Sheboygan, WI Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sheboygan Municipal Code § 18-46, Restraint
- Tie-out limit
- Chain or tie no longer than 15 feet
- Off-premises leash
- Leash or chain not exceeding six feet, held by the person
- Applies to
- Any dog or cat; police dogs exempt
- At-large forfeiture
- $100.00 to $250.00 under § 18-3(4), rising with prior convictions
- Park pet waste
- $125.00 forfeiture in designated areas (§ 18-15(e))
Summary
In the City of Sheboygan, section 18-46 requires every dog and cat to be kept on its owner's premises under direct supervision, on a chain or tie no longer than 15 feet, or in an enclosure. Off the premises, the animal needs a leash or chain not exceeding six feet, held by the person controlling it.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person owning or having charge, custody, care or control of any dog or cat shall keep such animal exclusively upon his own premises either by personal and direct supervision such as voice command by such person physically present, or upon an appropriate chain or tie no longer than 15 feet in length, or in an enclosed yard, either walled or fenced, or in any other appropriate restraining enclosure. The dog or cat may be off the premises if it is restrained by a substantial leash or chain not exceeding six feet in length, in the hands of such person and directly controlling the movement of the animal, or if it is being trained or shown in an area or at an event approved for such purposes by the superintendent of parks. This section shall not apply to police dogs.
Full Breakdown
Section 18-46, Restraint, applies to any person owning or having charge, custody, care or control of any dog or cat. The animal must be kept exclusively upon the person's own premises in one of three ways: by personal and direct supervision such as voice command by a person physically present; upon an appropriate chain or tie no longer than 15 feet in length; or in an enclosed yard, either walled or fenced, or in any other appropriate restraining enclosure.
Off the premises the rule is stricter. The dog or cat may be off the premises only if it is restrained by a substantial leash or chain not exceeding six feet in length, in the hands of the person and directly controlling the movement of the animal. The one other exception is training or showing at an area or event approved for those purposes by the superintendent of parks. The section does not apply to police dogs.
The at-large rules sit next to it. Section 18-4 says animals shall not be allowed to run at large within the limits of the city, and section 18-5 adds that it is unlawful for any owner of any dog or cat to permit the animal to run at large at any time; police officers are authorized to kill at-large animals that cannot be captured safely. Section 18-55 directs an officer to attempt to capture and restrain any dog running at large and any untagged dog, and an impounded animal unclaimed at the end of seven days can be disposed of.
Parks have their own layer. Section 18-15(a) prohibits pets in all city parks, beaches or other public grounds, except in areas designated by the common council and posted by the superintendent of parks as off-leash or on-leash areas. Under 18-15(e), failing to clean up a pet's feces in a designated area carries a forfeiture of $125.00, and section 18-9 requires feces to be cleaned up immediately anywhere.
Running at large also feeds the dangerous-dog rules: section 18-47(a)(2)a.7 counts a dog that has run at large three or more times in any 12-month period as a dangerous dog.
Violations & Fines
Section 18-46 has no separate schedule, so section 18-3(1) applies: a forfeiture of not less than $25.00 nor more than $100.00, and in default of payment imprisonment for not exceeding 20 days. A dog at large is charged under section 18-4 instead, with a forfeiture of not less than $100.00 nor more than $250.00; one prior conviction within five years raises it to $250.00 to $500.00, and two or more raise it to $500.00 to $2,500.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can my dog's leash be in Sheboygan?
Can my dog be off leash in a Sheboygan park?
What happens if my dog runs at large more than once?
Do the leash rules cover cats?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sheboygan
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