---
title: Abbotsford dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/abbotsford
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Abbotsford dog leash rules and off-leash areas

**Question:** Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?

**Short answer:** In Abbotsford, a dog in a City park must be on a leash or harness held by a responsible person, except in a designated off-leash area. In any public place the leash can be 3 metres at most. The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) enforces the leash rules.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** FVRD bylaw notice for a dog at large or not leashed in a public place: $100 each. Failing to remove excrement: $75. City Parks Bylaw offences: $500 bylaw notice or $1,000 municipal ticket.  
**Where:**
- Online: Dog Off Leash page (City of Abbotsford), https://www.abbotsford.ca/dog-off-leash
- Phone: FVRD Animal Control, 1-844-495-CARE

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog must not be at large. In a public place (streets and government or school land) it must be on a leash under the immediate control of a competent person, except in a designated off-leash area. In any City park a dog must be on a leash or harness held by a responsible person, except in an off-leash area or with written permission of the General Manager.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part F, s. 17(a), 17(d); Part B](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is not at large" … "excluding designated off-leash areas, is not in a public place unless the dog is kept" … "public place” includes any highway and any real property owned, held, operated or"
  - Source: [Parks Bylaw 2456-2016 (consolidated to March 31, 2026), s. 11(2)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2016byl2456)
  - Official wording: "No person may suffer or permit a dog under the person" … "while not secured by a leash or harness to a responsible and" … "in a dog off-leash area as set out in Schedule "C"" … "with written permission of the General Manager."
  - Source: [Dog Off Leash, Park Etiquette](https://www.abbotsford.ca/dog-off-leash)
  - Official wording: "Dogs must be leashed in all parks, except within designated off-leash areas."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 3 metres at most.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part F, s. 17(d)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf)
  - Official wording: "on a leash not exceeding three metres in length and is under the immediate"
  - Source: [Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide, Animal Control](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Abbotsford%20Good%20Neighbour%20Guide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Leashes must not" … "exceed 3 metres in length and must be in the immediate control of a competent person."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Parks Bylaw Schedule C lists five: Gladwin Park, Sumas River Dyke Trail, Stoney Creek / Bateman Park, McKay Creek Trail and Clearbrook Park. The City's Dog Off Leash page has map links and also lists Engineer Park, which Schedule C does not. Carry a leash and keep the dog in sight. (Sources differ: The City's Dog Off Leash page lists Gladwin Park, Bateman Park / Stoney Creek, McKay Creek Park / Sumas Dike, Clearbrook Park and Engineer Park, with map links. Engineer Park is not in Schedule C of the Parks Bylaw (consolidated to March 31, 2026); the bylaw list is used here.)
  - Source: [Parks Bylaw 2456-2016 (consolidated to March 31, 2026), Schedule C](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2016byl2456)
  - Official wording: "S CHEDULE "C" DOG OFF-LEASH AREAS (B/L 3492-2024) Parks Location 1 Gladwin Park West of Gladwin Road to Exhibition" … "Parks Location 1 Gladwin Park West of Gladwin Road to Exhibition Park upper Parking lot at Old" … "power lines 2 Sumas River Dyke East side of Sumas River, between Trail Eldridge Road and McDonald Park" … "2 Sumas River Dyke East side of Sumas River, between Trail Eldridge Road and McDonald Park 3 Stoney Creek / Northeast area Bateman Park 4 McKay Creek Trail West side of Sumas River, between" … "Bateman Park 4 McKay Creek Trail West side of Sumas River, between Eldridge Road and Lakemount" … "Road 5 Clearbrook Park East of Sparwood Street Parking lot to Ashcroft Drive walkway north of"
  - Source: [Dog Off Leash, Dog Off-Leash Locations](https://www.abbotsford.ca/dog-off-leash)
  - Official wording: "Abbotsford currently provides 5 dog off-leash areas within its municipal park system located at:" … "Dogs must be under the control of and within sight of their handlers at all times." … "Engineer Park Google Map" … "Handlers must have a leash with them for each dog."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Not allowed (leashed or not): fenced sports fields and courts, playgrounds, outdoor fitness stations, spray parks, Youth Parks, civic fountains, public beaches and indoor park facilities. Also not on any beach or in a body of water or pool in a park. Guide, service and in-training dogs are exempt from the first list if held on a leash or harness.
  - Source: [Parks Bylaw 2456-2016 (consolidated to March 31, 2026), s. 11(3), 11(4); s. 24(e)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2016byl2456)
  - Official wording: "enter or remain in a fenced sports field, fenced sports court, playground," … "outdoor fitness station, spray park, Youth Park, civic fountain, public beach or within any" … "Subsection (3) does not apply to a guide dog team, service dog team or dog-in-training" … "bring to any beach, body of water, or pool any dog"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** The owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement from any public place or other people's private property and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part F, s. 18](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The owner of a dog must ensure the dog does not defecate in a public place or on" … "without immediately removing the excrement and disposing of it in a sanitary manner."
  - Source: [Dog Off Leash, Park Etiquette](https://www.abbotsford.ca/dog-off-leash)
  - Official wording: "Properly clean-up and dispose of your dog"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** FVRD bylaw notice for a dog at large (s. 17(a)) or not leashed in a public place (s. 17(d)): $100 each ($90 if paid within 14 days, $110 if paid more than 28 days after). City Parks Bylaw s. 11 (dog off leash in a park): no specific amount listed, so the Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw general penalty applies: $500 bylaw notice or $1,000 municipal ticket.
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), Schedule A-3, s. 17(a), 17(d)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "17(a) Dog at Large $100 $90 $110" … "17(d) Dog Not $100 $90 $110"
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), s. 5.2, 5.3](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "received by the Registry within 14 days of a person receiving or being presumed to have" … "payment is received more than 28 days after a person received or is presumed to have"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw 3017, 2020, s. 6, 7(1)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "$500 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by bylaw notice;" … "$1 000 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by municipal ticket;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (s. 17, 18); City of Abbotsford Parks Bylaw, 2016 (Bylaw No. 2456-2015) for parks
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part A](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation" … "Bylaw No. 1206, 2013"
  - Source: [Parks Bylaw 2456-2016 (consolidated to March 31, 2026), title](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2016byl2456)
  - Official wording: "Parks Bylaw, 2016 Bylaw No. 2456-2015 [Consolidated and printed by authority of the Corporate Officer under section 139 of the Community Charter. Includes amendment bylaws"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The FVRD [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206](<https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf>) says a dog must not be at large. In a public place (streets, and government or school land) it must be on a leash, under the immediate control of a competent person, except in a designated off-leash area. The leash can be 3 metres at most. On private land the dog must be under control unless it is contained by a fence and gate, an enclosure or another effective containment.

In any City park, the [Parks Bylaw](<https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2016byl2456>) requires a leash or harness held by a responsible person, except in an off-leash area or with the written permission of the General Manager.

## Off-leash areas (Parks Bylaw, Schedule C)

- Gladwin Park
- Sumas River Dyke Trail
- Stoney Creek / Bateman Park
- McKay Creek Trail
- Clearbrook Park

In off-leash areas, carry a leash and keep your dog in sight.

## Good to know

- The City's Dog Off Leash page has map links and also lists Engineer Park, which Schedule C does not. Check the page and confirm with the City.
- Dogs are not allowed, leashed or not, in fenced sports fields and courts, playgrounds, outdoor fitness stations, spray parks, Youth Parks, civic fountains, public beaches or indoor park facilities, or on any beach or in a body of water or pool in a park. Guide, service and in-training dogs are exempt from the first list if held on a leash or harness.
- Remove your dog's excrement immediately from any public place or other people's property and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.
- A bylaw notice for a dog at large, or not leashed in a public place, is $100 each. Failing to remove excrement is $75. The Parks Bylaw lists no specific amount, so the general penalty applies: a $500 bylaw notice or a $1,000 municipal ticket.
- Report problems to FVRD Animal Control at 1-844-495-CARE. The bylaw and websites do not state hours or fencing for the off-leash areas; ask the City.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Off Leash (City of Abbotsford)](https://www.abbotsford.ca/dog-off-leash)
- [Parks Bylaw 2456-2016, Schedule C (Dog Off-Leash Areas)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2016byl2456)

## Related questions

- [Abbotsford dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dog-licence.md)
- [Abbotsford rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Dog Off Leash, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/dog-off-leash) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks Bylaw 2456-2016 (consolidated to March 31, 2026)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2016byl2456) (read 2026-11-05)
- [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw 3017, 2020](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Abbotsford%20Good%20Neighbour%20Guide.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dog-leash-rules/_