Section 5-58 Confinement of dogs.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person keeping, harboring, owning or responsible for a dog to permit the dog to be off of the premises of the person keeping, harboring, owning or responsible for the dog unless the dog is held on a leash by a competent person. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a dog in a vehicle being driven or parked upon a street if the dog is secured in a manner that prevents escape. For purposes of this section, the common areas, both indoors and outdoors, of an apartment building or other multiple unit residential structure shall not be considered part of the premises of the person keeping, harboring, owning or responsible for a dog.

(b) It is a defense to a charge of violating this section that the dog involved is a working dog trained to assist disabled individuals and that the dog is under the control of a competent person and obedient to the command of such person.

(c) It is a defense to a charge of violating this section that the dog involved was participating in an organized competition or that the dog involved was engaged in an organized training exercise under the supervision of a person competent to provide such training.

(d) It is a defense to a charge of violating this section that the dog involved is a trained police dog and that the dog is under the control of a competent person and obedient to the command of such person.

(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any dog in a dog running area established by this section; provided, that the dog is under the control of a competent person and obedient to the command of such person. The following areas are designated as dog running areas, except that the parks department may designate leash areas within the areas: