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

Animal control in the unincorporated areas of Mendocino County is handled by Mendocino County Animal Care Services (Animal Protection Unit), which enforces Title 10 (Animals) of the Mendocino County Code. The County's Responsible Pet Ownership guidance states pet owners must obey all local ordinances, including licensing, leash requirements and noise control, and that animals can receive a citation for running at large in addition to violations for no vaccination or no dog license. The County does not publicly post a single specific leash-length figure for general dogs the way some cities do; rather, the practical standard is that a dog must not be 'at large' (off the owner's property and not under the control of a competent person). Title 10 is organized into chapters including Chapter 10.04 (Authority and Definitions), Chapter 10.08 (Dogs, Cats and Other Animals — Prohibitions), Chapter 10.10 (Vicious Animals) and Chapter 10.12 (Licensing and Permits). Under the vicious-animal program (Chapter 10.10), an animal that has been declared vicious shall not be allowed to roam at large by its owner. Complaints in unincorporated areas are taken by the Animal Protection Unit, which can issue citations. Because the County publishes its code through Municode and eLaws rather than a verbatim leash-length statement, owners should confirm the exact restraint wording for their situation directly with Animal Care Services or in Title 10.