Solano County, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Solano County Code Chapter 4 (Animals and Fowl), section 4-13, governs dogs and other animals in the unincorporated areas. Subsection (b) states that no person owning, harboring, or having charge, care, control, custody, or possession of any animal shall cause or permit the animal to be at large on any public street, road, alley, or other public place, or on any unenclosed lot or premises, unless the animal is under restraint by leash, lead, or chain, or at 'heel' beside a competent person or obedient to that person's command, or confined. Section 4-13(a) further bars any animal from running at large in public parks, public places, schools or school grounds, or commercial districts, and authorizes immediate seizure and impoundment. The Code's definition of 'at large' (section 4-11) covers any animal off the owner's premises that is not under the owner's control and immediate presence, or, for a dog or cat, not under physical restraint or otherwise controlled by a competent person. The County's animal regulations are administered through the Animal Control division under the Agricultural Commissioner (section 4-31), with Animal Care Services operated by the Sheriff's Office. Notably, Chapter 4 does not specify a maximum leash length such as six feet; it requires only that the animal be restrained, at heel, or confined.