First walks in New York.
New York asks for a leash of six feet or less in public, and off-leash only inside dog runs or in designated areas during courtesy hours. The city’s own rules, the Parks department’s official directory, and how we suggest starting a new dog’s first week.
The rules, in short
From the NYC Health Code, New York State law, and the Parks department’s own pages.
- 1Leash, six feet at most, in every public place
- 2Off-leash only in dog runs and designated areas
- 3Designated areas: opening to 9 a.m., 9 p.m. to close
- 4License and rabies tags on the dog’s collar
- 5Carry proof of license and rabies vaccination
- 6Pick up after your dog
Hours, exceptions & the fine print
Dog runs are fenced and open during park hours; designated off-leash areas keep the courtesy hours - from park opening until 9 a.m. and from 9 p.m. until close (MacNeil Park in Queens is the named exception: 6 to 9 a.m. only). Licenses run through the city’s health department: $8.50 a year for a spayed or neutered dog, $34 for an unaltered dog over four months, one to five years at a time.
The first week
The same calm start we suggest everywhere - on New York’s streets.
- 1Leash, quiet streets, short and sniffy - calm hours, near home, ending before your dog is wound up. An off-leash area is not day-one material for a brand-new dog.
- 2Sniffing is the point - let your dog pause and sniff instead of focusing on distance. More on the sniff walk.
- 3Settle first, explore later - more on the first days: a routine for a newly adopted dog and a calm start to every walk.
The runs and areas, for later
Once your dog has settled. The Parks department’s directory lists 132 dog-friendly locations - 82 fenced dog runs and 50 designated off-leash areas. Two well-known spots per borough:
- 1Tompkins Square Park Dog Run - E 9th St & Ave B, Manhattan
- 2Central Park - 23 designated off-leash areas, no enclosed runs, Manhattan
- 3Prospect Park - Middle & Upper Long Meadow off-leash, Brooklyn
- 4McCarren Park Dog Run - N 12th St, Driggs & Union, Brooklyn
- 5Forest Park: K9 Korral - Park Lane South & 85th St, Queens
- 6Cunningham Park Dog Run - 193rd St, Queens
- 7Silver Lake Park Dog Run - Victory Blvd, Staten Island
- 8Wolfe’s Pond Park Dog Run - Cornelia Ave, Staten Island
- 9Van Cortlandt Park: Canine Court - Broadway & 252nd St, Bronx
- 10Pelham Bay Park Dog Run - Middletown Rd, Bronx
Runs are open during park hours and park hours vary - follow the posted sign on site. The full 132-entry directory, with addresses for all five boroughs, is linked under Good to know.
Pins mark the park or its listed access point, not the exact off-leash boundary.
Good to know
Worth knowing
The six-foot leash rule comes from the city Health Code, and it applies again the moment your dog steps outside a run or past the courtesy hours. The Health Code also requires carrying proof of a current license and rabies vaccination whenever the dog is in public - the rabies shot itself is New York State law, first given by four months of age. On beaches, dogs are allowed on the sand only from October 2 to the Friday before Memorial Day.
Sources
Sources: NYC Parks, “Dogs in New York City Parks” (rules and the full directory): nycgovparks.org/facilities/dogruns. NYC Health Code §§ 161.03–161.05: nyc.gov Health Code Article 161 (PDF). NYC Department of Health, “Dog Licenses”: nyc.gov/site/doh/services/dog-licenses.page. NY Public Health Law § 2141: nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PBH/2141. All verified November 2, 2026.
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