◦ Statewide leash law
Pennsylvania dog leash laws.
◦ Summary
Pennsylvania is one of only three US states with a statewide leash requirement. 3 P.S. § 459-305 requires every dog owner to keep their dog confined, secured, or under reasonable control of a person — which courts have consistently interpreted as a leash requirement in public.
◦ Notes & gotchas
The state statute is broad — Pennsylvania case law has treated "reasonable control" as requiring physical restraint outside the owner's premises. Cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh add specific leash-length rules (typically 6 feet) but cannot weaken the state baseline.
Last reviewed May 2026. Not legal advice — verify with your municipality before relying on it.