Dogs Running-at-Large (RAL) Laws
Alabama Code § 3-1-5 by County
Updated Oct. 1, 2026
The most recent § 3-1-5 adoptions were in Walker Co. and Chambers Co., both in 2025. (Did we miss an adoption? Let us know.)
Dog Confinement Requirements in Alabama Counties
When Alabama Code § 3-1-5 is adopted by a County Commission, running-at-large (RAL) is prohibited in the unincorporated area and in most municipalities.
| § 3-1-5 Not Adopted Tagged Dogs May RAL |
§ 3-1-5 Adopted Dog Confinement Required |
|
|---|---|---|
| § 3-1-5 status | No record of § 3-1-5 adoption. | Alabama Code § 3-1-5 has been adopted by the Comnission. |
| summary | Untagged dogs found at-large are to be impounded. Direct notice of impoundment is required if the owner is known. | Dog confinement required. When off-premises, the dog must be in the charge of a responsible person. |
| reporting | Call Dispatch or Animal Control or follow local reporting instructions. | Follow our guide to report a violation. Owner must be known. |
| enforcement | Pickup of loose dogs is tasked to ACOs or LEOs. | Enforcement usually requires that the affected resident report and, if violations continue, press charges. LEOs can cite only if they witness. |
| penalty | Fees for vaccination and boarding. | Misdemeanor. Fine of $2–50 plus court costs. Applicable vaccination or boarding fees. |
| note | Many areas do not comply with state-mandated impoundment of loose untagged dogs. | § 3-1-5.1 exempts certain working dogs while actively working. |
§ 3-1-5 & Other RAL Laws in Your Area
For more information on your county or to find out whether dog confinement is required in your city, select your county from the list below. All ordinances that we are aware of are posted. You can help fill in information for your area, if you’d like.
| Pop. | Sq.Mi. | County | § 3-1-5 Adopted? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58,805 | 604 | Autauga | Confusion about status. |
| 231,767 | 2,027 | Baldwin | Adopted in 1990 |
| 25,223 | 905 | Barbour | — |
| 22,293 | 628 | Bibb | — |
| 59,134 | 651 | Blount | Adopted in 2024 |
| 10,357 | 625 | Bullock | — |
| 19,051 | 778 | Butler | — |
| 116,441 | 612 | Calhoun | Adopted in 1984 |
| 34,772 | 603 | Chambers | Adopted in 2025 |
| 24,971 | 600 | Cherokee | — |
| 45,014 | 701 | Chilton | Adopted in 2024 |
| 12,665 | 921 | Choctaw | — |
| 23,087 | 1,238 | Clarke | — |
| 14,236 | 606 | Clay | — |
| 15,056 | 561 | Cleburne | — |
| 53,465 | 680 | Coffee | — |
| 57,227 | 622 | Colbert | Confusion about status. |
| 11,597 | 853 | Conecuh | — |
| 10,387 | 666 | Coosa | — |
| 37,570 | 1,044 | Covington | — |
| 13,194 | 611 | Crenshaw | — |
| 87,866 | 755 | Cullman | Confusion about status. |
| 49,326 | 563 | Dale | — |
| 38,462 | 994 | Dallas | Confusion about status. |
| 71,608 | 779 | DeKalb | — |
| 87,977 | 657 | Elmore | Adopted in 2014 |
| 36,757 | 953 | Escambia | — |
| 103,436 | 549 | Etowah | Adopted in 1986 |
| 16,321 | 629 | Fayette | — |
| 32,113 | 647 | Franklin | — |
| 26,659 | 579 | Geneva | — |
| 7,730 | 660 | Greene | — |
| 14,785 | 657 | Hale | — |
| 17,146 | 562 | Henry | — |
| 107,202 | 582 | Houston | — |
| 52,579 | 1,127 | Jackson | — |
| 674,721 | 1,124 | Jefferson | Confusion about status. |
| 13,972 | 605 | Lamar | — |
| 93,564 | 721 | Lauderdale | Adopted in 2004 |
| 33,073 | 717 | Lawrence | Adopted in 2024 |
| 174,241 | 608 | Lee | Adopted in 1979 |
| 103,570 | 607 | Limestone | Adopted in 1994 |
| 10,311 | 716 | Lowndes | Confusion about status. |
| 19,532 | 613 | Macon | Confusion about status. |
| 388,153 | 813 | Madison | Adopted in 1987 |
| 19,323 | 983 | Marengo | — |
| 29,341 | 744 | Marion | — |
| 97,612 | 623 | Marshall | Adopted in 2008 |
| 414,809 | 1,644 | Mobile | Adopted in 2018 |
| 19,772 | 1,034 | Monroe | — |
| 228,954 | 800 | Montgomery | Adopted in 2004 |
| 123,421 | 599 | Morgan | Adopted in 1990 |
| 8,511 | 724 | Perry | — |
| 19,123 | 890 | Pickens | — |
| 33,009 | 673 | Pike | — |
| 21,967 | 584 | Randolph | — |
| 59,183 | 647 | Russell | Confusion about status. |
| 91,103 | 654 | St. Clair | Confusion about status. |
| 223,024 | 810 | Shelby | Adopted in 1990 |
| 12,346 | 913 | Sumter | — |
| 82,149 | 760 | Talladega | — |
| 41,311 | 766 | Tallapoosa | — |
| 227,036 | 1,351 | Tuscaloosa | Adopted in 2003 |
| 65,340 | 805 | Walker | Adopted in 2025 |
| 15,400 | 1,089 | Washington | — |
| 10,600 | 907 | Wilcox | — |
| 23,540 | 631 | Winston | — |
Confusion About § 3-1-5 Applicability
Officials in nine counties — Autauga, Colbert, Cullman, Dallas, Jefferson, Lowndes, Macon, Russell, and St. Clair — told us that § 3-1-5 is applicable and enforced, but were unable to produce any record of adoption.
In some cases, officials reported that residents were regularly convicted. If so, these counties are arresting and prosecuting residents without legal authority to do so.
Commissioners would be wise to adopt (or re-adopt) to avoid due process violations while also protecting public safety and quality of life.
Why Did Counties Adopt?
- Public Safety: Chilton, Limestone, Montgomery, Mobile, Shelby, Walker
- Request of Law Enforcement: Baldwin, Chilton, Mobile
- Request of Residents: Blount, Mobile, Walker
- After an Attack: Lawrence, Walker
- Property Damage: Elmore, Madison
- General Purposes (e.g., “in the best interest of the citizens”): Calhoun, Chambers, Colbert, Etowah, Lauderdale, Lee, Marshall, Morgan, Tuscaloosa
A Tag is Always Required
| Alabama Requires that All Dogs Wear a Rabies Tag | |
|---|---|
| statute | § 3-7A-1 et seq., known as the Rabies Chapter |
| applicability | Statewide. |
| summary | A current rabies tag must be worn. Untagged dogs found at-large are to be impounded. Direct notice of impoundment is required if the owner is known. |
| reporting | Call Dispatch or Animal Control or follow local reporting instructions. |
| enforcement | Rabies tag enforcement is tasked to the County Rabies Officer. Pickup of loose dogs is tasked to ACOs and LEOs. |
| penalty | Up to twice the state vaccination charge, a fee for vaccination, and a boarding fee. |
| note | Many areas are in violation of the state’s requirement that they impound loose untagged dogs. |
Additional Resources
- Information for Counties & Municipalities: Considerations for elected officials, animal control officers, law enforcement agencies, and citizens in counties which have not adopted the statute or need to re-adopt due to missing records.
- Animal Control & Pounds by County: Map of which counties have a pound or shelter and at least one ACO, and details about each county.
- How to Report an At-Large Violation: Step-by-step guide on documenting, reporting, and pressing charges.