Marin County Municipal Code Ch. 02.05 Land Use Regulations—domestic Animal Regulations

Dogs and other domestic animals are allowed on district lands when under the direct and immediate control of a responsible person (to qualify as direct and immediate control, dogs must be in view of the person, must be no more than twenty feet from the person, and must return to the person immediately when called (two calls with a return limit of ten seconds). Up to three dogs per individual are allowed, with exceptions beyond that number granted only through issuance by the district general manager of a special or commercial use permit. Pedestrians with dogs and other domestic animals must stay on system roads and system trails. Off-trail use by pedestrians with dogs and other domestic animals is prohibited. Use of non-system roads and trails, and social trails by pedestrians with dogs and other domestic animals is prohibited. On system fire protection roads, three dogs off-leash per individual are allowed. On system trails, dogs and other domestic animals must be fastened to and restrained by a chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length. Dogs must be leashed on all roads and trails in those preserves designated as "leash only". Dogs, trained and used as service animals, as defined by the American with Disabilities Act, are permitted as established through policy adopted and publicly posted by the Marin County Open Space District.

No person shall do any of the following on district lands:

A. Allow any dog or other domestic animal to enter environmentally sensitive or restricted areas of district lands or travel, run, walk, hunt, or bathe in streams or any sensitive water bodies, such as marshes, lakes, or ponds, within the preserves;

B. Allow any dog or other domestic animal to interfere with, bother or disturb others using district lands;

C. Allow any dog or other domestic animal to hunt, pursue or harass other animals or wildlife;

D. Bring or keep a noisy, vicious or dangerous dog or other animal;

E. Bring or keep a dog four months of age or more without proof that the dog has a valid rabies immunization and a valid license;

F. Fail to promptly remove from district lands any dog or other domestic animal after being ordered by district personnel to do so.

G. Fail to promptly remove excrement from dogs under their control from district lands.

H. Bring dogs or other domestic animals onto district lands without possessing a chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length for each dog or animal so that they shall be prepared to restrain their animals, if necessary.

(Ord. No. 20, § I, 2018)

Horses, pack, and saddle animals are permitted on system roads and system trails not signed against such use. Except when watering or resting the animal, or when in an area specifically designated to allow off trail use, riding off-trail, or on non-system roads and non-system trails is prohibited. Miniature horses, trained and used as service animals, as defined by the American with Disabilities Act, are permitted as established through policy adopted and publicly posted by the Marin County Open Space District.

A. No person shall do any of the following on district lands:

B. Ride, drive, lead or keep any horse or saddle animal at such speed or in such manner which may endanger the safety of others using district lands, other animals or the protection of environmental resources;

C. Allow any horse or saddle animal to stand unattended or insecurely tied;

D. Permit any horse or saddle animal to swim in any reservoir, lake, stream or waterway.

E. Operate any animal-drawn cart, carriage, chariot or similar vehicle on district lands except upon system fire roads not signed against such use. Furthermore, no person shall operate or possess these vehicles elsewhere on district lands, including trails, unless signed specifically to permit such possession. Animal-drawn vehicles larger than thirty-six inches in width are permitted with written permission from the district.

(Ord. No. 20, § I, 2018)

No person shall do any of the following on district lands:

A. Permit any cattle, sheep, goat, horse, dog, cat or other animal to graze or run at large;

B. Abandon a dog, cat, fish, fowl or other animal on district lands.

Any domestic animal found at large on district lands may be turned over to the county poundkeeper for disposition as outlined in the Marin County Code.

All persons opening a gate shall securely close the same after passing through it.

Appendix A