March 26, 2026, 6:05 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Anyone traveling with their dog in Rhineland-Palatinate should be well-informed about the applicable leash regulations. While there is a specific state dog law for dangerous dogs, in many cases, the respective municipality decides where dogs must be leashed. Especially in cities like Mainz, Koblenz, or Ludwigshafen, different regulations apply—and during the breeding and setting season, municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate can impose leash requirements for certain areas.

Is There a General Leash Law in Rhineland-Palatinate?

Rhineland-Palatinate does not have a comprehensive general leash law for all dogs, even though there is a dog law. This law exclusively addresses “dangerous dogs.” This means: At the state level, there is no uniform law that requires all dog owners to keep their animals on a leash at all times.

Instead, municipalities are authorized to establish their own leash regulations. And they do—often through hazard prevention ordinances, green space statutes, or specific regulations for nature conservation areas. What is allowed in Mainz may already be considered an administrative offense in Trier or Koblenz.

Mainz

In Mainz, according to two municipal hazard prevention ordinances, a general leash requirement applies in:

• public green spaces,
• pedestrian zones,
• and certain nature conservation areas.

Furthermore, it is prohibited to walk dogs without a suitable handler or to let them roam freely in public areas and pedestrian zones, as well as to take them to playgrounds or let them bathe in fountains, ponds, or water basins.

Guide dogs are exempt, provided they are identified as such. Dogs must be kept on a leash short enough to ensure that other people or the public are not disturbed or endangered, thus maintaining public safety and order. ¹

Another hazard prevention ordinance, “for the protection of individual green spaces in the city of Mainz against contamination by dogs,” also stipulates that in public green spaces

• Goetheplatz (except crossing Leibnizstraße – Goethestraße)
• Laubenheimer Park

walking or “letting dogs run freely” is prohibited. ²

Violations are punished with a warning or fines. The leash must be short enough to keep the dog under control at all times—though a maximum leash length is not specifically defined. Dogs are also prohibited from entering playgrounds and lawns.

Ludwigshafen

In Ludwigshafen, there is a comprehensive leash requirement throughout the city area—both on streets and in green spaces. Those who still want to allow their dogs to run free can use one of the officially designated dog run areas. These are located, for example:

• in Riedsaumpark,
• at Zedtwitzhof in Mundenheim,
• or at Rheinschanzenpromenade.

Important: Listed dogs and dangerous dogs must remain leashed there according to LHundG.

Koblenz

In Koblenz, dogs must:

• always be leashed on public streets within towns.
• be immediately leashed outside of towns when other people approach or become visible.

This regulation applies regardless of size or breed.

Trier

In Trier, a leash requirement applies on public streets within built-up areas and within public facilities. Outside built-up areas, dogs must be leashed immediately and without prompting when other people approach or become visible.

Additionally, dogs are prohibited on playgrounds, in fountains, ponds, or water basins. Administrative offenses can be fined up to 5,000 euros. Service dogs from police, customs, military, etc., are exempt from the leash requirement, provided the handlers can legitimize themselves. ³

Are There Special Regulations for Listed Dogs?

The Rhineland-Palatinate State Dog Law (LHundG) exclusively regulates the keeping of so-called dangerous dogs (§1). These include:

• Dogs that have already been noticed for aggression or biting behavior,
• Dogs with excessive combat readiness or aggressiveness,
• as well as certain breeds like American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, and pitbull terrier, and crossbreeds containing the mentioned breeds.

For these animals, a leash and muzzle requirement applies throughout the state outside of one’s own property (§5). Additionally, keeping a dog under the conditions of this law must be permitted with proof of expertise and reliability. Violations of the law and the leash requirement embedded in it can be fined up to 10,000 euros.

More on the topic

Legal Matters Leash Requirement for Dogs in Saarland–Rules for 2026

Legal Matters Leash Requirement for Dogs in Bremen: Rules for 2026

Are There Special Regulations for Breeding and Setting Season?

Rhineland-Palatinate does not have a state-regulated breeding and setting season. However, dog owners are required by the State Hunting Law (LJG) to prevent poaching and disturbing wildlife.

There is no legally regulated fixed period for a seasonal leash requirement. Local authorities, such as hunting and nature conservation authorities, can issue temporary regulations based on the law.

A small curiosity is found in the Forest Law (LWaldG) of Rhineland-Palatinate: Driving with dog teams and trail vehicles in the forest is only allowed if prior consent from the forest owner is obtained.

Further Leash Regulations in Rhineland-Palatinate 2026

Rhineland-Palatinate has already confirmed cases of African swine fever, which could again lead to a leash requirement in certain areas in 2026. To counteract the spread of the disease, a leash requirement is in place in the so-called “infected zones.”

According to the overview page of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy and Mobility, this applies to Alzey-Worms with the city Worms, Donnersbergkreis, Bad Dürkheim, Mainz-Bingen with the city Mainz, as well as the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis with the cities Frankenthal, Ludwigshafen, and Speyer. In these cities and municipalities, restricted zones have already been imposed. These zones can be lifted or reinstated depending on the disease situation. If you are unsure whether a disease protection zone is currently in effect, you should contact the local health authority.

The background is to prevent disturbance of wildlife populations so that potentially infected wild boars are not driven into areas where no infected pigs are currently present. 

Do you live in Rhineland-Palatinate and/or miss a municipal or current regulation on the leash requirement for 2026 in this article? Write to us at redaktion@petbook.de.