Imperial County Dog Leash Laws

Dogs are part of our everyday life. We take them the places we go, we do things for them and we give them the love and respect that any family member should expect. We also need to provide them with daily exercise in order to maintain their health and overall happiness.

Therefore, we also need to keep them safe when they encounter the world at large. We do so by way of dog leash and running at large laws. Below you’ll find a list of incorporated communities in Imperial County. Click on the one that applies to you, and you’ll be taken to the text of the leash and/or running at large laws that apply there along with links that provide more information.

Imperial County Dog Leash Laws

The Imperial County dog leash laws apply to the unincorporated areas of the county. They also apply to: Calipatria, Imperial, Westmorland.

Imperial County Dog Leash Laws Text:

Chapter 6.08, Section 6.08.120 – Dogs running at large prohibited.

No dog owner shall cause, permit or allow his or her dog to run at large (i.e., be neither effectively confined by a building, structure or enclosure nor restrained by a rope, strap, chain or other material) in any portion of the unincorporated area of the county, except as hereinafter provided.

(Prior code § 54600)

Section 6.08.150 – Restraint of dogs outside owner premises.

Any dog, outside the premises of its owner and not coming within the provisions of either Section 6.08.130, shall be restrained by a leash or be confined in a vehicle, cage, or enclosure.

(Prior code § 54603)

Brawley Running at Large Law

Brawley Running at Large Law Text:

Article II, Sec. 4.11. – Dogs running at large generally.

Any dog found running loose or at large shall be taken up and impounded by the animal control officer or police department.

The city animal control officer as well as all members of the police department are hereby vested with authority to take up any dog found running at large and impound such dog. The officer taking up such dog shall make a written report in duplicate giving a description of the dog, the date when and the place where the dog was taken up and the license number if the dog has a license. If such dog has a license, a copy of such report shall be mailed to the owner at the address shown by such license record in the police department. The owner of any licensed dog so impounded may redeem the dog upon submittal of applicable fees. If such dog is not redeemed within one hundred twenty hours, the dog will be destroyed per section 4.14.

“At-large” means off the premises of the person owning, or having possession, charge, custody, or control of, the animal and not under the immediate control of a person by means of an enclosure, leash or rope of less than six feet in length, or other means of effective physical control. For the purposes of this Title, the term “at-large” shall not include any dog while being trained in an obedience or other training class, or being exhibited at a show or obedience trial, or being used for hunting purposes by licensed hunters in a lawful manner, or being used as a stock dog working livestock, or while under the immediate physical or vocal control of a person.

(Ord. No. 386, § 7; Ord. No. 486, § 1; Ord. No. 500, § 2; Ord. No. 96-04, § 1.)

Calexico Running at Large Law

Calexico Running at Large Law Text:

Title 6, Section 6.08.020 – Dogs running at large—Declared nuisance.

Any dog running at large within the corporate limits of the city may be declared to be a nuisance by the chief of police, whether the same is licensed or unlicensed, and he may order the same seized by any police officer of the city or by the dogcatcher.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

Section 6.08.030 – Dogs running at large—Restrictions.

A. Any person owning or having custody or control of a dog shall at all times prevent the dog from being “At Large,” and from being in violation of other provisions of law. However, dogs may be unrestrained by a “Leash” while assisting their owners in legal hunting, in the herding of livestock as permitted by law, or on public property with the written permission of, and for purposes authorized by, the agency responsible for regulating the use of such property; so long as such dogs are under direct and effective voice control to ensure that they are not in violation of any other provision of law. This section does not apply to dogs assisting peace officers while performing law enforcement duties. Any person who violates any provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor.

B. “At large” means being on any private property without permission of the person who owns or has a right to possess or use the property; or unrestrained by a “Leash” on either public property, unless expressly permitted by law, or private property open to the public; or in any place or manner which presents substantial risk of imminent interference with animal or public health, safety or welfare.

C. “Leash” means any rope, leather strap, chain or other material not exceeding six feet in length, being held in the hand of a person capable of controlling and actually controlling the animal to which it is attached.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

El Centro Running at Large Law

El Centro Running at Large Law Text:

Article II, Sec. 5-28. – Allowing dogs to run at large—Generally.

It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to suffer, permit or allow such dog to run at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square or place on any vacant or unenclosed lots or land within the city. A dog shall be deemed running at large within the meaning of this section unless such dog is led or restrained by a chain, strap or cord attached to such dog’s collar and actually held by a person or made fast to some stationary object.

(Ord. No. 569, § 1; Code 1962, § 4-67)

Holtville Running at Large Law

Holtville Running at Large Law Text:

Title 7, Section 7.04.070 Running at large prohibited.

It is unlawful for the owner of any dog to suffer, permit, or allow the dog to run at large on any public street, road, alley, park, square, or place, or any vacant or unenclosed lots, or land within the incorporated limits of the city. All dogs shall be deemed running at large within the meaning of this article and Chapter 7.08 HMC unless led or restrained by a chain, strap, or cord attached to their collar, and actually held by a person or made fast to some stationary object.

(Ord. 267 § 3, 1961).