Springfield, MA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Max leash length
- 6 feet
- Exemptions
- fenced yard, pen, dog park
- Last amended
- December 5, 2016
- At-large fine
- $100 per violation
Summary
Springfield, Massachusetts requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than six feet in public, unless the dog is inside a fenced yard, pen or designated dog park, under the city's 2016 animal control ordinance.
All animals, with the exception of sterilized cats, shall be kept under restraint when in public. "Restraint" shall mean a leash, lead or other physical restraint. Dogs must be on a leash not more than six feet long, except in cases where the dog is confined in a fenced-in area or pen or when the dog is in a dog park. [Amended 12-5-2016]
B. Every owner or keeper of an animal shall exercise proper care and control of his/her animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. Further, persons who feed or care for wild animals, including feral cats, shall not cause such animals to become a public nuisance. An animal found to be a public nuisance may be impounded by an Animal Control Officer, as set forth in this chapter. Animal nuisance behaviors include, but are not limited to:
(1) Molesting or attacking persons, animals or vehicles without provocation;
(2) Repeated trespassing on public or private property, including school grounds;
(3) Repeatedly being found at large, outside of confinement or off restraint;
(4) Causing offensive odors through accumulated waste or other reason that is detectable from the public way, any right-of-way, or adjoining properties;
(5) Allowing an animal which tests positive for a communicable disease (for example, feline leukemia, parvovirus, distemper) to interact with other animals in such a manner as to increase the likelihood of the spread of such disease;
(6)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4680006; v21 updated 2025-12-15; through 12-15-2025).
Full Breakdown
Springfield's animal restraint rule, amended December 5, 2016, requires every animal except sterilized cats to be kept under restraint, defined as a leash, lead or other physical restraint, whenever in public. Dogs specifically cannot be on a leash longer than six feet, though the limit doesn't apply inside a fenced-in area, pen, or a designated dog park. Letting an animal run at large anywhere in the city, to the annoyance of residents, is separately prohibited. Hampden County has no county government, so Animal Control Officers under the City of Springfield handle enforcement, not a county agency.
Violations & Fines
Public-nuisance fines run $50 first offense, $100 second, $300 third or later, per day; an unrestrained reproductively whole dog or cat found at large also draws a flat $100 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats need to be leashed in Springfield, MA?
Can my dog run off-leash in my own fenced yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
Compare Springfield to another location·View the Massachusetts animal ordinances overview
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