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

Westminster is an incorporated Orange County city with its own animal-control program run by the Police Department (Westminster Animal Control), not OC Animal Care, so its Municipal Code sets the local leash rule. Under Westminster Municipal Code Chapter 6.12 (Animals), Section 6.12.100, no person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of any dog may permit that dog to be upon any public property unless the dog is restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length and is under the charge of a person competent to exercise care, custody and control over the dog. The only exception is where the owner or operator of that public property grants written permission for the dog to be present without a leash. This means dogs must be leashed in city parks, on sidewalks, trails and other public areas unless a space is officially designated for off-leash use. Owners of dogs declared potentially dangerous or vicious face an even stricter standard under Section 6.10.060: off the owner's premises, such a dog may only be moved while restrained by a substantial leash not exceeding six feet and under the control of a responsible adult. California has no statewide leash-length statute, so this six-foot city rule is the controlling local law within Westminster.