Sedona, AZ Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Restraint mandate
- All dogs must be under restraint
- Restraint satisfied by
- Leash, fenced yard, or owner's vehicle
- Tag requirement
- ID tag worn whenever off-premises
- At-large penalty
- $25.00 notice fee, due in 96 hours
- Enforcement
- Police or city enforcement officer
Summary
All dogs in Sedona "shall be kept under restraint" under SCC § 6.05.040(A), meaning on a leash under a handler's control, or confined to the owner's property or vehicle. Unrestrained dogs are "animals at large," subject to impoundment or a $25.00 violation notice due within 96 hours.
All dogs shall be kept under restraint. ... “Restraint” means secured by a leash or lead under the control of a responsible person and obedient to that person’s commands, or within the real property limits or the vehicle of its owner, or when actively engaged in a kennel club or event, or being trained, or races approved by the Arizona Racing Commission or an obedience class, or when used for control of farm animals. ... Dogs must wear identification tags at all times when off the premises of the owner, except while being transported to or participating in a kennel club or training event, or races approved by the Arizona Racing Commission.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Initiative Ordinance 2026-01, approved by voters at the July 21, 2026 election).
Full Breakdown
020 is broader than a physical leash: it is satisfied by a leash or lead under a handler's control, by staying "within the real property limits or the vehicle of its owner," or while actively engaged in a kennel club event, formal training, an Arizona Racing Commission-approved race, or an obedience class. That means a dog confined to a fenced or otherwise secured yard is legally restrained even without a leash. 050 and held at an animal shelter, with the owner responsible for the shelter's daily impound fee to reclaim it. 00 penalty payable within 96 hours. 100 makes the owner fully liable for any injury or property damage the dog causes while running loose.
Violations & Fines
An unrestrained dog is an "animal at large" that police or the enforcement officer may impound under § 6.05.050, with the owner paying the shelter's daily impound fee to reclaim it, or the officer may instead issue a $25.00 notice of violation due within 96 hours. Chapter-wide penalties for restraint violations run through § 6.05.130 to the citywide schedule at SCC § 1.15.010, and the owner remains civilly liable under § 6.05.100 for any injury or damage the loose dog causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I let my dog off-leash in my own yard?
What happens if my dog is found off-leash in public?
Does my dog need to wear its tag all the time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sedona
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