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

020 makes it unlawful for a dog's owner, licensed or not, to permit the dog to be away from the owner's premises at any time unless it is under actual physical restraint and control, such as a leash, tether, or in the grasp of a person; there is no exception for a well-trained or voice-controlled dog. 022 layers on additional public-place rules: a dog must be on leash at all times except in legally designated off-leash areas, must be accompanied by its owner or handler and never left unattended for more than 15 minutes, and cannot be tied or tethered to a pole, bench, planter, or other street or sidewalk fixture for more than 15 minutes.

A dog that shows a propensity for aggression while tethered cannot be left unattended for any period and must stay physically leashed to a person. 010 prohibits letting a dog run at large anywhere in the unincorporated county when there is reasonable cause to believe it has caused or is likely to cause harm to people or property, or a nuisance such as digging, defecating, or excessive noise; that dog can be cited on the spot or impounded if the owner cannot be located to secure it.

025, including a minimum 10-foot range of movement, swivel connections on both ends, a ban on metal chain links thicker than one-quarter inch, and a prohibition on tethering during extreme heat, cold, or storms.