Sherman, TX Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 2.02.004 of the Sherman Code of Ordinances is the tether and leash rule. Subsection (a) makes it unlawful to restrain a dog with a chain or tether unless the person is holding the chain or tether, and subsection (f) confirms a hand-held leash is fine. Subsection (g) closes the loophole: nothing in the section authorizes an owner to let a dog run at-large or to skip the restraint or enclosure the chapter requires.

Two affirmative defenses exist under subsection (b). One is restraint required to protect the safety or welfare of a person or the dog, if the owner stays with the dog throughout. The other is restraint on the owner's premises while the dog is within the owner's direct physical control and prevented from being within fifteen (15) feet from the edge of any public street or sidewalk. Subsection (c) exempts temporary restraint during a lawful animal event, veterinary treatment, grooming, training or law enforcement activity, or in the owner's presence in a designated city dog park. Subsection (d) says the defenses and exceptions fail unless the restraint is not placed directly around the dog's neck and is attached to a properly fitting collar or harness, does not exceed more than one-tenth of the dog's body weight, is unlikely to become entangled, and leaves access to shelter and water. A skyline trolley is allowed if the line is strung between two fixed points at least twenty (20) feet apart with a down line at least five (5) feet long and the dog is behind an adequate fence.

The at-large rule is § 2.02.002. The owner or harborer must prevent the animal from running at-large and provide an enclosure or system of restraint secure enough to do so. An electric fence or electronic collar does not satisfy the section, except that an underground, invisible and fully operational electric fence can be used on tracts of land five acres or larger enclosed by a fence of that type. Evidence that an animal is at-large creates a presumption that the owner knowingly failed to prevent it. Under § 2.02.003, confining someone else's at-large animal without notifying animal services within twenty-four (24) hours is an offense.

In Herman Baker Park, § 1.11.191 allows pets on leash only, with evidence of current rabies vaccination. The chapter applies within the city limits and the area extending 5,000 feet beyond, under § 2.01.002(i).