Is It Illegal to Leave Your Pet Chained Outside in Ohio? Here's What the Law Says

Ohio does not have a statewide law that bans or limits the length of time you can leave your dog or pet chained or tethered outside. There is also no state law specifying a maximum duration for outdoor tethering.

However, state law does require that all companion animals—including dogs—must have access to adequate food, water, and shelter at all times. The shelter must protect the animal from adverse weather, such as snow, rain, or direct sunlight.

If a reasonable person would believe the animal could become ill, suffer, or die from the weather conditions, the shelter is considered insufficient and the owner could be cited for neglect or cruelty.

Local Ordinances: Stricter Rules in Some Cities

Many Ohio cities and municipalities have passed their own tethering laws, which are often much stricter than state law. Here are some examples:

Cincinnati:

Dogs may not be tethered between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Tethering is limited to a maximum of 6 hours in any 24-hour period.
Dogs cannot be left outside for more than an hour when the temperature is above 90°F or below 20°F, or during severe weather warnings.
Dogs must always have adequate shelter, food, and water.

Akron:

No tethering for more than 6 hours total in a 24-hour period, or more than 3 consecutive hours without a one-hour break.
No tethering between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
No tethering during heat/cold advisories or severe weather warnings.
The tether must be at least five times the length of the animal and not cause injury or entanglement.

Whitehall:

No chaining or tethering for more than 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period.
No tethering while unattended between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
No tethering during severe cold or heat advisories.
Tethering must allow access to water and shelter, and certain types of collars are prohibited.

Proposed State Legislation

There have been attempts to pass a statewide ban or strict limits on chaining dogs in Ohio. For example, a bill was introduced that would have prohibited chaining any animal for more than two consecutive hours and set other limits, but as of 2025, no such law has been enacted statewide.

Summary Table: Ohio Pet Tethering Laws

Area	State Law	Local Ordinances (examples)
Duration	No limit	6 hrs/day (Cincinnati, Akron), 12 hrs/day (Whitehall)
Night Tether	No restriction	Not allowed 10 p.m.–6 a.m. (Cincinnati, Akron), 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (Whitehall)
Weather	Shelter required	No tethering in severe/extreme weather (all three cities)
Shelter	Required	Required
Enforcement	Neglect/abuse laws	Local fines, possible animal seizure

State law does not ban chaining or tethering pets outside, but requires adequate shelter, food, and water.
Many cities in Ohio have stricter rules, including limits on how long and when you can tether a pet, and prohibitions during extreme weather.
Violating local ordinances or failing to provide adequate shelter can lead to fines, animal seizure, or cruelty charges.

Always check your local city or county ordinances before tethering your pet outdoors in Ohio.

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