Wake County, NC Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Code section
- §91.07
- Off-leash parks
- Designated only
- At-large rule
- Unlawful countywide
- Enforcement
- Wake County Animal Services
- Hunting dogs
- Exempt under owner control
Summary
Wake County Code §91.07 prohibits owners from permitting any animal to be at large in unincorporated Wake County, and §91.07(C) requires dogs to be on leash at all times in any public park unless the park is designated as a dog park.
§ 91.07 ANIMALS AT LARGE. (A)(1) It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit an animal to be at large. … (C) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any dog to take the dog into or allow the dog to enter any public park without being at all times under the restraint of a leash unless the park is designated as a dog park.
Full Breakdown
Wake County does not impose a county-wide leash law on every street, only an 'at-large' prohibition: an animal must be restrained, confined to the owner's property, or under the owner's direct control. Exceptions under §91.07 allow off-leash dogs at sanctioned shows, obedience classes, tracking tests, field training, and hunting under owner control. In public parks, leash is mandatory unless the park is a designated off-leash dog park. Animal Control may confiscate any at-large animal and impound it under §§91.50-91.58. Inside Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, Wake Forest and other towns, municipal animal-control codes apply instead, most require leashes on all public property.
Violations & Fines
First violation: civil penalty plus impoundment fee at the Wake County Animal Center; repeat violations escalate. Owner is liable for boarding costs while the animal is impounded. Failing to redeem within the holding period results in the animal becoming county property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a leash on my own land?
Which Wake parks allow off-leash?
Does this apply inside Raleigh or Cary?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wake County
Compare Wake County to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
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