March 26, 2026, 6:00 am | Read time: 6 minutes
Anyone traveling with their dog in Lower Saxony must navigate a highly complex set of rules. There is no uniform regulation for leash requirements here, which can quickly become a risk for fines for owners and tourists alike. But where exactly is a leash mandatory?
Lower Saxony has a statewide dog law. However, the municipalities primarily decide on the various leash rules. And although the state is one of the few that does not maintain a list of potentially dangerous dogs, the cities alone decide this, such as Göttingen, where the dog tax for “dangerous dogs” is currently set to increase.
Is There a General Leash Requirement in Lower Saxony?
Lower Saxony has an internal state law that regulates many aspects of dog ownership. The NHundG states, for example, that owners are required to prove their expertise in proper dog handling. This regulation has been in effect since July 1, 2013. Expertise must be demonstrated to the municipality upon request by successfully passing a theoretical and practical proficiency test.
Additionally, owners must take out liability insurance with a minimum coverage of 500,000 euros for personal injuries and 250,000 euros for property damage, at the latest when the dog is six months old.
However, the statewide law does not include a general leash requirement, only one for dogs proven to be dangerous. This does not mean that leash requirements do not exist in Lower Saxony—they are found in many city ordinances applicable in their respective areas.
Hanover
In Hanover, a general leash requirement applies in public areas of the city center according to the Dog Ordinance (HundeVO) of 1998. In the forests, this leash requirement only applies in protected areas and in the Eilenriede areas between Fritz-Behrens-Allee, Bernadotte-Allee, and Hohenzollernstraße.
The leash requirement also applies within the district of Mitte, pedestrian zones, shopping centers, and within a distance of 50 meters from daycare centers and schools. The leash length must not exceed 150 cm. 1
Braunschweig
In Braunschweig, there is a year-round leash requirement in the following nature and landscape protection areas:
- Schapener Forest
- Riddagshausen
- Lammer Wood
- Braunschweiger Okeraue
- Mehlkamp and Heinenkamp
- Mascheroder and Rautheimer Wood
- Thuner Sundern
The same applies to the following public areas:
- Bürgerpark – from Lessingplatz to Friedrich-Kreiß-Weg and Kreißberg
- Inselwallpark
- Löwenwall (green area)
- Prinz-Albrecht-Park excluding Franzsches Feld/Nußberg
- Richmond Park – east section
- Museum Park
- Theater Park
- Viewegs Garden
- Hermann-Löns-Park
Additionally, there is a general prohibition on dogs entering historical and city cemeteries, city playgrounds, youth and sports fields, and other areas designated for play and lounging by appropriate signs in public areas. Dogs are also not allowed on lawns and sand areas in Heidbergpark. 2
Osnabrück
The Lower Saxony city of Osnabrück has also enacted specific regulations on where dogs must be leashed. The complete list can be found in the “Ordinance on Leash Requirements for the Protection of Recreation Seekers and Wild Animals in the City of Osnabrück from June 25, 2019.”
Generally, dogs in Osnabrück are allowed to roam freely outside the city center, forest areas, Bürgerpark, cemeteries, and the Rubbenbruch area. 3
Göttingen
According to an announcement from the city, a year-round leash requirement exists in the Göttinger Forest and Kerstlingeröder Field nature reserve, as well as in wildlife protection areas marked with a green sign.
In the city area, dogs must be leashed within and on the Göttinger Wallanlagen, as well as on the east side of the train station square and in front of the New Town Hall.
Are There Special Regulations for Listed Dogs?
Lower Saxony does not maintain a list of potentially dangerous dog breeds at the state level. However, the NHundG includes regulations on how dogs that are proven to be dangerous due to their behavior should be kept. One of these animals must be leashed outside escape-proof areas and “must wear a muzzle” (NHundG §9). This requirement can be lifted with a temperament test.
And here it gets really complicated: Some cities in Lower Saxony refer to the “Law on the Restriction of Bringing or Importing Dangerous Dogs into the Country” (HundVerbrEinfG §2). According to this, dogs of the breeds Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, and their crossbreeds with other dogs may not be brought into or imported into the country.
Based on this, Hanover, Braunschweig, and Osnabrück impose a higher dog tax for these “dangerous” dogs—but a separate leash requirement does not arise from either the state or federal law. This would only be the case if, according to §7 of the NHundG, the competent authority receives a notice of increased aggression in a dog, particularly if people or animals have been bitten or there is a combativeness, aggressiveness, or sharpness beyond the natural level.
As mentioned earlier, Göttingen is now also considering following the example of these municipalities and imposing higher dog taxes for these animals; however, the city’s general leash requirement only applies in the listed areas, as long as the municipalities do not also go their own way in these areas.
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Breeding and Setting Season–In Lower Saxony, Dogs Must Be Leashed from April 1 to July 15
In Lower Saxony, there are special regulations during the so-called breeding and setting season. According to the Lower Saxony Law on Forests and Landscape Management (NWaldLG § 33), every person in the open landscape is required to ensure that dogs under their supervision do not stray or hunt and are leashed from April 1 to July 15.
This is to protect the retreat opportunities of wildlife from disturbance, as well as to protect recreation seekers from harassment by free-roaming dogs, according to the wording of the law. This applies particularly to lawns, playgrounds, and sports facilities.
Further Leash Regulations in Lower Saxony 2026
African swine fever is also an issue in Lower Saxony, so seasonal leash regulations may come into effect. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection advises walkers who discover wild boars with unusual behavior or dead wild boars to report this immediately to the local veterinary office.
Dog owners must ensure that their animals are kept away from wild boars to prevent possible virus transmission and not disturb the wildlife. In regions affected by ASF, a leash requirement may be imposed.
Do you live in Lower Saxony and/or miss a municipal or current regulation on leash requirements for 2026 in this article? Write to us at redaktion@petbook.de.