Los Angeles County's public Animal Regulations page tells pet owners to keep their animals from becoming a nuisance, regularly remove and dispose of pet waste, and restrain dogs on a substantial leash no longer than six feet on public property or common areas of private property.

West Hollywood did not merely rely on that general County guidance. Its adopted Animal Control Ordinance requires a dog to be restrained on a substantial leash no longer than six feet in common areas of private property. It also requires the animal's custodian to remove feces immediately from private property not owned or possessed by that person and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.

For purposes of enforcement, West Hollywood defines “Department” to include the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, the City's own Code Compliance Division, or the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department. The City's own enforcement division is written into the law.