San Joaquin County Dog Leash Laws
San Joaquin County is a unique area, but one thing it has in common with the rest of California and the United States is that the people here love their dogs. If you spend any time out and about in San Joaquin County, you’ll see people out with their dogs, going about their days. They are part of our families.
Given the prevalence of dogs in San Joaquin County, there are laws that govern their safety and how we handle them. San Joaquin dog leash and running at large laws exist to help everyone avoid problems. Below you’ll find a list of incorporated cities and towns in San Joaquin County.
Animal Control
To ensure the safety of your dog, other people, pets, wildlife, and the community, San Joaquin County Animal Services enforces strict requirements that dogs be kept securely on a leash when off private property (with limited exceptions for designated areas). When owners fail to restrain their dogs properly, it can result in at-large incidents, potential injuries, bites, or enforcement actions like citations and impoundment. For a list of animal control locations, see our San Joaquin County animal control laws page.
If you’re looking for the law or laws that govern your area, click on the appropriate community and you’ll be taken to the text of these laws and links to them for more information.
San Joaquin County Dog Leash Laws
These San Joaquin dog leash laws govern all unincorporated areas of the county.
San Joaquin County Dog Leash Law Text:
Chapter 1, Section 4-9019 – CONTROL OF DOGS.
(a) The provisions of this subsection apply to those zones that are regulated by Title 9 of the County Ordinance, and are classified as Residential, Rural Residential, and those zones classified as Commercial and Industrial that are adjacent to or bounded by those areas.
(1) No owner or custodian of any dog shall allow such dog to remain at large on any public property without restraint by means of a leash.
(2) No owner or custodian of any dog shall maintain such dog on private property unless the property is fenced in such a manner as to restrain the dog or the dog is secured within a structure, or the dog is restrained by means of a leash.
(b) No owner or custodian of any dog shall allow such dog to remain upon the private property of another without the consent of the property owner.
(Ord. No. 4435, § 2, 6-18-2013)
Escalon Running at Large Law
Escalon Running at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Section 6.08.050 Running at large prohibited.
No person owning any dog, or having the care, custody, or control or possession of any dog shall suffer, allow, or permit such dog to run, be, or remain at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square, or other public place or upon any private property other than the property of the owner or custodian of such dog without the consent of the owner of such property, within the corporate limits of the city, and all dogs may be deemed running at large within the meaning of this section unless tied or restrained by chain, strap or cord, not to exceed six feet in length, attached to their collars and actually held by some person, or staked away from the public walkway or thoroughfare. Any such restraining device shall be of sufficient strength as to prevent being broken, severed or otherwise rendered ineffective by the weight and/or strength of the dog. For purposes of this section, any dog in or upon any vehicle shall be deemed to be on the premises of the operator thereof.
(Ord. 469, 2003)
Lathrop Running at Large Law
Lathrop Running at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.12, § 6.12.050 Running at large prohibited.
No person owning any dog, or having the care, custody or control or possession of any dog shall suffer, allow or permit such dog to run, be or remain at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square, school or other public place or upon any private property other than the property of the owner or custodian of such dog without the consent of the owner of such property, within the corporate limits of the city; and all dogs may be deemed running at large within the meaning of this section unless tied or restrained by chain, strap or cord, not to exceed six feet in length, attached to their collars and actually held by some person, or staked away from the public walkway or thoroughfare. Any such restraining device shall be of sufficient strength as to prevent being broken, severed or otherwise rendered ineffective by the weight and/or strength of the dog; and every dog found running at large in violation of the provisions of this section shall be immediately seized and impounded. For purposes of this section, any dog in or upon any vehicle shall be deemed to be on the premises of the operator thereof.
(Prior code § 91.070)
Lodi Animals at Large Law
Lodi Animals at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.12, Section 6.12.120 – Animals at large.
A. No person owning any dog or other domesticated animal as defined herein or having the care, custody, control or possession of any such animal shall, except as provided in Section 12.12.020(B) of this code, suffer, allow or permit such animal to run, be or remain at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square or other public place, or upon any private property other than the property of the owner or custodian of such animal without the consent of the owner of such property within the corporate limits of the city. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, all animals are “running at large” within the meaning of this section unless tied, restrained by chain, strap or cord not exceeding six feet in length attached to their collars and actually held by some person or tied or restrained in an automobile or other vehicle, or unless staked or fastened or kept securely in an enclosure upon the property of the owner or person in control of said dog. A dog is not “kept securely in an enclosure” within the meaning of this section when said dog has exhibited the ability to escape from that enclosure.
(Ord. No. 1895, § 1, 8-6-2014)
Manteca Running at Large Law
Manteca Running at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.08, § 6.08.010 Running at large prohibited.
No person owning any dog, or having the care, custody, or control or possession of any dog shall suffer, allow, or permit such dog to run, be, or remain at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square, or other public place or upon any private property other than the property of the owner or custodian of such dog without the consent of the owner of such property, within the corporate limits of the city; and all dogs may be deemed running at large within the meaning of this section unless tied or restrained by chain, strap or cord, not to exceed six feet in length, attached to their collars and actually held by some person, or staked away from the public walkway or thoroughfare. Any such restraining device shall be of sufficient strength as to prevent being broken, severed or otherwise rendered ineffective by the weight and/or strength of the dog. For purposes of this section, any dog in or upon any vehicle shall be deemed to be on the premises of the operator thereof.
(Prior code § 3-13; Ord. 766 (part), 1987)
Ripon Running at Large Law
Ripon Running at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Section 6.12.110 Public Nuisance Declared:
B. It is unlawful for any owner of any animal to allow or permit such animal to run at-large on any public or private premises in violation of the provisions of this chapter. Any animal which is allowed to run at-large contrary to the provisions herein is declared to be a public nuisance. It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer and of every police officer to abate such nuisance by taking such animals into custody and impounding them in the animal shelter.
Stockton Dogs at Large Law
Stockton Dogs at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.04, § 6.04.120 Dogs at large.
Except in the case of a Seeing Eye dog actually being used by a blind person, a signal dog actually being used by a hearing impaired person, or a service dog actually being used by a handicapped person, or a police dog being used by any Federal, State, County, City, or City and County law enforcement agency for any law enforcement purpose, it is unlawful for any person owning or having in charge, care, control, or custody of any dog, to cause, allow, or permit such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, on or upon any public street, alley, or other public place, unless such dog be kept securely confined by a rope, chain, or other leash, securely and continuously held by a competent person, or to permit, whether willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such dogs to commit any nuisance on any property other than the street gutters outside of pedestrian ways or on any improved private property other than that of the owner or persons having charge, care, control, or custody of such dog. For purposes of this section, any dog confined within a vehicle shall be deemed to be on the enclosed premises of the operator thereof, and any dog securely tied or chained so as to be confined within any unenclosed lot or premises shall be deemed to be on an enclosed lot or premises. It is unlawful for any person owning or having in charge, care, control, or custody any dog to suffer or permit any such dog to trespass on private property. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent a dog from being used without a leash to herd, guard, gather, or otherwise work domestic animals or fowls in or upon a public place or unenclosed lot or premises or from participating at obedience trials or dog shows.
(Prior code § 7-116.3; Ord. 021-07 C.S. § 2)
Tracy Animals at Large Law
Tracy Animals at Large Law Text:
Title 5, Chapter 5.08, Section 5.08.230 – Animals at large.
It is hereby declared to be a nuisance and it is unlawful for any person to allow or permit animals, poultry or household pets, to run at large upon any public street or place, or to trespass upon the property of another. This section shall not apply to community cats, as described in Article 6 of this chapter.
(Ord. 1040 § 5 Exh. E (part), 2002: prior code § 5-2.304)
(Ord. No. 1308, § 1(Exh. A), 6-1-2021)
