Upper Darby, PA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Restraint duty
- At all times, § 222-6
- Off-property rule
- Leash + competent handler required
- Impound fee
- $7.50 minimum per night
- Licensed-dog hold
- 5 days before disposition, § 222-8
- Unlicensed-dog hold
- 2 days, § 222-7
- Fine
- $300 flat, § 222-23
Summary
Upper Darby Code § 222-6 requires every dog owner to keep the dog under restraint at all times and bars dogs from being off the owner's property unless leashed and controlled by a competent person. Loose dogs are impounded, with a $7.50-per-night fee to reclaim.
§ 222-6. Restraint. The owner shall keep his dog under restraint at all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large, off the premises or property of the owner, unless on a leash and under the control of a competent person.
Full Breakdown
Section 222-6, part of the Dog and Rabies Ordinance of 1977 (Article I of Chapter 222, adopted June 21, 1977 under Ordinance No. " Enforcement is handled by the Director of the Department of Health or an agent under Section 222-3. A dog found running at large is impounded by the enforcement officer at the Township Animal Shelter under Section 222-7; an unlicensed dog not claimed within two days becomes Township property and may be disposed of, while a dog bearing a valid license tag gets a five-day window under Section 222-8 for the Township to notify the listed owner before the dog is at risk of humane destruction or transfer to the Humane Society.
50 per night the dog is held, plus any additional expenses, payable to the Upper Darby Township Treasurer. Section 222-17 separately makes it unlawful to forcibly cut a leash or take a dog away from an officer who has seized it running at large. Vicious dogs face a stricter version of the restraint duty under Section 222-11: they must be confined in a building or secure enclosure, and if taken out, must be muzzled and leashed, not merely leashed.
Violations & Fines
Article I of Chapter 222 is enforced through non-traffic criminal citations filed with the Magisterial District Judge with jurisdiction over the violation, per Section 222-23. A conviction carries a flat $300 fine plus any extraordinary Township expenses from the prosecution. Impoundment adds separate costs: a minimum $7.50 nightly fee under Section 222-10 plus any additional expenses before the dog is returned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Upper Darby require dogs to be leashed off the owner's property?
How long does the Township hold a loose dog before it can be destroyed or transferred?
What does it cost to get an impounded dog back in Upper Darby?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upper Darby
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