Suffolk County Dog Leash Laws Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

Suffolk County enacted strict outdoor pet restraint regulations under Chapter 299 (Animals and Insects), Article VII. The Legislature found that while animal owners sometimes tie their animals outside for short periods, some leave dogs tied outdoors all day without adequate food, water, or shelter from the elements, and determined that this practice needed to be curtailed.

Under Section 299-51, no person may tether a dog to any stationary object outdoors for more than one continuous hour in any continuous 12-hour period between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM, outdoor tethering is prohibited entirely. The law also bans the use of choke collars, pinch collars, prong collars, or any similar device that could impair oxygen or blood flow while the dog is tethered. Dogs must not be restrained with a device that allows them to move over fencing or other barriers that could cause strangulation, and the restraint device must swivel on both ends.

Dogs that are tethered must have access to shelter appropriate to their breed, physical condition, and the climate, and the tether must allow enough range of motion for the dog to move around, eat, drink, and lie down separately from where it urinates or defecates. Multiple dogs may not be tethered in a manner that allows them to contact one another.

This county law does not apply in any town or village that has enacted its own pet restraint ordinance. The towns of Riverhead, Huntington, and Islip, among others, have enacted their own tethering codes. Dogs in Suffolk County parks must be on a leash in designated areas, with off-leash use limited to authorized dog runs at locations like Coindre Hall, West Hills County Park, and Blydenburgh County Park.