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

Unincorporated San Bernardino County is covered by County Code Title 3, Division 2, Chapter 1 (Animal Control), enforced by San Bernardino County Animal Care. Section 32.0108 states that no person owning or controlling an animal shall permit it to stray or run at large upon any public street, sidewalk, public park, playground, place of public assembly, or upon any unenclosed private lot or other unenclosed private place, or upon private property without the owner's consent (parkways between street and sidewalk count as private property for this rule). Subsection (c) provides that no person may lawfully bring a dog off their property unless the dog is restrained by a leash and in the charge of a person competent to restrain it, or properly restrained and enclosed in a vehicle, cage, or similar enclosure. A dog found running at large may be impounded by the Health Officer, an Animal Control Officer, or the Sheriff for not less than 96 hours, with a reclaiming fee per the County fee schedule. Owners must also not allow a dog to defecate or urinate on public streets, sidewalks, or common areas. State law (Civil Code 3342) makes owners strictly liable for dog-bite injuries on public property or lawful private presence. The widely cited tethering limit (no fixed tether over 3 hours per 24 hours) comes from California Health & Safety Code 122335, not a county-specific rule.