Dogs & animal control across Delaware
Do I need a dog licence? What are the leash rules?
25 of 57 municipalities in Delaware have an adopted ordinance on dogs & animal control on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany Beach Town |
Chapter 84 - Dogs and Other Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Bridgeville Town |
Ordinance 17-5 - Dangerous Dogs Amendment
+5 more |
leash rule: No dog shall be permitted to run at large at any time · fines: running at large not less than $25 nor more than $50; subsequent within 12 months not less than $50 nor more than $100 · leash rule: Dangerous dog must be securely attached to a chain leash no more than four feet in length when out of its enclosure; person under 21 may not control a dangerous dog off the owner's residence | 2026-06-05 |
| Camden Town |
Ordinance 2008-O-04 - Animals
+3 more |
licence required: True · leash rule: It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any animal to run at-large; 'at-large' means off the owner's premises and not under restraint of a human being by leash, cord, chain or otherwise · fines: Sections 5, 6 and 8 not less than $50.00 nor more than $125.00, subsequent $50.00-$100.00; other listed sections $100.00-$150.00, subsequent $100.00-$250.00 | 2026-06-05 |
| Delmar Town |
Article XIX - Animals in Residential Districts | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Dewey Beach Town |
Chapter 60 - Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Dover City |
Chapter 18 - Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Elsmere Town |
Chapter 71 - Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Fenwick Island Town |
Chapter 48 - Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Georgetown Town |
Chapter 52 - Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Greenwood Town |
Ordinance A-9 - Regulating Keeping and Maintaining of Animals
adopted 1993-11-11 |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Harrington City |
Chapter 82 - Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Laurel Town |
Animals Ordinance | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Lewes City |
Chapter 88: Dogs | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Middletown Town |
Chapter 39: Animals – Article I Dogs at Large, Article II Noise by Dogs, Article VII Nuisances by Dogs | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Millsboro Town |
Chapter 52: Animals – Article I Dogs | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Millville Town |
Chapter 41: Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Ocean View Town |
Chapter 68: Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Odessa Town |
Ordinance 83-7: Proper Control of Dogs Within Town Limits | leash rule: Unlawful for any dog to run at large within the Town Limits at any time, regardless of state registration. · fines: not more than ten dollars ($10.00) and costs for the first offense, not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the second offense and not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for each offense thereafter | 2026-06-05 |
| Rehoboth Beach City |
Chapter 88, Article II: Dogs, Cats or Other Animals
+1 more |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Seaford City |
Chapter 3: Animals
adopted 2013-11-26 |
licence required: True · leash rule: Leashes required for any dog not confined; dog must be securely attached to a leash no more than twelve feet in length; no dog permitted to run at large at any time. · max animals: No more than three (3) dogs, nor more than five (5) cats; combined cats and dogs not to exceed five (5) on any residential lot | 2026-06-05 |
| Selbyville Town |
Chapter 45: Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Smyrna Town |
Chapter 14: Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| South Bethany Town |
Chapter 30: Animals | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Townsend Town |
Chapter 10: Animals | licence required: True · leash rule: All dogs shall be kept under restraint at all times; at large means off owner's property and not under restraint · max animals: more than three dogs requires a licensed kennel | 2026-06-05 |
| Wilmington City |
Chapter 3: Animals (including Section 3-17 Feeding of Wild Animals)
adopted 2016-03-03 |
— | 2026-06-05 |
Nothing on file for dogs & animal control
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Checked, nothing adopted (2) — Slaughter Beach (2026-06-05), Woodside (2026-06-05).
Other ordinances on file, none on this topic (25) — Arden, Ardentown, Bellefonte, Blades, Bowers, Cheswold, Clayton, Dagsboro, Delaware City, Ellendale, Felton, Frederica, Hartly, Henlopen Acres, Houston, Kenton, Little Creek, Magnolia, Milford, Milton, New Castle, Newark, Newport, Viola, Wyoming.
No ordinances published online (1, verified negatives) — Farmington.
Unconfirmed (4, leads but nothing verified) — Ardencroft, Bethel, Frankford, Leipsic.