Sonoma, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 5-115 of the Sonoma County Animal Regulation Ordinance (Chapter 5, Article X) states that no person shall cause, permit or allow any dog to run at large upon any public street or other public place, or upon any private property or premises other than those of the owner, nor shall any person cause, permit or allow any dog to be upon any public street or other public place unless such dog is restrained by a substantial leash held by a person competent to control the dog. Statutory exceptions cover dogs assisting a peace officer in police work, dogs assisting an owner hunting on private property with the landowner's consent, and dogs participating in a training class, exhibition, or competition under the control of a qualified trainer on public property with the owner/operator's consent. Section 20-8 of Chapter 20 (Parks and Recreation) requires that dogs in any Sonoma County Regional Park be restrained on a leash no longer than six feet and remain under the immediate control of a person at all times. Sonoma County Animal Services enforces these rules in unincorporated areas. Incorporated cities (Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, Healdsburg, Windsor, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Cloverdale) have their own parallel municipal codes — Santa Rosa Title 7, Petaluma Title 9, Healdsburg Title 6, Windsor Chapter 4.