Boulder County, CO Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Ordinance
- Boulder County Ord. 2022-8, Sec. 6
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county
- Control
- Leash, voice, or electronic
- Presumed at large
- If injury/damage/trespass
- Unneutered dog fine
- Doubled
Summary
In unincorporated Boulder County, dogs off the owner's property must be under leash, voice, or electronic control. Ordinance 2022-8 makes it unlawful to let any dog run at large; a dog is presumed at large if it causes injury, damage, or trespass.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to fail to prevent the dog from running at large in the entire unincorporated area of Boulder County. Any dog off the owner's premises... shall be under control as defined in Section 2 above, inside a vehicle or similarly physically confined so that said dog is without access to passers-by.
Full Breakdown
Boulder County Animal Control Ordinance 2022-8, Section 6, applies to the entire unincorporated county. Any dog off its owner's premises, or on private property without the owner's permission, must be under control, inside a vehicle, or physically confined so it has no access to passers-by. 'Control' means leash control or, when accompanied by a person, within view and hearing under electronic or voice control (Section 2). Leash-control areas on Boulder County Parks and Open Space always require a physical leash. Working livestock dogs, licensed hunters' dogs, and search/law-enforcement dogs are exempt. Inside cities (Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette) the city's own leash rules apply.
Violations & Fines
A first violation draws a verbal or written warning with one week to correct; if it persists an animal control officer issues a Penalty Assessment Notice or Summons for a petty offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog have to be on a physical leash in unincorporated Boulder County?
What happens the first time my dog is caught loose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boulder County
Compare Boulder County to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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