Local rules
What professional dog walkers in Atlanta are expected to know — in plain language, with the actual citations.Verified by the Top Dog SF team · September 2026
TWO DIFFERENT LEASH LAWS INSIDE ONE CITY, and which applies depends on which county you're standing in. On the Fulton County portion, §18-124(b) requires a leash 'not more than six feet long'. On the DeKalb County portion, §18-63 specifies NO length at all and ACCEPTS VOICE CONTROL — a dog 'at heel or beside a competent person and obedient to that person's commands'. Same walker, same day, opposite standards on either side of a street. But note the override: in any CITY PARK, §110-70(a) requires a leash regardless of which county the park sits in. Learn where the county line runs on your routes.
Atlanta Code §18-124(b) (Fulton), §18-63 (DeKalb), §110-70(a) · official source
Vaccination is required to use Atlanta's off-leash areas, and two further conditions are codified: no puppies under 16 weeks, and no dogs in heat. Those are ordinance requirements at §110-70(f), not park-webpage guidance, so they're enforceable. Check all three at intake.
Atlanta Code §110-70(f) · official source
The full pack — plus state and U.S.-wide baselines and an assessment localized to Atlanta — is included with the Certified Professional Dog Walker.
Get certified — with Atlanta rules included →This is educational guidance for dog-care professionals, not legal advice. Rules change — always confirm with the official source before relying on a rule.