San Joaquin County, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Public property
- Leash required at all times
- Private property
- Fence, structure, or leash required
- Enforcer
- Animal Services Officer (Sheriff's Office)
- First-offense fine
- Up to $50
Summary
In San Joaquin County's unincorporated Residential and Rural Residential zones, dogs must be leashed in public and either fenced, kenneled, or leashed on the owner's own property.
(1)No owner or custodian of any dog shall allow such dog to remain at large on any public property without restraint by means of a leash.(2)No owner or custodian of any dog shall maintain such dog on private property unless the property is fenced in such a manner as to restrain the dog or the dog is secured within a structure, or the dog is restrained by means of a leash.(b)No owner or custodian of any dog shall allow such dog to remain upon the private property of another without the consent of the property owner. (Ord. No. 4435, § 2, 6-18-2013)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Development Title: Supplement 3 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
County Code Section 4-9019 bars owners from letting a dog run at large on public property without a leash. On private property, the dog must be behind a fence built to contain it, secured inside a structure, or on a leash: free roaming isn't allowed even at home. The rule applies in Residential, Rural Residential, and adjacent Commercial/Industrial zones. Violations are an infraction under Section 4-9031, fined up to $50 for a first offense and $100 for repeats.
Violations & Fines
Infraction: up to $50 first offense, $100 for a second or later offense (Section 4-9031).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be loose in my own fenced yard?
What happens if I violate the leash rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Joaquin County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Joaquin County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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