Santa Clara, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

010 sets the baseline restraint rule for every dog owner in the city: keep the dog under physical restraint by leash of six feet or less, or behind a fence tall enough to contain it. Five exemptions apply: guide dogs for people who are blind or deaf while working, or service dogs in formal training; dogs in field or obedience trials or exhibitions; dogs assisting an owner or handler in legal hunting or herding livestock; dogs assisting a security guard or a peace officer on duty; and dogs being trained for those purposes on private land with the landowner's permission, as long as a handler keeps direct control over them.

120 carves out posted off-leash areas from the restraint requirement, but only if every listed condition is met: only dogs may be in the area, only during posted operating hours; no one may have charge of more than two dogs there at once; anyone in charge of a dog must be at least thirteen years old; the dog must be at least four months old, vaccinated for rabies and currently licensed; and the handler must carry a means to pick up waste, promptly remove it, quiet or remove a disruptive dog, and keep a leash on hand to put on the dog the moment it leaves the posted area. 120 does not relieve anyone of liability for damages caused while using the off-leash area. 10.