A new leash ordinance adopted by Clarkesville City Council on Monday, May 5, now requires all dogs within city limits to be leashed in public areas, with one exception — the city’s designated dog park on Bridge Street, located behind Your Pie.
“Everywhere else, you have to have a leash,” Clarkesville City Manager Keith Dickerson said following Monday’s meeting. “The biggest problem we were having was kids playing on the playground near people and their (unleashed) dogs, so we’ve been lucky not to have an incident. That’s a playground for kids, not a designated dog park.”
The ordinance replaces previous rules enforced under a Habersham County policy, which allowed dogs to remain off-leash if deemed “under control” — including by voice command or proximity.
The new measure eliminates such gray areas, mandating leashes in all public areas outside the dog park. Signage reinforcing the rule is expected to be installed across the city, particularly in Pitts Park.
Violators will face a $100 fine per incident. Although the ordinance initially left room for event-based exceptions — such as canine “frisbee competitions” — the council opted not to include them in the final version.
The law took effect immediately following the council’s approval.
In September of last year, Clarkesville City Attorney Matt Skilling recited the county ordinance verbatim. That ordinance, as discussed during a September work session, prompted city officials to enact an ordinance of their own.
Habersham’s ordinance, as recited by Skilling, stated: “An animal is deemed under control when it is confined within a vehicle, is under restraint by a competent person, is under voice control or is properly confined within an enclosure…”
