Dogs in the City of Ventura (officially San Buenaventura) must be on a leash and under physical control when off the owner's property; animal control is handled by Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) under contract, which enforces both the San Buenaventura Municipal Code Division 7 (Public Health and Safety) and the Ventura County animal-control ordinance applied to contract cities. Off-leash exercise is allowed only in designated off-leash areas — the off-leash hours at Arroyo Verde Park (6 a.m.-9 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday) and the dedicated off-leash dog park at Camino Real Park, per the City of Ventura Parks & Recreation Department.
California has no statewide leash statute; restraint of dogs in public is left to local ordinance and contracted county animal-control rules. Ventura is one of the eight contract cities (along with Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Simi Valley) served by Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) out of the Camarillo shelter at 600 Aviation Drive (888-223-PETS). Under the city Parks & Recreation rules, Arroyo Verde Park permits off-leash dogs 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and Camino Real Park has a fenced off-leash dog park; outside those windows/areas, dogs in city parks, on sidewalks, beaches, and other public places must be physically restrained by a leash. Dog licensing and rabies vaccination are required under California Health and Safety Code §121690 (rabies vaccination of dogs ≥4 months in declared rabies areas — Ventura County is so declared) and enforced through the VCAS licensing program. Dogs running at large can be impounded by VCAS field officers and redeemed at the Camarillo shelter on payment of impound, board, license, and (if unaltered) spay/neuter deposit fees set by the Board of Supervisors.
Off-leash dog outside a designated area: VCAS field-services citation, impound, and impound/board fees per the Ventura County fee schedule. Unlicensed dog: late-licensing penalty plus license fee. Failure to vaccinate against rabies (dog ≥4 months): citation under Cal. Health & Safety Code §121690 enforced by VCAS. Repeat at-large violations can escalate to a misdemeanor citation under the municipal code and a 'potentially dangerous dog' investigation if the dog has chased or threatened people or other animals (Cal. Food & Agric. Code §31602).
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