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

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

Leashes and licensing

Maryland leaves leash and licence rules to counties and municipalities, so what you must do depends on where you live. The state does set one civil rule that touches leashes: the owner of a dog is liable for any injury, death or loss to a person or property that the dog causes while running at large, unless the person was trespassing or committing a crime, or teasing, tormenting, abusing or provoking the dog (Courts and Judicial Proceedings 3-1901(c)).

State health rules say a local animal control authority may not license or register a dog without checking its rabies vaccination certificate (COMAR 10.06.02.10).

Rabies vaccination

The owner or custodian of a dog must have it adequately vaccinated against rabies by the time it is 4 months old, with a certificate from a Maryland-licensed veterinarian or a public antirabies clinic (COMAR 10.06.02.10).

When a dog is involved in a bite or non-bite contact with a person, and the local health officer finds quarantine allowable, the owner or custodian must quarantine it for at least 10 days after the bite in a place and manner the local health officer or state public health veterinarian approves (COMAR 10.06.02.07).

Dangerous dogs and bites

For civil claims against an owner, evidence that the dog caused a person's injury or death creates a rebuttable presumption that the owner knew or should have known the dog had vicious or dangerous propensities. A judge may not decide as a matter of law that the presumption was rebutted before the jury returns a verdict (Courts and Judicial Proceedings 3-1901(a)).

The dangerous-dog statute is carried out by counties and cities. A local unit may find a dog "potentially dangerous" if it has bitten a person, killed or severely injured a domestic animal off its owner's property, or attacked without provocation. A "dangerous dog" is one that killed or severely injured a person without provocation, or that offends again after a potentially dangerous finding. An owner may not leave a dangerous dog unattended unless it is confined indoors or in a locked pen, and it may leave the property only leashed and muzzled, or otherwise securely restrained and muzzled. A violation is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $2,500 (Criminal Law 10-619).

Breed-specific rules

Maryland's liability statute for people other than owners applies without regard to the breed or heritage of the dog, and the dangerous-dog definitions turn on what a dog did, not its breed.

Tethering and hot cars

A person may not leave a dog outside and unattended on a restraint that unreasonably limits movement, uses a collar made mostly of metal or smaller than the neck plus one inch, restricts access to water or shelter, is unsafe or unsanitary, or injures the dog. A violation can bring up to 90 days in jail or a fine up to $1,000. Separately, an unattended dog must have suitable shelter after 30 minutes in extreme cold and shelter or shade above 90 degrees. Working and sporting dogs are exempt from that second rule, and local governments may adopt stricter rules (Criminal Law 10-623).

State law bars leaving a cat or dog unattended in a parked vehicle in a way that endangers it. Law enforcement, public safety employees, animal control officers, humane society officers and fire and rescue personnel may use reasonable force to remove the animal without liability. The statute does not name other people (Transportation 21-1004.1).

Where to check your local rule

Counties and cities often set stricter leash, licence, number-of-dogs and breed rules than the state. Check the county or city animal control website or the local code. If a dog has bitten someone or been reported, talk to a lawyer or the animal-control office.