Solano County, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Restraint standard
- Leash, lead, chain, heel, or confinement
- Strict zones
- Parks, schools, commercial districts: seize on sight
- Finder's duty
- Notify animal control within 24 hours, Sec. 4-16
- Hold, licensed animal
- 5 working days minimum
- Hold, unlicensed animal
- 3 working days minimum
- Default penalty
- Infraction, up to $500 fine
Summary
Solano County bars dogs and other animals from running at large on any public street, road, alley or unenclosed lot unless restrained by leash, lead or chain, at heel beside a competent handler, or confined. Animals caught at large in a park, school or commercial district must be seized and impounded.
4-13 Running at large - animals
(a) No owner or person having control of any animal shall suffer or permit the same, under any circumstances, to run at large in any public park or public place, or in any school or upon any school grounds, or in any commercial district as defined by this chapter; and every animal found running at large in violation of the provisions of this section shall be immediately seized and impounded.
(b) No person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any animal shall cause or permit such animal to be at large in or upon any public street, road, alley or other public place or in or upon any unenclosed lot or premises, unless such animal is under restraint by leash, lead or chain, or at "heel" beside a competent person or obedient to that persons command, or confined.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1868, passed April 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Solano County Code Sec. " Sec. 4-13(a) adds a stricter rule for parks, schools, school grounds, and commercial districts: any animal running at large there must be immediately seized and impounded, with no restraint exception. "At large" is defined in Sec. 4-11(f) as an animal off its owner's premises that is either not under the owner's control and immediate presence, or, if a dog or cat, not under physical restraint or otherwise controlled by a competent person. A person who finds a stray or at-large animal and takes possession of it must notify the animal control director within 24 hours under Sec.
4-16, describing the animal and its license status, or deliver it to the director without charge. Impounded animals are held at least five working days if wearing a license tag, or three working days if unlicensed, before the shelter may proceed to disposition under Sec. 4-43 and Sec. 4-45.
Violations & Fines
An animal found running at large in a public park, school, school ground or commercial district under Sec. 4-13(a) is immediately seized and impounded, with no restraint exception available. General at-large violations of Sec. 4-13(b) are chapter 4 offenses; Sec. 4-170 makes an unspecified violation of chapter 4 an infraction punishable by a fine up to $500, escalating to a misdemeanor if the owner has a prior chapter 4 conviction admitted or alleged in the pleading. Redemption requires paying impoundment costs and satisfying licensing and rabies vaccination requirements before release under Sec. 4-44.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be off-leash on a Solano County trail if it obeys commands?
What must I do if I find a stray dog in unincorporated Solano County?
How long is an at-large dog held before it can be sold or destroyed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Solano County
California rules heatmap·Compare Solano County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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