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

Per the County's License & Ordinance Information, there is a leash law in Merced County: all dogs that are off the property of their owners must be on a leash or physically restrained. Dogs being transported in the open bed of a vehicle must be securely tied to prevent the animal from falling out. A dog found running at large off its owner's property may be impounded; under Section 7.04.190 of the County Code, animals engaged in a prohibited activity or condition are subject to being taken up and impounded at the County animal shelter. If an at-large dog has returned to its owner's property and the owner is present to accept a citation, it generally will not be impounded unless a clear and present danger to public safety exists (consistent with Section 53074 of the California Government Code). For tethering on private property, Merced County Animal Services notes that state law allows tying a dog to a fixed object for up to 3 hours, after which the dog must be on a cable runner allowing free movement. These rules are enforced in unincorporated Merced County; the incorporated cities (Merced, Los Banos, Atwater, Livingston, Gustine, Dos Palos) enforce their own municipal animal codes.