Ventura County, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash required in
- Streets, parks, common areas
- Handler rule
- Leash held continuously by capable person
- Private property
- Owner permission required
- Offense level
- Infraction
Summary
Dogs in unincorporated Ventura County must stay on a leash held by a capable handler on any public street, park, or common area, and off private property without permission.
It is unlawful for any person to suffer or permit any dog owned, harbored, or controlled by him or her to be on any public street, alley, lane, park or place of whatever nature open to and used by the public in the unincorporated areas of the County, or in any common area, unless such dog is securely leashed and the leash is held continuously in the hands of a responsible person capable of controlling such dog. It is unlawful for any person to suffer or permit any dog owned, harbored, or controlled by him or her to be on any private property in the unincorporated areas of the County without the permission of the person owning or occupying said private property. Every person who violates any of the provisions of this Section is guilty of an infraction. An Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 4493-2, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Article 8.
(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
The leash law makes it unlawful to let a dog onto any public street, alley, lane, park, or common area in the unincorporated County unless it is securely leashed with the leash held continuously by a person capable of controlling it. It's also unlawful to let a dog onto private property without the owner's or occupant's permission. Violating the leash law is an infraction, and an Animal Control Officer may issue a civil administrative citation.
Violations & Fines
Violating the leash law is an infraction. An Animal Control Officer can issue an administrative citation with a civil penalty under the County's enforcement provisions, and a dog found running loose may be impounded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to leash my dog in unincorporated Ventura County?
Can my dog be off-leash on someone else's property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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