Louisiana dog laws: leash, licensing, bites and breed rules

This is a general summary of Louisiana state law for dog owners. It is information, not legal advice. Reviewed November 2026.

Leashes and licensing

Louisiana has no general statewide leash law. One state statute says no person may let a dog in his possession run at large on unenclosed land or trespass on the lands of another (R.S. 3:2771). Rules about leashes in towns, parks and streets come from parish and city ordinances.

Licensing is local as well. A parish or municipality that charges a dog and cat licence fee issues a metal tag and keeps the records, and state law caps the fee at $10 for a spayed or neutered animal and $20 for one that is not (R.S. 3:2772). Whether a licence is required at all depends on the local government.

Rabies vaccination

The state health code says no one may keep a dog over 3 months old that has not been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. The first dose is given at 3 months, the second one year later, and later boosters follow the national rabies compendium schedule (La. Admin. Code tit. 51, pt. III, 103).

When a dog bites a person, the same code requires the dog to be confined for at least 10 days after the bite, or killed and its head sent for rabies testing (tit. 51, pt. III, 105). Tethering does not count as confinement under that code.

Dangerous dogs and bites

For civil claims, the Civil Code makes the owner of a dog strictly liable for injuries to persons or property that the owner could have prevented and that did not result from the injured person's provocation of the dog (art. 2321(B)). Other animals fall under a negligence standard.

Louisiana also has a court process for dogs. A district attorney, sheriff or animal control officer can petition for a hearing, and the hearing is set within five days. A dog is "dangerous" if, unprovoked, it bites a person and causes an injury, or twice in 36 months behaves in a way that forces a person to take defensive action, or twice injures a domestic animal off its owner's property. The owner of a dangerous dog must keep it indoors or in a secure enclosure and may take it off the property only on a leash that prevents escape (R.S. 14:102.14). A "vicious dog" is one that, unprovoked, seriously injures or kills a person and was previously found dangerous. Owning one is unlawful, and the court orders it humanely euthanized (R.S. 14:102.13 and 102.15). Defenses include the injured person teasing the dog or committing a crime on the owner's property.

Breed-specific rules

The state definitions do not mention breed. A dog is called dangerous or vicious because of what it did, not what it is.

Tethering and hot cars

State law makes it unlawful to tie, tether or restrain any animal in a way that is inhumane, cruel or detrimental to its welfare, with a fine of up to $300 (R.S. 14:102.26). Exceptions include a dog walked on a hand-held leash and some running-line or trolley setups that avoid pinch, prong or choke collars.

A person who rescues a dog or cat in distress from a locked vehicle is immune from liability for damage to the vehicle if the person first tries to find the owner, calls law enforcement, animal control or 911, believes the animal is in imminent danger of death, uses reasonable force, leaves a windshield notice and stays nearby until help arrives (R.S. 37:1738.1).

Where to check your local rule

Cities and parishes often set stricter leash, licence, number-of-dogs and breed rules. Check the parish or city animal control website or the ordinance code. If a dog has bitten someone or been reported, talk to a lawyer or the animal-control office.