San Diego, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- No standalone rule
- no separate SDMC leash ordinance
- Adoption mechanism
- County ordinance adopted by § 44.0300
- Leash standard
- County Code § 62.669
- Penalty clause
- punished under SDMC § 12.0201
- Enforcer
- City's contracted animal-services provider
Summary
San Diego has no standalone leash ordinance of its own. SDMC § 44.0300 adopts the County of San Diego's Animal Control Ordinance by reference, so the county's leash and at-large restraint standard governs dogs everywhere inside city limits.
The animal control ordinance of the County of San Diego, California, under Title 6, Division 2, Chapter 6 of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances, adopted by the Board of Supervisors, hereafter referred to as the County Code, ... is hereby adopted by reference, and incorporated as the Animal Control Ordinance of the City of San Diego, and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Division.
Full Breakdown
SDMC § 44.0300 adopts Title 6, Division 2, Chapter 6 of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances by reference, incorporating it as the City's own Animal Control Ordinance. That adopted code's leash and restraint standard is County Code § 62.669, which the Municipal Code itself invokes directly in the beach-area dog rules at SDMC § 63.20.13. Where the County Code conflicts with a specific Municipal Code animal provision, the Municipal Code provision controls; otherwise the County's leash/at-large requirement applies citywide, enforced by the City's contracted animal-services provider under SDMC § 44.0300(f)-(g).
Violations & Fines
Violating the adopted County Code leash/restraint provision is charged under that County Code section but punished per SDMC § 12.0201, as either an infraction or misdemeanor regardless of how the County Code itself classifies it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Diego have its own leash ordinance?
What happens if my dog is off-leash in public?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Dog Leash Laws in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle dog leash laws.