Sebastian County, AR Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash length cap
- 15 feet, county parks
- Governing section
- § 93.35(A),(F), 2013
- Park penalty
- Class C misdemeanor
- Exempt
- service animals, special events
- Outside parks
- only vicious/exotic animals covered
Summary
Sebastian County requires every dog and other pet inside a county park to stay on a leash no longer than 15 feet, caged, or otherwise restrained under Code § 93.35. Outside county parks the leash rule reaches only animals already declared vicious or exotic under § 93.16.
(A) No dogs, or other domesticated animals kept as pets, shall be allowed to run free at anytime unless that animal falls under the exemptions of this subchapter. All pets will be appropriately leashed, caged, or otherwise restrained at all times by the owner. This includes trails and undeveloped areas of the parks. ... (F) A dog leash may not be longer than 15 feet long, so as to allow a reasonable amount of control by the owner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-62: 2026 S-62 contains Local legislation current through April 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
35(A), part of the Citizen-Owned Animals Within the Boundaries of County Parks subchapter adopted by Ord. 2013-12 on June 18, 2013, requires that no dog or other pet be allowed to run free at any time inside a county park, including trails and undeveloped areas of the parks, unless the animal falls under a listed exemption. 35(F) caps the leash at 15 feet so the owner keeps a reasonable amount of control. 36, pre-approved special events, and animals sheltering in an airline-approved container during a tornado at the Ben Geren Safe Shelter.
36(C). 17(B) specifically exempts ordinary family pets, livestock working dogs and hunting dogs that have not been deemed aggressive or vicious, so the parks rule is the county's most direct leash mandate for everyday pets.
Violations & Fines
Sebastian County Code § 93.99(C) makes a park leash violation under §§ 93.35 through 93.39 a Class C misdemeanor, with each offending animal counted separately, and requires the animal be immediately secured or removed from the park. A violation of the county-wide vicious-animal restraint rule in § 93.16 is instead a Class A misdemeanor under § 93.99(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a dog leash be in a Sebastian County park?
Do I have to leash my dog everywhere in Sebastian County?
What happens if my dog runs loose in a county park?
Are service dogs exempt from the park leash rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sebastian County
Compare Sebastian County to another location·View the Arkansas animal ordinances overview
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