Placer County Dog Leash Laws
When we take our dogs out in public in Placer County, we are accomplishing several goals. Not only are we giving our dogs the daily exercise they need, but we are also socializing them and bonding with them. Dogs are an important part of our lives, and we need to do what we can to keep them safe.
ANIMAL CONTROL
To ensure the safety of your dog, other people, pets, wildlife, and the community, Placer County Animal Services enforces strict requirements that dogs be kept securely on a leash or in an adequate enclosure when off private property (with limited exceptions for designated areas or working dogs). 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 more on animal control services and related information, see our Placer County Animal Control page.
One of the ways we handle this is by way of dog leash and running at large laws. Below you’ll find a list of all of the incorporated communities in Placer County. If you’d like to see the leash and/or running at large law where you are, just click on the appropriate location and you’ll be taken to the information you need.
Placer County Dog Leash Law
The Placer County dog restraint law governs all unincorporated areas of the county.
Placer County Animal Control Regulations Law Text:
Article 6.08, § 6.08.010 Violations.
It is unlawful for the owner of any animal to violate any of the provisions of this chapter hereinbefore or hereinafter set out, or to commit any of the following acts:
A. To allow any animal to run at large;
B. To allow any animal to trespass upon public property or upon any private property without the consent of the owner of the property;
(Ord. 5653-B § 12, 2011)
Auburn Dogs at Large Law
Auburn Dogs at Large Law Text:
Section 97.028 Animals At Large; Leash And Confinement Of Dogs Required
An owner must not allow an animal to be at large with the following exceptions:
1. Dogs secured within a vehicle or dog carrier;
2. Animals trained to assist a person with a disability provided that they are accompanied by a disabled person whom they have been assigned to assist and evidence acceptable to the Department is provided demonstrating the animal’s training as an assistive animal;
3. Dogs participating in field or obedience training or exhibitions;
4. Dogs assisting a security guard in the course of the security guard’s duties;
5. Police dogs;
6. Dogs being trained for any of the purposes set forth in this section on private land with permission of the land owner, so long as the dogs are under direct control of a trainer to ensure that they remain subject to his or her control.
7. Until such time as the Legislature amends Government Code Section 53074 to allow otherwise, this section shall be enforced as follows:
1. No owner shall be cited because his or her dog is not leashed while on property owned or controlled by the owner unless the dog has strayed off the property.
2. A dog that has strayed from but returned to private property owned or controlled by the owner of the dog shall not be seized or impounded, but a citation may be issued; provided however, that if the owner is not home, the dog may be impounded.
3. Whenever a dog is impounded under this section from the property owned or controlled by the owner of the dog, the Animal Control Officer shall post an impound notice on the property.
The notice shall provide the following information:
1. That the dog has been impounded and where the animal is held;
2. The address and telephone number of the animal shelter or other place where the animal is held and the name of the person to be contacted regarding release of the dog;
3. The ultimate disposition of the dog if no action to regain it is taken within a specified period of time by its owner.
(Ord. 10-06, eff. 7-28-2010)
Colfax Running at Large Law
Colfax Running at Large Law Text:
There is no specific code section regarding dogs running at large. However, there is a law regarding the impoundment of them:
Chapter 6.08, Section 6.08.070 – Impounding.
A. Any dog having no license tag attached to its collar, whether a license shall have been issued for it or not, shall be captured and impounded by the poundmaster. The poundmaster is also authorized and empowered to capture and impound any dog not vaccinated and licensed as provided for by this chapter or not wearing the official vaccination tag as required by this chapter and which is found going free or running at large in or upon any place within the city.
B. An impounded unlicensed dog shall be kept and maintained by the poundmaster for a period of seventy-two (72) hours, after which, if the dog is not redeemed or otherwise disposed of, it shall be humanely destroyed by the poundmaster. If the dog carries a license, the poundmaster shall keep and maintain the dog for a period of seven days and shall notify the owner thereof of the impounding, either personally or by registered mail, after which, if the dog is not redeemed or otherwise disposed of, it shall be humanely destroyed by the poundmaster.
(Prior code § 6-1.10)
Lincoln Running at Large Law
Lincoln Running at Large Law Text:
Chapter 6.12, Section 6.12.010 – Prohibited acts.
It is unlawful for the owner of any animal to violate any of the provisions of this title, or to commit any of the following acts:
(1) To allow any animal, except the domestic cat, to run at large;
(2) To allow any animal to trespass upon public property or upon any private property without the consent of the owner of the property;
(Ord. 804B § 2(part), 2006)
Loomis At Large Law
Loomis At Large Law Text:
Chapter 4.04, § 4.04.140 Violations.
It is unlawful for the owner of any animal to violate any of the provisions of this chapter hereinbefore or hereinafter set out, or to commit any of the following acts, to wit:
A. To allow any animal to run at large;
B. To allow any animal to trespass upon public property or upon any private property without the consent of the owner of the property;
(County code § 3.60; Ord. 207 § 17, 2003)
Rocklin At Large Law
Rocklin At Large Law Text:
Chapter 6.12, Section 6.12.020 – Animals at large.
A. No person shall allow any animal, except the domestic cat, to run at large.
B. A dog shall not be considered at large if it is:
1. A trained service animal as defined in California Civil Code § 54.1(6) through 54.1(7)(b). This exception only applies to individuals whose disability prevents them from using a restraint. In such a case, the individual must maintain voice, signal or other effective control of the animal.
2. Assisting or in training to assist a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties.
3. Within the confines of a city designated dog park.
4. Securely confined in a vehicle.
(Ord. 483 § 3.1 (a), 1982).
(Ord. No. 985, § 5, 6-12-2012)
Roseville Dog Leash Law
Roseville Dog Leash Law Text:
Chapter 7.12, § 7.12.010 Leash law.
No person shall permit or allow any dog to run at large. This section may be cited as the “leash law.”
(Ord. 6268 § 1, 2020)
A. “At large” means the following:
1. Off the premises of the owner or the person having care, custody, control or possession of the dog unless such dog is restrained by a leash or adequate enclosure. The leash shall not exceed six feet in length and shall be of sufficient strength to restrain the dog and must be held continuously by a responsible person capable of controlling the dog.
2. On the premises of the owner or the person having care, custody, control or possession of the dog unless such dog is restrained by means adequate and sufficient to prevent the dog from leaving the premises or under the control and in the immediate presence of the owner or person having care, custody, control or possession of the dog.
(Ord. 6268 § 1, 2020)
