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ROH §12-4.4

Which dogs are exempt from this leash law

Read the official text at honolulu.gov ↗

This section lists five types of dogs that do not have to follow the leash rules in this article. These include service dogs, police dogs, hunting dogs, competition dogs, and dogs in special park areas. Each type has its own conditions, like being with the owner or having permission.

The ordinance, as written (Honolulu County) — Applicability

A copy, taken August 22, 2026. The version published by Honolulu is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.

This article does not apply to: (1) Microchipped dogs functioning as service dogs under control of their handlers. A service dog under control of its handler must have a harness, leash, or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service dog’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service dog must otherwise be under the handler’s control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective means); (2) Microchipped dogs trained and used by the Honolulu police department or another law enforcement agency in law enforcement work, while such dogs are engaged in the performance of such work; (3) Microchipped hunting dogs when accompanied by their owner on public or private hunting or shooting grounds, or both; (4) Microchipped obedience trial, tracking, and show dogs accompanied by their owner and being trained or in competition in public parks or school grounds, provided permission is first obtained from the proper park or school authorities for this use; or (5) Microchipped dogs when accompanied by persons18 years of age or older having custody and control of the dogs and located in a public park or in an area in a public park designated by a sign that the public park or area has been designated by the director of parks and recreation for use by dogs and persons having custody and control of the dogs pursuant to § 10-1.7 . )
Read the official text at honolulu.gov ↗as published Jan 1, 2026our copy taken Aug 22, 2026

Published by the City and County of Honolulu through American Legal Publishing.

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.