County Code Sections (Animal Services)

This page lists some of the most commonly asked questions about County Code's pertaining to Animal Services. To view all of the appropriate codes please go to the main webpage and click on "about Plumas County" and then in the drop down select County Code and then list Animal Services in the search box.

Question: Does Plumas County have a leash law? Answer, it varies. In some Fire Districts (listed below) dogs are required to be under reasonable control if they are off of their owner's property.

Sec. 6-1.214. Restricted areas.
Any dog within the external boundaries of the following locations, as shown on maps on file in the office of the County Engineer, shall be considered not to be under reasonable control within the meaning of this article, unless such dog is on its owner's property or is restrained by leash or some other type of physical restriction:

(a) Chester Fire Protection District;
(b) Graeagle Fire Protection District
(c) Greenville Community Services District;
(d) Peninsula Fire Protection District;
(e) Quincy Fire Protection District;
(f) West Almanor Community Services District; and
(g) Plumas Eureka Community Services District.

There are also a couple of locations where dogs are not permitted unless they are guide dogs.

Sec. 6-1.113. Fairgrounds.
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any dog or cat which is owned, harbored, or controlled by such person to be on the premises of the County Fairgrounds, unless with the express permission of the fairgrounds management, or unless the dog is a guide dog for the blind in the company of its owner.

Sec. 6-1.114. Feather River College campus.
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any dog which is owned, harbored, or controlled by such person to be on the premises of the Feather River College campus, unless the dog is a guide dog for the blind in the company of its owner, or unless express permission is obtained from a Feather River College official.

Question: What sections of the County Code are most frequently violated and citations issued?

Sec. 6-1.108. Animals at large: Impounding: Notices: Disposition:
(a) It shall be unlawful and a violation of this section for any animal to be beyond the immediate control of the person owning, possessing, or caring for such animal when the animal is:
(1) At large on a road or street or other public place; or
(2) At large on private property without the permission of the owner or occupant of the property.
(h) When any dog is found in violation of Section 6-1.108(a) and such dog is unaltered, fines shall be charged per the current fee/fine schedule for (1) first offense, and (2) second and subsequent offenses. These recommended fines may be reduced with proof of spaying or neutering.

Question: What are the Plumas County dog licensing requirements?

Article 2. Dogs

Sec. 6-1.201. Licenses: Required.
Every dog within the County reaching the age of six (6) months shall be licensed by its owner with a Plumas County license.
Every dog reaching the age of six (6) months shall be licensed by the owner within thirty (30) days thereafter, and every person acquiring a dog over the age of six (6) months shall license such dog within thirty (30) days thereafter by paying the license fees set forth in Section 6-1.203 of this article to the duly authorized licensing authority

Sec. 6-1.202. Licenses: Due dates.
Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6-1.201 and 6-1.203 of this article, license fees for dogs shall be due and payable on or before the thirtieth day of ownership or on or before the thirtieth day after an owner brings a dog into Plumas County with the intent to become a permanent resident. Dog licenses will be valid for one or three (3) years, and run concurrently with the dog's rabies certificate.

Sec. 6-1.203. Licenses: Fees.
The owner of any dog six (6) months of age or older shall pay a license fee as required for such dog which license shall be valid for one year, or until the expiration of the dog's rabies vaccination.

Sec. 6-1.208. Licenses: Vaccination certificates required.

A valid certificate of rabies vaccination, for the entire licensing period, shall be presented or mailed to the licensing authority before a license will be issued.
Every veterinarian, after vaccinating a dog for rabies, shall issue a certificate to the owner of the dog and one copy to the Animal Control Director. The certificate shall be in the form prescribed by the Animal Control Director.

Question: Are there any license exemptions? Yes, three scenarios.

Sec. 6-1.205. Licenses: Exemptions: Free of charge.
(a) The provisions of this article shall not apply to dogs whose owners are nonresidents temporarily within the County for sixty (60) days or less, nor to dogs brought into the County for the purpose of participating in any dog show or field trials.

(b) The following dogs shall be licensed free of charge:

(1) Seeing Eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons and actually used by blind persons to aid them in travel;
(2) Search and Rescue dogs properly trained to assist Search and Rescue personnel in locating lost persons; and
(3) Police Service dogs properly trained and used by Sheriff's Department personnel for law enforcement.