Walton County, FL Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 5-29 of the Walton County Animal Control Ordinance makes it unlawful for any animal, not just dogs, to run or remain at large when it is off the owner's premises or the premises of someone who has consented. The owner or custodian bears responsibility for any at-large violation. Section 5-28 defines 'direct control' as immediate, continuous physical control by means of a fence, leash, cord or chain strong enough to restrain the animal, or by keeping it in a vehicle, and clarifies that this requirement does not preclude simply walking a dog on a leash; an animal under direct control must also have access to shelter, water and food at all times.

Three narrow exceptions apply: a dog actively engaged in hunting under Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission authorization and supervised by a competent person, an animal trained to assist a disabled person under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a government police dog on duty. Walton County Animal Services, part of the Sheriff's Office, enforces the leash requirement alongside related provisions such as Section 5-30's ban on hauling a loose dog in an open truck bed and Section 5-35's requirement that every animal off its owner's property wear identification, whether a collar, tattoo or microchip.