Dana Point Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 Dogs and Cats

No person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of any dog shall cause or permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such dog to be upon any:

(a) Private property unless such dog be restrained thereon by a fence, wall, substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length, other appropriate physical restraint, or is under the charge of a person competent to exercise care, custody and control over such dog; or

(b) Highway, street, alley or other public property unless such dog be 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 such dog, unless the owner or operator of such public property grants written permission for such dog to be on such property without such chain or leash.

(Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

No owner or person in charge or in control of any dog, except a blind person with his or her guide dog, shall permit or allow such dog to be within or upon public school property, public beaches, public access ways to the beach, parks, municipal pier or municipal golf course, except where authorized by a city served by the Authority. This Section, however, does not prohibit the use of dogs on school property for teaching other school uses when approved by the school officials.

(Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

During the breeding period, every person owning or having charge of any female cat or dog shall strictly confine said animal in a building or other secure enclosure in such a manner that they cannot come into contact with other animals except for planned breeding.

(Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

The provisions of this Chapter do not prohibit dogs from running at large on the premises of the owner or person having charge of such dog, nor do they prohibit dogs, other than unspayed female dogs during breeding period, from running at large on any property with the permission of the owner of such property.

(Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

A working dog, performing acts such as herding under the control and supervision of owner handler shall not be considered as unleashed while performing his or her duties. A hunting, obedience, tracking or show dog shall not be considered unleashed while performing in the above capacities.

(Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

Dog owners and custodians of dogs shall, at all times, take all reasonable precautions to prevent their dogs from biting, attacking or attempting to bite any person or from interfering with the use of public or private property. Any person owning or having custody or control of a vicious dog commits a violation of this Code if, as a result of that person's failure to exercise ordinary care, the dog bites, attacks, wounds or otherwise injures or kills a human being and the owner or custodian knew or should have known of the vicious or dangerous nature of the dog. It is unlawful for any person to fail to comply with this Section. However, nothing in this Section shall authorize the bringing of a criminal action pursuant to a violation of this Section if the bite, attack, attempted bite, injury or threat was sustained by person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass upon the premises occupied by the owner or custodian or the dog, or was committing or attempting to commit a crime upon the premises occupied by the owner or custodian of the dog, or was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog or who has, in the past, teased, tormented, abused or assaulted the dog.

(Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

Whenever the General Manager or authorized agent receives a report of a dog with a disposition of propensity to attack or bite any person or animal without provocation, he or she may require a sign to be placed by the owner stating the following: "Beware of Dog."

(Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)