Schenectady, NY Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Under Schenectady City Code Chapter 105, no dog may be off the owner's property unless restrained by a leash no longer than 6 feet held by a competent person. Dogs found running at large — defined as unrestrained and off the owner's premises — are subject to impoundment by Schenectady Animal Control, and owners must pay impoundment fees plus daily boarding to reclaim their pet.

New York State Agriculture & Markets Law §109 requires every dog over four months old to be licensed in the municipality where the dog is harbored. Schenectady licenses dogs through the City Clerk; the annual fee is reduced for spayed/neutered animals and proof of current rabies vaccination is required. Tags must be worn at all times while the dog is off the owner's property.

Owners must immediately pick up and properly dispose of dog waste in all public places, including sidewalks, parks, and tree lawns. Excessive barking, especially during quiet hours (11:00 PM – 7:00 AM), constitutes a noise violation in addition to a dog-control violation. Dangerous-dog determinations follow NY Agriculture & Markets Law §123 and are behavior-based; there is no breed-specific legislation in Schenectady, consistent with state preemption.