There are a number of laws and ordinances regulating the keeping of animals in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County Code Title 10 – Animals contains the County ordinance regarding animal keeping. The State of California also has many laws, mostly found in the Food and Agriculture Code, Health and Safety Code, and Penal Code.
Title 10 applies to the unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles can apply to any of the numerous cities that contract with the Department of Animal Care & Control (DACC) to service their jurisdictions. Occasionally, cities that contract with DACC decide to adjust Title 10 to fit their jurisdictions more appropriately.
Click the link below to view Title 10 details:
Excessive accumulation of animal waste on a pet owner’s property creates unsanitary conditions that are offensive to neighbors and unsafe for people and pets. Pet owners who fail to pick up waste deposited by their pets while on walks also contribute to unsanitary conditions for others. Pet owners are required by County ordinance to ensure their pets are not a nuisance to others. This includes regularly removing and disposing of pet waste from one’s private property as well as removing and discarding their pet’s waste that has been deposited on others’ property as well as public property.
The County ordinance requires that dogs be restrained on a substantial leash not exceeding six feet in length by a person capable of controlling the dog while on public property or common areas of private property. It is unlawful to allow dogs to run at large. Allowing dogs to run loose is very dangerous for them. Dogs at large may be hit by cars, attacked by other animals, or exposed to dangerous substances such as poisons. Unsterilized dogs at large will breed with other unsterilized dogs and create more unwanted pets in the community. Pet owners are encouraged to be responsible and ensure their pets are safely restricted to their personal property.
While there is no leash law for cats, cat owners are still prohibited from allowing their cats to be nuisances to others. Sometimes, free-roaming cats trespass onto other peoples’ properties, using flower beds or sandboxes for litter boxes. This causes unsanitary conditions and is unlawful. Click the button below to view the County’s policy regarding free roaming cats.
