Daly City regulates dogs through Title 6 (Animals) of its Municipal Code, which incorporates California Food & Agricultural Code Section 30951 (dogs at large must wear an ID/license tag) and Section 30954 (female dogs in heat may not run at large). The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, headquartered in San Mateo at Coyote Point Shelter, provides animal control field services to San Mateo County jurisdictions. Dogs over four months must be licensed and currently vaccinated against rabies under Cal. Health & Safety Code Section 121690. Dogs may not be loose off the owner's property unless under direct physical control (leash). Off-leash use is restricted to designated areas only. Violations generally start as infractions and dogs found at large are subject to impoundment by the contracted shelter.
Daly City's animal regulations live in Title 6 of the Daly City Municipal Code (the city's Municode-hosted ordinances, https://library.municode.com/ca/daly_city/codes/code_of_ordinances). California state law forms the backbone: Food & Ag Code Section 30951 makes it unlawful to permit a dog over four months of age to run at large unless it wears a collar with the owner's name and address or a county/municipal license tag; Section 30954 specifically prohibits female dogs in heat from running at large at any time. Health & Safety Code Section 121690 requires every dog over four months to hold a current rabies vaccination and a local license renewed at least every two years; unvaccinated dogs granted a medical exemption must be confined to the owner's premises or held on a leash not exceeding six feet. San Mateo County contracts animal field services to Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (Coyote Point Shelter, 12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo), which handles impoundment, licensing administration, and bite investigations on behalf of Daly City. Dogs in public parks, streets, and other public places must be under the immediate physical control of the owner via leash; the Daly City Parks & Recreation Department publishes designated off-leash hours/areas at specific city parks. Loose dogs may be impounded; owners must pay impound fees, board, and prove current vaccination/license to redeem the animal. State Penal Code Section 597s (abandoning an animal) and Section 597.1 (failure to care for an impounded animal) also apply.
Dog at large or off-leash in public typically cited as an infraction under Title 6, with fines that escalate on repeat offense. Unlicensed dogs incur a late penalty plus the license fee at redemption. Impound fees, board, and veterinary costs are charged for any animal picked up by PHS/SPCA field officers. Failure to vaccinate against rabies is a separate Health & Safety Code Section 121690 violation. Bites or attacks trigger a 10-day rabies quarantine and may escalate to a Food & Ag Code Section 31602 potentially-dangerous-dog hearing.
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