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

The County's own animal code (County Ordinance Code Division B31, Chapter III) governs unincorporated areas and applies regardless of any city rules. Section B31-31 requires the owner or person controlling any dog to keep it 'under his or her physical restraint by means of a leash not to exceed six feet in length,' or to keep it 'confined behind a fence of sound construction and not less than six feet high so as to prevent the animal's escape.' Narrow exceptions apply to guide/service dogs while working, dogs in field or obedience trials and conformation exhibitions, dogs assisting in legal hunting or livestock herding, dogs assisting peace officers or security guards, and dogs being trained for those purposes on private property with the landowner's permission. Separately, Section B31-3 makes it unlawful to permit any animal to 'stray or run at large upon any public street or other public place, or upon any private place or property' (including common areas of planned developments) without consent. The County's Animal Services Center in San Martin enforces these rules in unincorporated areas and several contract cities. The County code does not designate any specific off-leash dog park, so dogs must remain leashed in public unless an exception applies.