San Rafael, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash required
- In all public places
- Private property
- Owner's consent required otherwise
- Penalty
- Infraction, §6.10.050(C)
- Enforcement
- San Rafael Police Department
- County code adopted
- Marin Co. Code Ch. 8.04, 8.08, 8.12
Summary
San Rafael requires every dog off its owner's property to be secured on a leash of reasonable length under SRMC §6.10.030; violations are an infraction, and Marin County's adopted animal control code adds further penalties enforced by SRPD.
No owner or keeper of a dog shall allow or permit such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to be or run at large in or upon any public place or premises, or in or upon any private place or premises other than those of the owner or keeper except with the consent of the person in charge of said private place or premises, unless such dog is securely restrained by a substantial leash of reasonable length. The dog or dogs shall be under the control of a responsible person at all times.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
San Rafael Municipal Code §6.10.030 makes it unlawful for a dog's owner or keeper to allow the dog to run at large, licensed or not, on any public place, or on private property other than the owner's without the occupant's consent, unless the dog is "securely restrained by a substantial leash of reasonable length" and under a responsible person's control at all times. The city separately adopts Marin County's animal control code (Chapters 8.04, 8.08, 8.12 of the Marin County Code) by reference under SRMC §6.10.010, enforced by the San Rafael Police Department; violating §6.10.030 itself is an infraction under §6.10.050(C).
Violations & Fines
Letting a dog run off-leash in public, or on someone else's property without consent, is an infraction under §6.10.050(C); Marin County code violations adopted by reference can be charged as a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a leash for my dog in my own yard in San Rafael?
What happens if my dog is caught running at large?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Rafael
California rules heatmap·Compare San Rafael to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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