Washington County, UT Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large defined
- Off owner's property, not leashed
- Control means
- Leash, cord, chain, or in vehicle
- Applies in
- Unincorporated county only
- Precaution defense
- None; owner liable regardless
- At-large dog status
- Declared a public nuisance
- Collar/tag
- Required at all times, §5-3B-2
Summary
In unincorporated Washington County it's unlawful for a dog's owner or keeper to let the dog run at large, defined as being off the owner's property and not on a leash, cord or chain or contained in the owner's vehicle. Any at-large dog is declared a public nuisance and can be impounded regardless of what precautions the owner took to prevent the escape.
A. Running At Large: It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to permit such dog to run at large.
B. Entrance Upon Private Property Without Permission: It shall be unlawful for an owner of a dog to permit such dog to go upon or be upon the private property of any person without the permission of the owner or person entitled to the possession of such private property.
C. Owner Violation Regardless Of Precautions: The owner of any dog running at large shall be deemed in violation of this section regardless of the precautions taken to prevent the escape of the dog and to prohibit it from running at large.
D. Violation; Impound: Any dog running at large in violation of the provisions of this section is hereby declared to be a nuisance and a menace to the public health and safety, and the dog shall be taken up and impounded as provided herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 5-3B-1 defines 'at large' to mean any dog off or away from the owner's premises and not under the owner's control; a dog is only considered controlled if it is on a leash, cord or chain, or riding inside the owner's or family member's vehicle. Section 5-3B-3(A) makes it unlawful for an owner or keeper to permit a dog to run at large under that definition, and subsection (B) separately bars letting a dog enter private property without the property owner's permission. ' Subsection (D) declares any at-large dog a nuisance and a menace to public health and safety, subject to being taken up and impounded under Article D of the same chapter (§§5-3D-1 through 5-3D-8).
Impounding is handled by the poundmaster or a contracted humane entity, and a dog can also be picked up on-site by a sheriff's deputy under § 5-3D-2 if it is running at large, unlicensed, or otherwise in violation. The article's tag-and-collar requirement in § 5-3B-2 separately requires every dog kept in the unincorporated county to wear a collar with a legible, current phone number for the owner at all times, independent of whether the dog is ever loose.
Violations & Fines
Violating the at-large prohibition is an infraction under the article's general penalty, § 5-3B-11, unless the conduct also triggers a more serious provision such as the vicious-dog rules. Impound and redemption fees are set by the county commission and must be paid, along with proof of the required license, before an impounded dog is returned under § 5-3D-2(D).
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an at-large dog in Washington County?
Can I be cited if my dog escaped through no fault of mine?
Does my dog need to wear a collar even if it never leaves the yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Utah animal ordinances overview
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