Vanderburgh County, IN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Animal control in Vanderburgh County is governed by Chapter 6.05 of both the City of Evansville Municipal Code and the Vanderburgh County Code, which were aligned through joint amendments. Indiana Code 36-7 grants counties general police-power authority and IC 15-20 provides state-level animal-related provisions, but the operative leash law is local. Chapter 6.05 defines 'leash' as a cord, chain, rope, strap, or other such physical restraint and requires animals to be leashed whenever off the owner's property. The definition of 'at large' captures three scenarios: (1) an animal not on a leash and off the property of its owner, agent, or keeper; (2) an animal on a leash that does not adequately confine the animal to the owner's property; or (3) an animal on a leash that is not under the immediate control of a person physically capable of restraining it. The code also defines 'restraint' for the City of Evansville as control by adequate confinement: on a leash or lead that confines the animal to the owner's property, on a leash held by a person physically capable of restraint, or in a pen, fenced enclosure, corral, cage, house, vehicle, or other secure enclosure. Owners must maintain animal-keeping areas in sanitary condition (Chapter 6.05) regardless of whether the animal is in a structure, fence, pen, or leashed. Ordinance CO.04-18-009 amended Chapter 6.05 in 2018 to update enforcement provisions and definitions. The Evansville-Vanderburgh Department of Animal Care and Control (815 Uhlhorn St) impounds dogs running at large, issues citations, and administers the licensing and rabies-vaccination program. Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office and Evansville Police Department also enforce the chapter and may issue citations under Chapter 1.14 of the County Code.