Antioch, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Antioch's Animal Control chapter, adopted by Ord. 2083-C-S in 2014, defines AT LARGE in § 6-1.102 as an animal that is not secured or enclosed on the owner's property, or not under restraint by a substantial leash no longer than six feet and within the care, custody and physical control of a competent person, and the definition expressly excludes cats. Section 6-1.501(C) then makes it unlawful for an owner to allow an animal to be at large, or to be at a public park, playground or school unless under leash restraint, and a violation is also declared a public nuisance under § 1-2.01(D).

The chapter reaches beyond simple roaming: § 6-1.501(I) bars tethering a dog unattended in a public place for more than 15 minutes, and § 6-1.501(J) caps tying a dog to a fixed object like a fence or doghouse at three hours in any 24-hour period. Enforcement runs through the Animal Control Supervisor, Code Enforcement, or any city police officer under § 6-1.201. An animal found at large can be seized and impounded at the Antioch Animal Services Center under § 6-1.702(A); if the owner of a loose dog is already known, the Supervisor can instead return the dog and issue a citation under § 6-1.501 rather than impound it, per § 6-1.702(B).

A licensed dog held after impoundment is kept at least ten days before disposition, while an unlicensed dog with no identification is held at least four days, per § 6-1.703(A).