Napa, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Napa's leash and licensing rules sit in Title 6, Chapter 6.04 (Animal Control Regulations) of the Municipal Code at https://qcode.us/codes/napa/view.php?topic=city_of_napa_municipal_code-6-6_04. Section 6.04.190 (Dogs at large prohibited) makes it unlawful for any person who owns, harbors, or keeps any dog over four months of age to permit the dog to run at large upon any public street, highway, or other place, or to permit the dog to run upon the property of another without the consent of the property owner. Section 6.04.170 (Dogs to be leashed) requires that, in any park or on any trail in the City, dogs be controlled on a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length held by a person physically able to control the dog; off-leash exposure is permitted only in designated off-leash areas as established by the City Council or pursuant to a Park Use Permit issued by the Community Resources Director for training, exhibition, or competition. Section 6.04.100 requires every owner of a dog over four months of age in the City to obtain an annual license from the Animal Control Officer, and Section 6.04.140 requires the license tag to be attached to a substantial collar on the dog except when the dog is on the owner's premises; license fees are set by the Napa County Board of Supervisors. Rabies vaccination is required at least once every two years before a license is issued — documentation from a veterinarian must be current. The City of Napa contracts day-to-day animal control to Napa County Animal Services at 942 Hartle Court, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 253-4382 (https://www.napacounty.gov/1023/Animal-Shelter), which now uses DocuPet for online licensing (https://napahumane.org/our-work/resources-and-referrals/napa-county-animal-welfare-faqs/). California Food and Agricultural Code Sections 31601-31683 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayexpandedbranch.xhtml?tocCode=FAC&division=14.&title=&part=6.&chapter=9.&article=) provide the statewide dangerous-and-vicious-dog framework that supplements local enforcement. City park rules and the Dog Owner's Guide are at https://www.cityofnapa.org/996/Parks-Use-Rules-and-Regulations and https://www.cityofnapa.org/DocumentCenter/View/4409/Dog-Owners-Guide-to-Enjoying-Napa-City-Parks-PDF.