Lakewood is a very dog-friendly city that features lots of opportunities for exercise, local events, and the Lakewood Dog Park. Dog owners in Lakewood are required to adhere to all local laws and regulations outlined below.
All dogs must have an annual dog license. The State of Ohio has required all Ohio counties to issue dog licenses for residents within that county. The Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer issues dog license for Lakewood residents. Dog licenses are issued annually between December 1 and January 31.
Your dog’s license tag will also help identify your dog and the dog’s home address in the event your dog gets loose.
Visit the Cuyahoga County Dog License page for more information and to register your dog online. Dog licenses can also be purchased at these county-approved dog license providers.
On September 30, 2018 L.C.O. Section 504.24 – Insurance Coverage for Dog Liability, took affect and requires every owner, keeper or harborer of a dog in the City of Lakewood to maintain public liability insurance in a single incident amount of at least $10,000.00. All residents (whether you own or rent) are obligated under the law to maintain this insurance coverage. This type of animal coverage is often covered in a standard homeowner’s or renter’s liability policy. You are encouraged to contact your insurance agent or check your homeowner’s or renter’s liability policy to determine if this coverage is already included in your policy.
For questions, contact the Law Department at (216) 529-6030.
If your homeowner’s or renter’s liability policy has breed restrictions that affect your ability to find coverage, the following is a list of insurance companies the city has compiled that have no breed restrictions in their policy coverage. This list is provided for your convenience only and may not be accurate or exhaustive. The city is prohibited from recommending any particular insurance carrier and strongly encourages you to get quotes and compare pricing as well as check references and specific policy language.
These national companies do not have national breed policies:
Others companies that indicate they may not have breed restrictive policies are:
No. If you are stopped for a violation of Chapter 505 or 506 due to the behavior of your dog or the failure to comply with the basic responsible pet owner requirements outlined in the ordinance. You will be requested to show proof of insurance or provide it within a reasonable amount of time.
Lakewood no longer has breed specific legislation. All dogs are welcome in Lakewood. With this legislation change came new, rigorous classifications for and restrictions on dogs based upon their behavior and bite history.
The new animal ordinance applies to all dogs and may be found in revised LCO Chapter 505 and LCO Chapter 506.
Dogs may be walked in all of Lakewood’s parks, but they must always be on a leash. Dogs are not allowed in picnic pavilions, athletic fields, tennis courts, or playgrounds.
Retractable leashes are prohibited in Lakewood. All dog leashes must be no more than 6 feet in length. Failure to comply is a violation of Chapter 505.02 and is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
