Surprise, AZ Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Sec. 10-56 makes it unlawful to intentionally, recklessly or negligently allow a dog the person keeps, harbors or maintains to be 'at large,' a term Sec. 10-19 defines as a dog not confined within an enclosure on the owner's property, not otherwise secured on that property, and not restrained and controlled with a leash. The code's leash definition caps a leash at six feet unless the dog stays on the owner's own property, in which case a longer line is allowed. Any dog found at large is subject to apprehension and impoundment by the enforcement agent, which under the code means Maricopa County Animal Care and Control or another person designated by the city to enforce chapter 10.

The only carve-out is a designated dog exercise area or dog park, where a dog is not considered 'at large' while off-leash provided the owner or custodian is present and in control and still has a leash of six feet or less in hand at all times. Beyond the running-at-large citation itself, Sec. 10-56(d) makes an owner responsible for the full cost of housing, caring for and treating a dog that was properly seized and impounded for running at large, on top of any court fines or penalties, if the court finds the violation occurred or the person pleads guilty or responsible to the charge.

Sec. 10-57 separately makes the owner or custodian fully liable for any injury to a person or damage to property caused by a dog while it is at large, independent of any citation outcome. City parks add a further layer at Sec. 38-32: outside a designated dog park, a park animal must be restrained in a kennel or on a leash no longer than six feet, and dogs may only run off-leash in the marked dog-park areas.