Tulare County Dog Leash Laws
Dogs are inherently mobile animals. We make them a part of our family, which means that we tend to take them along when we go out in public at times. It also means that we need to make sure they get their exercise every day. Doing so promotes a happy, safe and healthy lifestyle for them.
Animal Control
To ensure the safety of your dog, other people, pets, wildlife, and the community, Tulare 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 Tulare County animal control laws page.
However, we also need to keep our dogs and the humans and other animals they encounter safe, which is accomplished by way of Tulare County dog leash and running at large laws. Below you’ll find a list of incorporated cities and towns in the county. If you’d like to review the dog leash and/or running at large laws in your community, click on the appropriate name and you’ll be taken to the specific statutory language and links for more information.
Tulare County Dog Leash Laws
Tulare County dog leash laws govern unincorporated areas of the county. The countywide law also governs the following communities:
Exeter
Woodlake
Tulare County Dog Leash Law Text:
Article 5, Section 4-07-5000 DOGS AT LARGE:
No person shall permit a Dog to stray from private property owned or legally possessed by the Dog Owner or Custodian unless the Dog is restrained by a leash or lead not exceeding eight feet in length, except in the following situations:
A. When the Dog is assisting a peace Officer who is engaged in law enforcement duties or when the Dog is participating in a search and rescue effort at the specific request of a law enforcement authority;
B. When the Dog is enrolled in and actually participating in a Dog training or obedience course, exhibition, or competition conducted by an organization on private or public property with the permission of the Owner or operator of the grounds or facilities;
C. When the Dog is assisting the Owner or person in charge of Livestock in the herding or control of such Livestock;
D. When the Dog is accompanying and under the direction of a person engaged in hunting on property where such activities are allowed, or on private property with written permission of the Owner; or
E. When the Dog is contained within a legally designated Leash-free park or enclosure.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
Dinuba Dog Restraint Law
Dinuba Dog Restraint Law Text:
Chapter 6, Section 6.04.040 Prohibited conduct.
No owner or possessor of any animal shall cause, permit or allow the animal to be upon any public street, sidewalk, park, school ground, any public property, or upon any unenclosed premises in the city unless the animal is properly licensed and saddled, harnessed, haltered or leashed by a substantial chain, lead rope or leash; which chain, lead rope or leash shall be continuously held by some competent person capable of controlling such animal. All cats shall be exempted from the provisions of this section.
(Ord. 98-15 § 1, 1998)
Farmersville Dog Restraint Law
Farmersville Dog Restraint Law Text:
Article VII, Section 6.01.610 – Restraint required.
A. Any person owning or having charge, custody, care or control of any animal (except cats) kept or harbored in the city shall confine such animal exclusively upon such owner’s premises and must not be able to enter upon public property, including sidewalks, or the premises of another.
B. No animal (except cats) shall be at large or to go or be upon the premises owned or occupied by any other person in the city without said person’s consent.
C. All dogs shall be kept under restraint at all times, otherwise they will be classed as running at large.
D. Every animal (except cats) off the premises of the owner or custodian shall be restrained by a leash, cord or chain a maximum of ten feet in length, held by a person who is physically able to control the animal.
E. No dog shall be deemed to be running at large when the dog is upon the premises of a city dedicated off-leash dog park.
F. Every dog, under four months of age shall be confined to the premises of, or kept under physical restraint by, its owner or harborer. Nothing in this title shall be construed to prevent the sale or transportation of a dog under four months of age.
G. It shall be unlawful for any dog to run at large upon any school ground, or daycare within the city while such school or daycare is in session. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed two days or by a mandatory minimum fine of two hundred dollars or by both fine and imprisonment. In lieu of imprisonment, the court may impose the penalties put forth in Section 6.01.050(B)(1) of this chapter.
(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)
Lindsay Dog Restraint Law
Lindsay Dog Restraint Law Text:
Title 6, Section 6.08.010 Restraint Required
All dogs shall be kept and restrained at all times, either on a leash, chain or in a fenced yard; otherwise they will be classed as running at large. Leashes or chains shall not be in excess of twelve feet in length.
(Ord. 359 § 1, 1979)
Porterville Dog Leash Law
Porterville Dog Leash Law Text:
Article 3, Section 5-2.24: LEASH REQUIREMENTS:
It shall be unlawful for the owner or handler in lawful possession or control of a dog to walk the dog on any public place or right of way without the dog being secured or tethered by a fixed length leash not to exceed six feet (6′), and the number of dogs shall not exceed the number of dogs the owner or handler can reasonably and safely control and in no circumstance shall the number of dogs exceed three (3).
(Ord. 1824, 6-16-2015)
Tulare Dogs at Large Law
Tulare Dogs at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.12, § 6.12.310 Dogs at large.
No person shall permit a dog to stray from private property owned or legally possessed by the dog owner or custodian unless the dog is restrained by a leash or lead not exceeding eight feet in length, except in the following situations:
(A) When the dog is assisting a Peace Officer who is engaged in law enforcement duties or when the dog is participating in a search and rescue effort at the specific request of a law enforcement authority;
(B) When the dog is enrolled in and actually participating in a dog training or obedience course, exhibition, or competition conducted by an organization on private or public property with the permission of the owner or operator of the grounds of facilities. Organizations sponsoring such activities shall notify Animal Services no later than three business days prior to the event;
(C) When the dog is assisting the owner or person in charge of livestock in the herding or control of such livestock; or
(D) When the dog is accompanying and under the direction of a person engaged in hunting on property where such activities are allowed, or on private property with written permission of the owner.
(Ord. 17-13, passed 12-19-2017)
Visalia Animals at Large Law
Visalia Animals at Large Law Text:
Title 6, Chapter 6.08, Section 6.08.050 Animals and fowl at large.
In addition to household pets, no person shall allow or permit any other animals or fowl, except cats that are spayed or neutered or currently licensed by the City of Visalia, to run at large upon any public street or place, or to trespass upon the property of another. This provision shall not be construed as permitting the running at large of any household pets who are restricted by the provisions of this title, or by any law applicable thereto.
(Ord. 2019-09, § 2, 2019; prior code § 4626)
