Stockton, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash required
- public streets, alleys, public places
- Exceptions
- service, signal, police dogs
- In-vehicle rule
- counts as owner's enclosed premises
- Working exception
- herding/guarding livestock off-leash
- Enforcement
- infraction or misdemeanor (§ 6.04.490)
Summary
Letting a dog off-leash on a public street, alley or public place is unlawful in Stockton. Municipal Code § 6.04.120 requires the dog be "securely confined by a rope, chain, or other leash, securely and continuously held by a competent person," with narrow exceptions for service, signal and police dogs.
Except in the case of a Seeing Eye dog actually being used by a blind person, a signal dog actually being used by a hearing impaired person, or a service dog actually being used by a handicapped person, or a police dog being used by any Federal, State, County, City, or City and County law enforcement agency for any law enforcement purpose, it is unlawful for any person owning or having in charge, care, control, or custody of any dog, to cause, allow, or permit such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, on or upon any public street, alley, or other public place, unless such dog be kept securely confined by a rope, chain, or other leash, securely and continuously held by a competent person...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4970744; v11 updated 2026-07-07).
Full Breakdown
120 applies to any person owning or having charge, care, control or custody of a dog, licensed or not, and reaches beyond streets to cover trespass onto private property and nuisances committed off the owner's own property. A dog confined inside a vehicle is treated as being on the owner's enclosed premises, and a dog securely tied or chained within an unenclosed lot is likewise treated as confined. The section carves out Seeing Eye dogs used by blind persons, signal dogs used by hearing-impaired persons, service dogs used by handicapped persons, and police dogs used by any federal, state, county or city law enforcement agency, plus dogs working off-leash to herd, guard or gather livestock or fowl, or participating in obedience trials and dog shows. 120 is specific to dogs.
Violations & Fines
Allowing a dog to run loose off public or private property without a leash, or permitting it to trespass or create a nuisance, violates § 6.04.120 and can be enforced by administrative citation under § 6.04.380, chargeable as an infraction or misdemeanor under § 6.04.490.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to leash my dog in Stockton?
Is my dog considered "leashed" if it's in my car or tied in my yard?
What happens if my dog gets loose and enters a neighbor's yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stockton
California rules heatmap·Compare Stockton to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Dog Leash Laws in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Joaquin County handle dog leash laws.