Dog Legal Requirements and Procedures in the Town of Chevy Chase

As responsible dog owners, we assume everyone is familiar with the legal requirements and procedures in our town. We’ve listed these to share with new residents, dog sitters and walkers, along with a few safety tips and information for everyone’s convenience.

Check that your dog's rabies vaccination is current. Maryland's legal requirement is applicable to dogs over four months old.

Have your dog licensed with Montgomery County. The County's licensing law applies to dogs living in the Town of Chevy Chase, four months of age and up. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/asd/licensing.html

Keep a good photo of your dog. Should you ever get separated from your dog, there are several resources to post and report your missing dog.  One resource is the Lost Dogs information on this website.  A second resource is the TownDOGs Directory on this website, where your dog's profile can be listed. 

Link your dog’s microchip code with your current address and contact information. Ensure your dog’s collar tag info is always up to date.

Keep an updated vaccination record and rabies vaccination certificate. These documents are often required when traveling with your dog, visiting daycare, boarding, grooming and training facilities, and are helpful in some emergency situations.

Sign up for the Town Crier, the official notification system for Town of Chevy Chase residents. The Town office can issue an alert if a dog goes missing or if someone finds a loose dog in the Town of Chevy Chase.  To receive information, alerts, or both through your preferred method of delivery, sign up on the Town website.  For questions call the Town Office at 301-654-7144 weekdays 9-5pm, or write to [email protected].

Improper disposal of dog poop is a huge issue for most Town residents. The Town’s regulation states: “Dogs are not allowed to defecate on private property other than your own. They can defecate on public property as long as their waste is picked up and disposed of properly.” Dog waste bags cannot be tossed in private recycle bins or trash cans near the street, they need to be put in a dog waste station receptacle or in your home trash.  See the map of legally approved dog waste stations.

When disposing bags of dog poop in your own trash, be sure they get placed in a larger sealed trash bag. If not, trash collectors may reject your trash for pick up.

The leash law in Montgomery County has been in place since 2005. Dogs are not allowed to be off-leash or “at large" unless they are on private property, in a municipality’s designated off-leash area, or in any of the fenced dog parks that are owned and operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission. The seven M-NCPPC "Montgomery Parks" dog parks are listed below.  More information can be found on Montgomery Parks.org.

Washington DC's leash law allows dogs without leash on private property or in the 13 dog parks managed and maintained by the DC Dept of Parks & Recreation.  The DC dog parks are listed below.  Chevy Chase Dog Park is closest to the Town of Chevy Chase and is one of the smaller of the bunch at 5,000 square feet.

Cute little furry dogs playing in the garden

Maryland-NCPPC Dog Parks in Montgomery County

  • Black Hill Regional Park Dog Park
    20930 Lake Ridge Dr, Boyds, MD 20841
  • Cabin John Regional Park Dog Park
    10900 Westlake Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817
  • Dewey Local Park Dog Park
    11720 Dewey Rd, Viers Mill, MD 20906
  • Ellsworth Urban Dog Park
    621 Ellsworth Dr, Downtown Silver Spring, MD 20910
  • Olney Manor Recreational Park Dog Park
    16601 Georgia Ave, Olney, MD 20832
  • Ridge Road Recreational Park Dog Park
    21155 Frederick Rd, Germantown, MD 20876
  • Wheaton Regional Park Dog Park
    2000 Shorefield Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902

DC Department of Parks & Recreation Dog Parks

  • Chevy Chase Dog Park l 41st & Livingston St NW
  • Francis Dog Park l 25th & M Street NW
  • Guy Mason Dog Park l 3100 Calvert Street NW
  • Kingsman Dog Park l 14th & Kingsman Street NE
  • Langdon Dog Park l 2901 20th Street NE
  • Lansburgh Dog Park l M St & Delaware Ave SW
  • Newark Dog Park l 39th & Newark Street NW
  • S Street Dog Park l 17th & S Street NW
  • Shaw Dog Park l 11th & Rhode Island Avenue NW
  • Swampoodle Dog Park | 3rd & L Street NE
  • The Park at LeDroit l 286 V Street NW
  • Upshur Dog Park l 4300 Arkansas Avenue NW
  • Walter Pierce Dog Park l 20th & Calvert Street NW
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