Kern County Dog Leash Laws
We tend to think of dogs not only as our pets, but as family members, and therefore as an important part of our society. Dog ownership is immensely common all across the United States, and that’s also true in Kern County. If you drive through the area, you’ll most likely see a plethora of dogs out and about with their humans.
However, that also means that we need to keep them and others safe. That’s done by way of Kern County dog leash laws. Below you’ll find a list of incorporated communities in Kern County. To see the specific leash law that governs in your area, click on the appropriate name, and you’ll be taken to the information you need.
Kern County Communities
Kern County Dog Leash Laws
The Kern County dog leash law governs all unincorporated areas of the county. The county law also applies to:
Maricopa
Kern County Dogs at Large Law Text:
Title 7, Section 7.08.150 – Dogs at large prohibited—Confinement.
A. It is unlawful for the owner of any dog to allow it to be on the private property of another person or on public property without the consent of the person owning, occupying or controlling the property. Animals on the property of another person with the consent of the person in charge of the property shall be under such restraint as is necessary to protect persons and other animals from injury and to protect the property from damage. In particular, dogs shall be restrained by a leash and under the immediate control of the handler or confined within an enclosed pen when on public property, unless the officer in charge of the property has consented to the owner exercising another form of restraint.
(Ord. G-6942 § 5 (part), 2002)
Arvin Dogs at Large Law
Arvin Dogs at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.04.050 – Dogs at large prohibited—Confinement.
A. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to allow it to be on the private property of another person or public property without the consent of the person owning, occupying or controlling the property. Animals on the property of another person with the consent of the person in charge of the property shall be under such restraint as is necessary to protect persons and other animals from injury and to protect the property from damage. In particular, dogs shall be restrained by a leash not longer than six feet (6′) in length and under the immediate control of the handler or confined within an enclosed pen when on public property unless the officer in charge of the property has consented to the owner exercising another form of restraint.
(Ord. 225 (part), 1988: Ord. 11 §5, 1961).
Bakersfield Dogs at Large Law
Bakersfield Dogs at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.04.220 Dogs at large—Impounding.
A. It is unlawful for any dog whether or not the same is licensed and/or vaccinated, to stray, run, or in any other manner to be at large in or upon any public highway, street, sidewalk, alley, lane, park or other public place, or upon the property of any person other than the animal owner, without the permission of the owner or occupant of such property.
(Ord. 5146 § 1, 2023; Ord. 3940 § 1, 1999; prior code § 9.08.230)
California City Dog Leash Law
California City Dog Leash Law Text:
Article 1, Sec. 6-1.103. – Requirements.
(a) Dog owners shall:
(1) Obtain a license from the City;
(2) Restrain the animal with a leash not more than ten feet in length when the animal is not within an enclosed yard; and
(3) Vaccinate the animal.
Delano Dogs at Large Law
Delano Dogs at Large Law Text:
Chapter 8, Section 8.12.155 – At large—Impoundment generally.
Any dog found in the city, either without a license or running at large under any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.12.154, is declared to be a nuisance shall be impounded as provided in this chapter.
(Ord. 1154 § 1(part), 2007).
McFarland Leash Law
McFarland Leash Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.04.070 – Leashing and tethering.
It is unlawful for any person owning, or having possession, charge, custody or control of any dog, to cause or permit or allow the same to stray or run, or any manner to be at large in or upon any unenclosed lot or place in the city, except upon the premises of and under the immediate care and control of the owner of such dog. It is unlawful for any person owning, or having possession, charge, custody, or control of any dog, to cause or permit or allow the same to stray or run, or in any other manner to be in or upon any enclosed lot or place absent permission from the property owner or lessee.
A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise prohibited by this chapter, dogs may be permitted upon the streets and other public places of the city if on a leash not to exceed six feet in length and under the immediate care and control of the owner or another person competent to exercise care, custody and control thereof. A retractable leash may be used if the person can demonstrate proper control of the animal on the device.
(Ord. No. 037-2014, § 1, 3-13-14)
Ridgecrest Dog Leash Law
Ridgecrest Leash Law Text:
Article I, Sec. 3-4. – Leash law.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or having the care, custody, or possession of any dog to keep or maintain any dog in any place in the city except fastened securely by a chain, rope, harness, or leash, or except confined securely within private property legally controlled by the person in possession of the dog.
(Code 1980, § 5-4.1; Ord. No. 85, § 5)
Shafter Running at Large Law
Shafter Running at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.28.010 – Animals straying or running at large prohibited.
A. It is unlawful for any person owning, or having possession, charge, custody or control of any dog, to cause or permit or allow the same to stray or run, or any manner to be at large in or upon any unenclosed lot or place in the city, except upon the premises of and under the immediate care and control of the owner of such dog. It is unlawful for any person owning, or having possession, charge, custody, or control of any dog, to cause or permit or allow the same to stray or run, or in any other manner to be in or upon any enclosed lot or place absent permission from the property owner or lessee.
B. It is likewise unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any animal to cause or permit or allow the same to be staked out, to herd, or to graze upon any unenclosed private lot or land in the city in such manner that the rope or other attachment by which such animal is tethered may permit such animal to be or go beyond the boundaries of the unenclosed private lot or land. Any animal permitted to be at large, as defined above, or otherwise to be within the city in violation of the provisions of this chapter, is a nuisance and a menace to public health and safety.
C. However, unless otherwise prohibited by this chapter, dogs may be permitted upon the streets and other public places of the city if on a leash not to exceed six feet in length and under the immediate care and control of the owner or another person competent to exercise care, custody and control thereof. A retractable leash may be used if the person can demonstrate proper control of the animal on the device.
(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)
Taft Restraint Law
Taft Restraint Law Text:
Title VIII, Chapter 8-2-12: RESTRAINT:
(A) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to allow it to be more than seventy five feet (75′) off his property unless it is restrained. In particular, dogs should be restrained by a leash not longer than six feet (6′) in length and in the immediate control of the handler.
(B) No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance as defined in section 8-2-2 of this chapter.
(Ord. 682-00, 9-5-2000)
Tehachapi Running at Large Law
Tehachapi Running at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.08.080 – Dogs running at large.
A. It is unlawful for the owner of any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to suffer, permit or allow a dog to run at large on any public street, alley, park, square or place, or on any vacant or unenclosed lot or land within the corporate limits of the city, other than those of the person having charge, custody or possession of such dog or dogs.
B. All dogs shall be deemed “running at large” within the meaning of this chapter, unless led or restrained by a substantial leash, chain, strap or cord (not to exceed eight feet in length) attached to their collars and actually held by some person, or made fast to some stationary object.
(Ord. 74-02-401 § 7(a), 1974)
Wasco Dogs at Large Law
Wasco Dogs at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.04.120 Dogs at large prohibited–Confinement.
A. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to allow it to be on the private property of another person or public property without the consent of the person owning, occupying or controlling the property. Animals on the property of another person with the consent of the person in charge of the property shall be under such restraint as is necessary to protect persons and other animals from injury and to protect the property from damage. Dogs shall be restrained by a leash not longer than six feet in length and under the immediate control of the handler or confined within an enclosed pen when on public property unless an officer authorized by the city manager to be in charge of the property has consented to the owner exercising another form of restraint.
B. Any person who at any time finds any animal at large in violation of any of the provisions of this section may take up, confine and hold the animal; provided, that such person shall within four hours thereafter notify the animal control officer of the fact that he has the animal in his possession and shall surrender possession of the animal to the animal control officer upon demand. If an animal is taken up, confined, or held at a time when an animal shelter is not open for business, the person confining it shall within four hours after the shelter reopens, notify the animal control officer that he has the animal in his possession and shall surrender the animal to the animal control officer upon demand. Any person, not employed by the city, who takes up, confines, or holds on animal pursuant to this section assumes all risk and liability associated with such conduct.
(Ord. 587, 2009; Ord. 328 §3, 1987).
