Dog Laws

Licensing Your Dog
(Ohio Revised Code Section 955.21)

All dogs three months of age and older must be licensed annually by January 31. When you acquire a new dog, you must license it immediately. Dogs in Franklin County must also be immunized against rabies by a licensed veterinarian before a license can be purchased. The maximum penalties for violations of this section are a $150 fine on the first offense, and a $250 fine and 30 days imprisonment for subsequent offenses.

Dog licenses may be purchased at the Franklin County Dog Shelter, or at any of these other locations:

Franklin County Auditor, 373 S. High St. 21st floor, 462-3260
Capital Area Humane Society, 3015 Scioto Darby Executive Ct., Hilliard  777-7387
Cleveland Avenue License Agency, 1979 Cleveland Ave.   297-8211
Pet People ( 4 locations)
6415 Perimeter Dr., Dublin  760-7600
1341 Stoneridge Dr., Gahanna  471-2667
2830 Fishinger Rd.  Upper Arlington  538-9178
1023 Hill Rd. N., Pickerington  322-0250
Pet Supplies Plus, 4886 Morse Rd.  775-9944

Or purchase on-line at:
The Franklin County Auditor's Online Dog License Registration

Displaying a Dog License
 (Ohio Revised Code Section 955.10)

 The current year’s license tag must be kept displayed on a dog’s collar or harness at all times. Ohio law permits Animal Control Officers to impound dogs that are not wearing a license, even from the dog owner’s yard. The maximum penalty for a violation of this section is a $100 fine.  
 

Confining Your Dog
(Ohio Revised Code Section 955.22C)

 All dogs regardless of age must be kept confined on the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer at all times. Acceptable methods of confinement include a fence, a tethering device, a dog pen, inside a house or garage, or under adequate supervision. If you are walking your dog off of your property, you must maintain reasonable control over your dog so that it doesn’t run away (the best way to do this is to keep a leash on your dog). The maximum penalties for violations of this section are a $100 fine on the first offense, and a $250 fine and 30 days imprisonment for subsequent offenses.

Immunizing Your Dog Against Rabies
 (Ohio Revised Code Section 955.39)

All dogs in Franklin County over three months of age must be currently immunized against rabies by a licensed Veterinarian. This is a requirement of the Franklin County Boards of Health. The maximum penalty for a violation of this section is a $100 fine.

Confining Pit Bull Dogs
(Ohio Revised Code Section 955.22D)

Dogs that are a “breed of dog commonly known as a Pit Bull” are automatically considered to be vicious under Ohio law. They must be confined on the owner’s property by means of a locked fenced yard, a locked dog pen that has a top, or some other locked enclosure (such as a house). This law applies not only to pure bred American Pit Bull dogs, but also to other pure bred and mixed breed dogs that have similar physical and behavioral characteristics. Animal Control Officers make the determination as to whether or not a dog is a “breed of dog commonly known as a Pit Bull.” The maximum penalty for a violation of this section on a first offense is a $1,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment. If the dog seriously injures a person, or this is a second offense of this section, the charge may be filed as a felony.

Insuring Pit Bull Dogs
(Ohio Revised Code Section 955.22E)

Dogs that are a “breed of dog commonly known as a Pit Bull” are automatically considered to be vicious under Ohio law. Owners of these dogs must maintain at least $100,000 of liability insurance coverage on these animals. The maximum penalty for a violation of this section is a $1,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment. If you have any questions regarding these laws, please contact a Field Supervisor at the Department of Animal Control’s Enforcement Division at 462-3400.