Springfield, MO Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- City Code § 18-53
- Minimum fine
- $10.00 per violation
- Applies to
- dogs only
- Enforcement
- impoundment under § 18-54
Summary
Springfield, Missouri bans letting a dog run at large anywhere in the city, with owners facing a mandatory minimum $10.00 fine per violation.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person owning, controlling, harboring, possessing, or having the management or care of any dog to permit such dog to run at large.(b)The minimum fine for violation of this section shall be not less than $10.00 for each separate violation, which minimum fine shall be the minimum fine levied pursuant to section 1-7.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 2 | Land Development Code: Supplement 9 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 18-53 makes it unlawful for any owner, custodian, or handler to permit a dog to run at large within Springfield city limits, with no leash-specific exception carved out in the section itself. Every violation carries a minimum fine of not less than $10.00, set as the floor under the general penalty provision, § 1-7. A loose dog is separately declared a public nuisance under § 18-54, and Public Health and Welfare Department employees may enter private property, short of a dwelling, to impound it.
Violations & Fines
Letting a dog run at large is a municipal offense carrying at least a $10.00 fine per incident, and the dog may be impounded under § 18-54.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a leash law in Springfield, Missouri?
Does the leash law cover cats?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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