a leash no longer than twenty-six feet at all times; running loose or on a longer line counts as "without restraint" and violates the ordinance. The only carve-out is a posted, enclosed dog park established under § 8-28. Outside parks, § 8-4 separately bars any animal from running at large on city streets, public places or open fields, and the Sarasota County Animal Control Code, adopted for city enforcement under § 8-26, is jointly enforced by city police and county animal services within city limits.
Violations & Fines
Letting a dog run without a 26-foot-or-shorter leash in a city park, or letting any animal run at large citywide, is a code violation enforceable jointly by Sarasota Police and Sarasota County Animal Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be off-leash anywhere in a Sarasota park?
What counts as a leash violation in Sarasota?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Dog Leash Laws in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sarasota County handle dog leash laws.