Tacoma, WA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash length
- 8 feet maximum in parks
- Off-leash
- Only in posted off-leash areas
- Water areas
- Pets barred from ponds, fountains, spraygrounds
- Penalty
- Class 1 civil infraction
Summary
In Tacoma parks, dogs and cats must stay on a leash no longer than eight feet outside a designated off-leash area, per TMC § 8.27.120: the citywide running-at-large rule sits separately in Title 17.
Unless in a designated off-leash area, dogs and cats must be on a leash no longer than eight feet or secured inside a vehicle and are not allowed to enter wading pools, ponds, lakes, fountains, spraygrounds, or any play area designed to utilize water in any park. Animals of any other type are not permitted in any park unless first approved by the Director, except for service animals, as defined in RCW 9.91.170.
B. Any person with an animal in his or her possession shall be responsible for the conduct of the animal.
C. The provisions of this section do not apply to animals owned or maintained by the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma.
D. The Director may prohibit animals, except for service animals as defined in RCW 9.91.170, from events and/or facilities within a park.
E. All provisions of Title 17 of this code remain in full force and effect in all parks and may be enforced by any police officer or animal control officer.
F. Any violation of this section is a class 1 civil infraction unless a different penalty is provided in Title 17 of this code. (Ord. 19224 § 2, 1970-11-04; Ord. 23153 § 1, 1984-04-10; Ord. 24921 § 1, 1991-06-11; Ord. 26617 § 2, 2000-04-18; Ord. 26810 § 4, 2001-05-15; Ord. 27630 Ex. A, 2007-07-10)
Full Breakdown
TMC § 8.27.120, the animal-control section of Tacoma's Park Code, requires dogs and cats to be leashed on a line no longer than eight feet, or secured inside a vehicle, everywhere in a City park except a posted off-leash area. Leashed or not, pets may not enter wading pools, ponds, lakes, fountains, spraygrounds, or any water play feature. Any animal other than a dog or cat needs the Parks Director's advance approval, and service animals defined under RCW 9.91.170 are exempt. The person in possession of the animal is responsible for its conduct, and the section expressly preserves TMC Title 17, the City's separate, citywide Animal Control Code, for enforcement both inside and outside parks.
Violations & Fines
An off-leash dog or cat outside a designated off-leash area is a class 1 civil infraction under § 8.27.120F, unless Title 17's citywide Animal Control Code imposes a different penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can my dog's leash be in a Tacoma park?
Is this Tacoma's citywide dog leash law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
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Dog Leash Laws in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle dog leash laws.