El Cajon, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash rule
- Under 10 feet, handler able to control dog
- Impound: tagged dog
- 5-day hold before disposition, § 6.20.050
- Impound: untagged dog
- 3-day hold before disposition, § 6.20.060
- Dog cap
- 2 adult dogs typical, 3 absolute max
- Max misdemeanor penalty
- $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
El Cajon bans dogs from running at large anywhere in the city. Municipal Code Section 6.12.020 makes it unlawful for an owner to allow a dog off the owner's property unless it's restrained by a leash under ten feet, held by someone capable of controlling it, as defined in Section 6.12.010.
"At large" means whenever a dog is elsewhere than on the premises of the owner or other person having the custody or control of such dog and is not restrained by a leash less than ten feet in length, under the control of a person capable of controlling such dog. ... § 6.12.020. Running at large-Prohibited generally. No dog shall run at large in the city. No person owning or having the control or custody of any dog shall permit or allow such dog to run at large within the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940073; v10 updated 2026-06-09).
Full Breakdown
020 then flatly prohibits it: "No dog shall run at large in the city. 030 lets a private citizen capture and hold a dog found running at large, but requires the citizen to notify the police chief or another authorized city employee, who arranges for the dog to be picked up and impounded rather than letting the citizen keep it. 060 shortens that to three days for a dog with no valid tag, unless the owner redeems it sooner. 070 requires the owner to show photo identification, meet all city requirements, and pay redemption fees set by council resolution, with the fee increasing for each successive impound tied to that owner regardless of which dog is involved; the department may also require microchip implantation as a condition of redemption for a dog found at large without identification, unless the owner objects. 040 separately caps ownership at two adult dogs per property outside a licensed kennel, with three as an absolute ceiling.
Violations & Fines
Allowing a dog to run at large violates Section 6.12.020 and, under Section 6.26.030, is a misdemeanor subject to the citywide general penalty clause, Section 1.24.010: up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail, or an infraction with fines of up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $500 for a third or later offense within a year. Animal control officers may cite directly under Section 6.26.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a dog's leash be in El Cajon?
What happens if animal control picks up my dog running loose?
Can a neighbor legally catch my loose dog themselves?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Cajon
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