Sonoma County Dog Leash Laws

• Cloverdale
• Cotati
• Healdsburg
• Petaluma
• Rohnert Park
• Santa Rosa
• Sebastopol
• Sonoma
• Town of Windsor

Sonoma County Dog Leash Laws

The Sonoma County dog leash laws apply to the unincorporated areas of the county.

Sonoma County Dog Leash Law Text:

Chapter 5, Article X, Sec. 5-115. – Dogs at large prohibited—Exceptions.

No person shall cause, permit or allow any dog to run at large upon any public street or other public place, or upon any private property or premises other than those of the owner or other person in control of such dog, nor shall any person cause, permit or allow any dog to be upon any public street or other public place unless such dog is restrained by a substantial leash, except:

(a) When such dog is assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of police work;

(b) When such dog is assisting a duly authorized person in an official search and rescue operation;

(c) When such dog is assisting the owner in working, herding or controlling livestock;

(d) When such dog is assisting the owner in hunting on private property with the consent of the owner, lessee, or other person in control thereof;

(e) When such dog is participating in a dog training class, exhibition or competition, or an ongoing training program related thereto, under the direction and control of a dog trainer or other qualified person on public property with the consent of the owner or operator of the grounds or facilities, or on private property with the consent of the owner, lessee or other person in control thereof;

(f) When such dog is accompanying the owner or other person in control of such dog on private property with the consent of the owner, lessee or other person in control thereof.

(Ord. No. 4782 § 13, 1994.)

Cloverdale Dogs at Large Law

Title 6, Chapter 6.08, Section 6.08.020 Dogs at large prohibited—Exceptions.

A. No person owning or having a dog in his care, charge, control, custody or possession shall cause, permit or allow such dog to be in or upon any public street, road, alley or other public place unless such dog is under restraint by leash or chain, except when the dog is confined to a motor vehicle or other enclosure under humane conditions.

B. In no event shall any person owning or otherwise having a dog in his care, charge, control, custody or possession cause, allow or permit such dog to enter upon private property without the consent of a person in possession of such private property, or to damage or destroy any lawn, tree, shrub or other planting upon such property, or any other improvement or thing of value upon such property.

C. The prohibition in subsection A of this section shall not apply to:

1. A guide dog, signal dog, or service dog with a valid assistance dog identification tag assisting, or in training to assist, a person with a disability.

2. A dog assisting, or in training to assist, a peace officer who is engaged in law enforcement duties.

3. A dog enrolled and actively participating in a commercial dog training or obedience class, exhibition or competition.

(Ord. 637-2006 § 1, 2006: Ord. 276 Amd. 1-77 § 2, 1977)

Cotati Dog Restraints Law

Cotati Dogs Restraint Law Text:

Title 7, Chapter 7.12, § 7.12.040 Dogs – Restraint required – Exceptions – Control by responsible person.

A. Every owner or person in possession of a dog shall keep such dog or dogs confined to his or her own premises or shall keep such dog or dogs under physical restraint by means of a leash not to exceed six feet in length except:

1. Assistance dogs while performing their duties;

2. Dogs participating in field or obedience trials or exhibitions;

3. Dogs assisting their owner or handler in legal hunting or in the herding of livestock;

4. Dogs assisting a security guard or assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement activities;

5. 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 such dogs are under direct control of such individuals to assure that they do not violate any other provision of this title or other law.

B. No person shall keep a dog under the physical restraint of a leash unless such person is capable of controlling and directing said dog. Any dog which is not subject to such control and direction may be seized and impounded.

(Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006)

Healdsburg Dogs at Large Law

Title 6, Chapter 6.04, Section 6.04.140 Dogs at large prohibited – Exceptions.

No person shall cause, permit, or allow any dog to run at large upon any public street or other public place, or upon any private property or premises other than those of the owner or other person in control of such dog, nor shall any person cause, permit, or allow any dog to be upon any public street or other public place unless the dog is restrained by a leash not to exceed six feet in length, except:

A. Guide or service dogs while performing their duties for blind, hearing impaired and physically disabled people;

B. Dogs participating in field or obedience trials or animal exhibitions;

C. Dogs assisting their owner and/or possessor in legal hunting or the working, herding, or controlling of livestock;

D. Dogs assisting a security guard or assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties;

E. Areas within the City specifically set aside and posted for the exercise of animals and designated off-leash areas.

Any dog found in violation of this section may be impounded. Any violation of this section is an infraction punishable as provided by law.

(Ord. 1053 § 3, 2007. Code 1964 § 3.14.)

Petaluma Animals at Large Law

Petaluma Animals at Large Law Text:

Title 9, Chapter 9, Section 9.08.130 Animals at large.

A. It is unlawful for any owner and/or possessor of any animal to suffer or permit such animal to be at large as defined in this section. Violations of this section are subject to citation and the animal at large is subject to impoundment as authorized by Chapter 9.28.

B. In the case of dogs, “at large” means a dog that is not on the premises of its owner and/or possessor or the premises of another without permission of the owner or occupant thereof, or not under physical restraint by a person capable of controlling the dog by means of a leash not exceeding six feet in length. This definition shall not apply to:

1. Guide or service dogs while performing their duties for blind, hearing impaired and physically disabled people;

2. Dogs participating in field or obedience trials or animal exhibitions;

3. Dogs assisting their owner and/or possessor in legal hunting or the herding of livestock;

4. Dogs assisting a security guard or assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties;

5. Areas within the city specifically set aside and posted for the exercise of animals.

(Ord. 2349 NCS §1, 2009; Ord. 2185 NCS §2, 2004.)

Rohnert Park Dog Restraint Law

Rohnert Park Dog Restraint Law Text:

Title 6, Chapter 614, Section 6.14.010 – Restraint/Leash requirements.

A. No person owning or otherwise having an animal in his or her care, charge, control, custody or possession shall cause, permit, or allow such animal to enter or trespass upon public or private property so as to damage or destroy anything of value therein, or to interfere with the owners or occupants’ use and enjoyment thereof.

B. No person owning or otherwise having a dog in his or her care, charge, control, custody or possession shall cause, permit or allow such dog to be in or upon any public street, road, alley or other public place unless such dog is restrained and under control by a leash no more than six feet in length or confined in a vehicle in a manner allowed under Section 6.04.290 of this Title.

C. The restraint requirements provide in this section shall not apply to service or assistance dog; a dog participating in field or obedience trials or an obedience training class; animal exhibitions; or a dog assisting a public safety officer engaged in in law enforcement duties.

D. Any animal found in any public place, or upon private property of another without the consent of the owner or possessor of the private property, in violation of this Title, may be impounded.

(Ord. 738 § 1 (part), 2005)

Santa Rosa Restraint Requirements

Santa Rosa Dog Restraint Laws Text:

Title 7, Chapter 7-12, § 7-12.100 Restraint requirements.

(A) No person owning or otherwise having a dog in his or her care, charge, custody or possession shall cause, permit or allow such dog to be in or upon any public street, road, alley or other public place unless such dog is restrained and under control by leash or chain, or unless confined in a vehicle in the manner allowed by Section 7-08.120. The leash or chain shall not exceed six feet in length. This restriction shall not apply to areas within the city specifically set aside and posted for the exercise of animals.

(B) No person owning or otherwise having a dog in his care, charge, control, custody or possession, cause, permit or allow such dog to enter upon private property without consent of the person in possession of the property or to defecate or urinate upon, or to damage or destroy any lawns, trees, shrubs, or other plantings, or any other improvement or thing of value on, such private property.

(C) The restraint requirements provided in this section shall not apply to a service or assistance dog; a dog participating in field or obedience trials; animal exhibitions or training; or a dog assisting a Peace Officer engaged in law enforcement duties, so long as the owner or custodian of such a dog has been issued a written permit by an Animal Control Officer allowing the dog to be off its leash. Such permit shall be in the possession of the owner or possessor of the dog at the time the dog is off its leash and shall be displayed on request of an Animal Control Officer.

(D) Any animal found in any public place, or upon the private property of another without the consent of the owner or possessor of the private property, in violation of this section, may be impounded.

(Prior code § 3.11; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992; Ord. 3258 § 10, 1996)

Sebastopol Dog Restraint Law

Sebastopol Dog Restraint Law Text:

Title 6, Chapter 6.16, Section 6.16.070 Restraint/leash requirements

A. No person owning or otherwise having a dog in his or her care, charge, control, custody or possession shall cause, permit or allow such dog to be in or upon any public street, road, alley, park, or other public place unless such dog is restrained and under control by a leash or confined in a vehicle in a manner allowed under SMC 6.10.160.

B. The restraint requirements provided in this section shall not apply to a service or assistance dog, a dog participating in field or obedience trials, animal exhibitions or training, or a dog assisting a police officer engaged in law enforcement duties, so long as the owner/guardian or custodian of such a dog has been issued a written permit by an Animal Control Officer allowing the dog to be off its leash. Such permit shall be in the possession of the owner/guardian or possessor of the dog at the time the dog is off its leash and shall be displayed on request of an Animal Control Officer.

C. No person owning or otherwise having a dog in his or her care, charge, control, custody or possession shall cause, permit, or allow such dog to enter upon private property without consent of the person in possession of the property or to defecate upon, or to damage or destroy, any lawns, trees, shrubs, or other plantings, or any other improvement or thing of value on such private property.

Sonoma Dogs at Large Law

Sonoma Dogs at Large Law Text:

Title 8, Chapter 8.06, Section 8.06.060 Dogs at large prohibited – Exceptions.

Except as provided by SMC 8.06.070, no person shall cause, permit, or allow any dog to run at large upon any public street or other public place, or upon any private property without the permission of the property owner or premises other than those of the owner or other person in control of such dog, nor shall any person cause, permit, or allow any dog to be upon any public street or other public place unless the dog is restrained by a leash not to exceed six feet in length. This section does not apply to guide or service dogs while performing their duties for blind, hearing impaired and physically disabled people or police dogs while in the performance of their duties.
Any dog found at large in violation of this section may be impounded.

(Ord. 05-2012 § 2, 2012).

Town of Windsor Dogs at Large Law

Town of Windsor Dogs at Large Law Text:

Article 10, Section 3-4-1025 – Dogs At Large Prohibited—Exceptions.

No person shall cause, permit, or allow any dog to run at large upon any public street or other public place, or upon any private property or premises other than those of the owner or other person in control of such dog, nor shall any person cause, permit, or allow any dog to be upon any public street or other public place unless the dog is restrained by a substantial leash, except:

a. When such dog is assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of police work.

b. When such dog is assisting a duly authorized person in an official search and rescue operation.

c. When such dog is assisting the owner in working, herding, or controlling livestock.

d. When such dog is assisting the owner in hunting on private property with the consent of the owner, lessee or other person in control thereof.

e. When such dog is participating in a dog training class, exhibition or competition, or an ongoing training program related thereto, under the direction and control of a dog trainer or other qualified person on public property with the consent of the owner or operator of the grounds or facilities, or on private property with the consent of the owner, lessee or other person in control thereof.

f. When such dog is accompanying the owner or other person in control of such dog on private property with the consent of the owner, lessee, or other person in control thereof.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part); amended and renumbered by Ord. No. 98-107 § 11)