Smyrna, TN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

The rule is § 10-203 of the Smyrna Municipal Code, in Title 10, Chapter 2 (Dogs and Cats). It makes it unlawful for any person knowingly to permit any dog owned by him or her or under his or her control to run at large within the corporate limits. Subsection (2) closes a common escape route: a person, including the owner, who knowingly or negligently permits a dog to run at large can be prosecuted under the section even if the dog is picked up and disposed of under other provisions, and even if the disposition includes returning the dog to its owner. The code uses the phrase running at large rather than a leash requirement. This chapter prints no leash length and no definition of running at large, so the standard is that the dog is loose and not under the owner's control.

The companion duties sit next to it. Every dog must be vaccinated against rabies and registered under the state's Anti-Rabies Law (§ 10-201) and must wear a tag evidencing that vaccination and registration (§ 10-202). A dog known to be vicious or dangerous has its own confinement duty under § 10-204.

Section 10-207 lets a police officer or other properly designated officer or official seize a dog found running at large and place it in a pound provided or designated by the Town Council. If the dog wears a tag, the owner is notified in person, by telephone, or by postcard and must appear within five days and redeem the dog by paying a reasonable pound fee under a schedule approved by the Town Council. A dog with no tag is sold or humanely destroyed unless legally claimed within three days. No dog leaves the pound until it has been vaccinated and has a tag on its collar. Under § 10-208, a dog at large that is vicious or apparently infected with rabies and cannot be safely impounded can be summarily destroyed by any police officer or other properly designated officer.