Sacramento County Dog Leash Laws Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

Sacramento County's animal control regulations are found in Title 8 of the county code. The leash law under Section 8.08.056 is clear and specific: no person shall permit or suffer a dog to stray from private property owned or legally possessed by the dog owner or the person who has a right to control the dog unless the dog is restrained by a leash or lead not exceeding 8 feet in length.

There are limited exceptions to the leash requirement. Dogs may be off-leash when assisting a peace officer in law enforcement duties, participating in an organized dog training or obedience course with permission of the property owner, assisting in the herding or control of livestock, or accompanying a person engaged in hunting on land within a restricted shooting area.

The county limits the number of household pets to 4 dogs and 4 cats per residence in unincorporated areas. All dogs and cats must be licensed through Sacramento County. Owners wishing to keep more animals may need a special permit, and those breeding animals require a business license. Keeping more than 4 dogs also requires a kennel permit and appropriate zoning.

Sacramento County Animal Control enforces these requirements. When owners fail to restrain their dogs properly, it can result in at-large incidents, potential injuries, bites, and enforcement actions including citations and impoundment. The county will initially work with violators to achieve compliance, but persistent non-compliance leads to court citations and fines.