Pleasanton, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 7.16.010, Chapter 7.16 Dogs at Large
- Leash length definition
- 6 ft non-retractable / 30 ft retractable
- Working-dog exception
- Herding/guarding livestock with consent
- Impoundment
- Chapter 7.24, notice then redemption window
- First-offense fine
- Up to $100 as an infraction
Summary
Pleasanton bans letting any dog, licensed or not, run at large. The code defines "at large" as off the owner's property without consent and not on a leash of six feet (non-retractable) or 30 feet (retractable), or leashed but not physically controlled by the owner.
Except as permitted in this section and Section 13.08.080 of this code, it shall be unlawful for any owner of a dog to permit such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to be at large. "At large" means a dog that: Is on or in any public property; or Is on or in any private property other than that of the owner of the dog unless the person in charge of the private property has consented to the dog being on such private property; and Is not securely restrained by a substantial leash, not to exceed six feet if the leash is nonretractable or 30 feet in length if the leash is retractable; or Is securely restrained as provided in subsection (C)(3) of this section but is not physically controlled by the owner of the dog.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4955754; v17 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
010 that "it shall be unlawful for any owner of a dog to permit such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to be at large," subject to a narrow working-dog carve-out in subsection B for dogs herding, guarding or gathering livestock or fowl with the landowner's consent and under the owner's control. " A dog riding inside a vehicle is deemed restrained and under control. 24, and the shelter must attempt notice to the owner before the animal can be sold or destroyed after the statutory holding period.
Violations & Fines
Title 7, Animals, is designated an infraction chapter under § 1.12.020, so a first at-large violation carries a fine up to $100, a second within a year up to $200, and a third up to $500; a fourth in any 12-month period is a misdemeanor under the general penalty of § 1.12.010 (fine up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both). Impoundment adds separate fees set by the fees and charges resolution under Chapter 7.28.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a leash be under Pleasanton's dog-at-large law?
Is it ever legal to have an unleashed dog in Pleasanton?
What happens if my dog is picked up at large in Pleasanton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pleasanton
California rules heatmap·Compare Pleasanton to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Dog Leash Laws in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle dog leash laws.