Huntington Beach, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Park leash limit
- 6 feet maximum under § 13.48.070
- Beach dog zone
- North of 22nd St. curb line to Seapoint Ave. only
- Nighttime rule
- No dog left unattended outside tent/camper, sunset to sunrise
- Infraction fine
- Up to $100 first offense, $500 by third (§1.16.040)
- Misdemeanor option
- Up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine (§1.16.030)
- Enforcement
- Park rangers may order removal of unruly dogs
Summary
Huntington Beach requires dogs in city parks to be physically restrained by a leash no longer than six feet under Municipal Code Section 13.48.070. The same six-foot limit lets dogs onto one stretch of city beach north of 22nd Street; everywhere else on the Beach and Pier dogs are barred outright under Section 13.08.070, and park rangers can order removal of a noisy or unruly dog.
No person shall ride, lead or let loose any cattle, horse, mule, goat, sheep, swine, cat, dog, fowl or animal of any kind in a park except that it shall not be unlawful to have dogs, physically restrained by a leash not in excess of six feet, or to ride horses on trails specifically provided for them. No person shall permit a dog to be or remain unattended outside a tent, camper or other enclosed vehicle between the hours of sunset and sunrise. No person shall keep or permit to remain any dog which is noisy, vicious or dangerous or which disturbs other persons within the boundaries of a park after such person has been directed by a park ranger to remove such dog.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954605; v17 updated 2026-06-16).
Full Breakdown
070 bars any animal from being loose in a city park, but carves out dogs "physically restrained by a leash not in excess of six feet" and horses on designated trails. The same section bans leaving a dog unattended outside a tent, camper, or enclosed vehicle between sunset and sunrise, and lets a park ranger order removal of any dog that is noisy, vicious, dangerous, or disturbs other park users; refusing is a separate violation. 070 takes the opposite default on the sand: no animal, domestic or wild, may be on the Pier or on the Beach and Adjacent Beach Area bounded by the Beach Service Road and the Pacific Ocean, including the Water Activity Zone, except a police service animal or a guide, signal, or service dog.
The one carve-out is the Adjacent Beach Area and Water Activity Zone north of the line extending 22nd Street's north curb line to Seapoint Avenue, where a dog on a leash no longer than six feet is allowed; animals may never be left unattended on the beach anywhere. 020, lists cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and cats but never mentions dogs.
Violations & Fines
Violating the park leash rule or the beach dog restriction is enforced under the City's general penalty chapter: a first infraction draws a fine up to $100.00, a second up to $200.00, and a third or later offense within a year up to $500.00 (HBMC § 1.16.040). The City can instead charge a violation as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail or a $1,000.00 fine, or both (§ 1.16.030). A park ranger may also order an unleashed or disruptive dog removed on the spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I walk my dog off-leash in a Huntington Beach park?
Are dogs allowed on Huntington Beach's beach?
What is the maximum leash length in Huntington Beach parks and on the beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntington Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Huntington Beach to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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