What your council decides: off the lead, parks, poo and more

Many everyday rules are not in national law but in your council's by-law. What they usually cover and how to look them up.

What by-laws usually cover

Where dogs can be off the lead and where they have to be on one.
Dog parks and dog exercise areas, and their opening hours.
Whether animals are allowed on beaches, in pools or in children's play areas.
Fines for not picking up poo or not cleaning up wee.
The municipal animal census and, in some places, a canine DNA register to identify poo.
The licence for potentially dangerous dogs.
The dog tax, in the municipalities that have one.

How to find out your municipality's rules

Search for «ordenanza de tenencia de animales» (animal ownership by-law) and the name of your council on its website or in your province's official gazette. You can also ask at the public information office. If you move, check the rules in your new place: they vary a lot from one town to another.

What national law requires applies everywhere: picking up poo and cleaning up wee with biodegradable products (Ley 7/2023, the Animal Welfare Act, art. 26.e).