Southborough, MA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Chapter 81, Article II is Southborough's dog bylaw. It never uses the word leash. It works through the term "public nuisance" in § 81-2 and through the idea of restraint. A dog is a public nuisance if it is found to be not on the premises of its owner, if it attacks persons or domestic animals, if it is on a public school ground when not under restraint, if it chases moving vehicles, or if it persistently and prolongedly barks or howls.

Two exceptions are printed. A dog attached to a restraining device, or under the care and control of a person competent to restrain it so that it is not a threat to public safety, falls outside the definition. The article states that the mere muzzling of a dog does not satisfy its requirements. A so-called hunting dog supervised by a person competent to restrain it is also outside the definition.

Section 81-3 puts the duty on the owner or keeper of any dog, licensed or unlicensed, at any time. Under § 81-4 the Animal Control Officer must investigate complaints and must apprehend any dog found in violation of the public nuisance definition, even when no citizen has complained. Dogs apprehended by the Animal Control Officer or the Police Department are impounded.

Under § 81-5 the officer notifies the owner when the dog carries a name or address or the owner is otherwise known. A confined dog is kept at least 10 days unless the owner picks it up, and it is not released until the owner produces evidence of a current dog license and pays all fines and storage fees. Storage charges follow the contract between the Select Board and the kennel contractor and are made public at least 14 days before they take effect. Section 81-11 separately requires every person who possesses or controls a dog to remove and properly dispose of its feces from any sidewalk, walkway, street, park, public area or private property in the Town.