Monterey County, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Base offense
- Infraction for any dog at-large
- Elevated offense
- Misdemeanor if dog enters livestock property
- Restraint exemption
- Leash/cord up to 6 feet, physically held
- Puppies under 4 months
- Must be confined or physically restrained
- Restitution remedy
- Full restitution if livestock injured/killed
Summary
It is unlawful for any owner or custodian to let a dog run at-large in unincorporated Monterey County, licensed or not; a first offense is an infraction, but the violation becomes a misdemeanor if the loose dog enters property where livestock are kept and accessible.
A.It is unlawful for any person owning or having charge, care or control of any dog, whether licensed or not, to allow or permit any such dog to be at-large within the unincorporated territory of the County of Monterey. A violation of this Subsection shall be an infraction.B.If a dog is at-large in violation of Subsection A and during that incident the offending dog enters upon any property whereon livestock are kept and are accessible to such dog is at-large, then such violation shall be a misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
010, in the Dogs Running at Large chapter, makes it unlawful for any person owning or having charge, care or control of a dog, whether licensed or not, to allow the dog to be at-large within the unincorporated territory of the County. A straightforward violation is charged as an infraction. The offense is elevated to a misdemeanor under Subsection B if, during the same at-large incident, the dog enters property where livestock are kept and accessible to the dog. Subsection C adds a restitution remedy: if the dog then injures or kills livestock during that misdemeanor-level incident, a convicting court may order the owner to make full restitution to the livestock owner for the loss, on top of any other fine or punishment.
010 to mean off the owner's premises unless the dog is restrained by a chain, strap or cord attached to a collar or harness of no more than six feet in length and actually held by someone capable of physical restraint, made fast to a stationary object, or confined in a dog-tight enclosure such as an electric fence; a dog accompanied by a person and reliably responsive to recall, on the owner's own property away from public rights of way, or hunting with licensed hunters is also exempt.
020. 010, which can lead to impoundment if three or more neighbors in separate households affirm in writing that the animal is a habitual nuisance.
Violations & Fines
A first at-large violation is an infraction under Section 8.20.010(A). If the loose dog enters property where livestock are kept and accessible, the violation becomes a misdemeanor under Subsection B, and if the dog then injures or kills livestock, the court may order full restitution to the livestock owner under Subsection C in addition to any fine or jail sentence. General infraction penalties elsewhere in the Code run up to $250 for a first conviction, $500 for a second within a year, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent conviction within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal for a dog to be off-leash anywhere in unincorporated Monterey County?
Does it matter if the dog is licensed?
What turns an at-large violation into a misdemeanor?
Can a dog owner be forced to pay for livestock a loose dog kills?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.