Cogburn Davidson | June 9, 2025 | Dog Bites
A loose dog can turn a peaceful morning walk into an emergency-room sprint in seconds. At Cogburn Davidson Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve spent over 40 years proving leash-law violations and securing life-changing verdicts and settlements for bite victims across Southern Nevada. Below is our lawyer-curated guide to when—and where—Nevada law requires a leash, and how those rules can make or break a personal injury claim.
Nevada’s Statewide Baseline: NRS 202.500
Nevada’s Legislature has not passed a blanket “all dogs must be leashed” statute. Instead, it regulates restraint through the state’s dangerous- and vicious-dog law, which focuses on animals that have already exhibited threatening behavior. Here’s how it works:
| Classification | Legal Trigger (Within an 18-Month Span) | Owner’s Mandatory Action | Criminal Penalty for Violation |
| Dangerous Dog | The dog “menaces” (i.e., lunges, growls, snaps, or otherwise puts a person in reasonable fear of injury) twice without provocation. | Dog must be securely confined on-property (enclosed yard, kennel) and muzzled or leashed whenever off-property. | Misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail and/or $1,000 fine). |
| Vicious Dog | The dog inflicts severe injury or death once, or a previously classified “dangerous” dog menaces again after the owner has been warned. | Dog may never be outside a secure enclosure—public muzzling/leashing is not enough. Destroying the animal is authorized. | Gross misdemeanor for possession; felony if the vicious dog attacks again. |
Source: Nevada Revised Statutes § 202.500
Because routine leash and containment rules are set by county and city ordinances, the next—and often decisive—question becomes where, exactly, the bite occurred. Local codes in Clark County, Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas add day-to-day leash requirements that can transform your case from a debate over prudence to clear-cut negligence per se.
Key Points
- A single documented bite that breaks skin can lead to immediate “vicious” designation, strengthening any civil-negligence claim against the owner
- Police or animal-control officers initiate the classification, and owners receive written notice—records our firm subpoenas to prove prior knowledge
- Even if the dog was leashed at the time of your attack, a prior “dangerous” label shows the owner already owed heightened restraint duties
Clark County (Unincorporated Areas): Clark County Code § 10.36.040
Any dog off the owner’s premises must be “secured by a leash, chain or other adequate means.” Violations are misdemeanors (Code of Ordinances | Clark County, NV | Municode Library).
Key Point
The owner has already broken the law if you were bitten in Paradise, Spring Valley, Summerlin, or another unincorporated area, and the dog was unleashed.
City of Las Vegas: Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.36.030
Dogs must be on a leash or otherwise restrained whenever they leave the property, except inside a designated off-leash area (§ 7.36.030. At large., Chapter 7.36. NUISANCES, Title 7. ANIMALS, Code of Ordinances, Las Vegas).
A dog is at large when it is not “secured to and restrained by a leash or lead” and not confined to the owner’s premises.
City of Henderson: Henderson Code – Title 7 Animals
The city requires owners to restrain or confine dogs and authorizes impoundment for animals found roaming (Code of Ordinances | Henderson, NV | Municode Library).
Why Leash-Law Violations Supercharge a Civil Claim
| Legal Advantage | How It Strengthens Your Case |
| Negligence per Se | Breaking a safety ordinance = automatic breach of duty. |
| Comparative-fault shield | An illegal off-leash dog makes it harder for insurers to blame you for “provocation.” |
| Punitive-damage leverage | Repeat leash citations can show reckless disregard for public safety. |
Steps to Take After an Unleashed-Dog Bite
- Photograph the scene—capture the dog roaming free, open gates, or broken fences
- Report to animal control (Clark County: 702-455-7710; Las Vegas: 702-229-6444; Henderson: 702-267-4970)
- Seek medical care immediately—document every stitch and shot
- Call an experienced dog-bite lawyer; we subpoena prior citations and surveillance footage before it disappears
Choose Trusted, Statute-Driven Advocacy
Knowing the leash laws is step one; translating them into maximum compensation is where our decades of courtroom experience shine. The dog bite lawyers at Cogburn Davidson have recovered hundreds of millions for Nevada victims by turning simple code violations into compelling negligence claims. Contact us today to book your complimentary case evaluation and learn more about how we can help.