Racine County, WI Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Racine County's Chapter 4 (Animals) of the Code of Ordinances adopts and supplements Wisconsin's statewide dog laws in Chapter 174 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Under Wis. Stat. § 174.042(1), a dog is 'running at large' if it is off the premises of its owner and not under the control of the owner or some other person. A dog is 'untagged' if a valid license tag is not attached to a collar kept on the dog whenever the dog is outdoors, unless the dog is securely confined in a fenced area. An exception applies for dogs actively engaged in legal hunting or training under supervision on land open to hunting or where permission to hunt has been obtained. Wis. Stat. § 174.042(2) directs that 'an officer shall attempt to capture and restrain any dog running at large and any untagged dog,' which authorizes Racine County Sheriff deputies and animal-control officers to impound such dogs. Wisconsin does not impose a statewide leash requirement, but the running-at-large rule effectively requires owners to keep their dogs leashed, voice-controlled, or fenced whenever the dog is off the owner's property. All dogs five months of age or older must be licensed annually under Wis. Stat. § 174.05; in Racine County, licenses are obtained through the County Treasurer's office (or directly through the city/village treasurer for residents of Racine, Burlington, Mt. Pleasant, Caledonia, Sturtevant, Union Grove, Waterford, and Wind Point) with proof of a current rabies vaccination certificate. Dangerous-dog and bite-incident investigations are handled under both the county code and Wis. Stat. § 174.02 (owner liability for damages caused by dogs). Animal cruelty offenses fall under Wis. Stat. Chapter 951.