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

Monterey County Code (MCC) Title 8 governs animal control in the unincorporated county and is enforced by Monterey County Animal Services (Field Services), not city police. Per MCC 8.20.010, dogs are not permitted to run at large within the unincorporated territory of Monterey County at any time, meaning a dog off its owner's premises must be leashed and under control or otherwise confined. Cleaning up after your dog is mandatory: MCC 8.36.030 makes the owner responsible if a dog defecates on public or private property. Dog licensing is mandatory once a dog reaches 4 months of age, and proof of a current rabies vaccination is required to license; cat licensing is voluntary but rabies vaccination is still required at 4 months. A female dog or cat in season must be confined in an appropriate enclosure to prevent accidental breeding (MCC 8.20.030). Statewide, California Food and Agricultural Code requires owners to effectively restrain dogs. Incorporated cities such as Salinas, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Seaside have their own leash codes; the County code applies only outside city limits. Violations are handled as County Code infractions or nuisance matters and can lead to a Violation Notice, citation, or impound.