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

140(A) requires anyone owning or controlling a dog or other animal to keep it leashed, restrained by other suitable means, or fenced on their own or another's permitted property at all times, except in an authorized off-leash dog park, so the animal cannot be at large, bite or harass a person, or interfere with public or private property use. Division (B) exempts law enforcement dogs, dogs in formal obedience training or city-sponsored shows, and dogs in a posted off-leash area established by City Council resolution, though owners in off-leash areas remain fully liable for the dog's conduct.

Off-leash use under division (C) comes with its own rules: no more than two dogs per handler at a time, handlers under 13 must be supervised by an adult, all dogs must be at least four months old, rabies-vaccinated and licensed, and a leash must be carried and used the moment the dog leaves the designated area. 145 sets restraint specifications: leashes must be strong enough to prevent breaking and long enough to control the dog; yard fencing should be at least two and one-half times the dog's shoulder height; dog kennels need a minimum of 100 square feet for one dog plus 25 square feet per additional dog; tie-outs cannot be under eight feet long and cannot serve as an animal's primary restraint for more than three hours a day; and weighted chain collars are banned outright. 145(I).