Bowen Island dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash in Bowen Island, and what are the leash rules?
Short answer
In Bowen Island, dogs may not run at large. On public property a dog must be on a leash, or off leash within 3 metres of its owner and under command. Dogs must be leashed in Snug Cove, around Grafton Lake and in Crippen Regional Park, and are banned from three beaches in July and August.
Key facts
| Leash rule | Dogs may not run at large. On public property a dog must be under control: on a leash, or off leash and within 3 metres of its owner and under command. Dogs must be on a leash in the Snug Cove area shown on Schedule A; the municipality also names Grafton Lake and Crippen Regional Park as on-leash.Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022), Bowen Island Municipality, ss. 1, 3.1(c), (e), (f); Dog Control, Bowen Island Municipality, Leash rules · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe running at large of dogs is prohibited within the Municipality. Dogs are to be kept under control when on public property. Dogs are to be on leash in the area designated in Schedule A. not more than 3 metres away from its owner Dogs are required to be on-leash in both Snug Cove and around Grafton Lake. Crippen Regional Park also requires that dogs are kept on-leash. |
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| Maximum leash length | The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs. A dangerous dog must be on a leash not longer than two metres.Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022), Bowen Island Municipality, s. 4.1(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingon a leash not longer than two metres |
| Off-leash areas | On municipal trails other than Grafton Lake, a dog can be off leash but must be under control, within three metres of you. The page mentions a dog park but gives no list or map.Dog Control, Bowen Island Municipality, Leash rules · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingOn Municipal trails, except for Grafton Lake, your dog can be off its leash but must be under your control at all times (within three meters of you). your dog must be leashed at all times (except in the dog park, of course) |
| Places dogs are not allowed | Dogs are not allowed on Sandy Beach, Tunstall Bay Beach and Bowen Bay Beach in July and August. The page says service dogs and their handlers are the only exception. On other beaches dogs must be on a leash or within 3 metres of you.Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022), Bowen Island Municipality, s. 3.1(d), Appendix B; Dog Control, Bowen Island Municipality, Dogs on beaches · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDogs are not allowed on public beaches listed in Appendix during the months of July and August. Sandy Beach Tunstall Bay Beach Bowen Bay Beach Dogs are not permitted on Bowen Bay Beach, Tunstall Bay Beach and Sandy Beach during the months of July and August. The only exception is for service dogs and their handlers. |
| Cleaning up | If a dog defecates on any public traffic area or on property other than its owner's, the owner must remove the faeces immediately.Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022), Bowen Island Municipality, s. 3.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingthe owner shall cause the faeces to be removed immediately. |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | Bylaw notice for a dog running at large: $25 first offence ($15 if paid early, $35 late); $50 second ($25 early, $75 late); $150 further ($125 early, $175 late). Dog not on leash or not under control carries the same amounts.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026), Bowen Island Municipality, Schedule AC · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording3.1c Dog running at large – first contravention 25.00 15.00 35.00 3.1c Dog running at large – further contraventions 150.00 125.00 175.00 3.1f Dog not on leash – first contravention 3.1e Dog not under control – first contravention |
| Bylaw | Bowen Island Municipality Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022)Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022), Bowen Island Municipality, title and s. 7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE – JULY 2022 |
How it works
Under the Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001, dogs may not run at large. On public property a dog must be under control: on a leash, or off leash and within 3 metres of its owner and under command. Dogs must be on a leash in the Snug Cove area shown on Schedule A of the bylaw, and the Municipality's Dog Control page also names Grafton Lake and Crippen Regional Park as on-leash. The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs.
Good to know
- On municipal trails other than Grafton Lake, a dog can be off leash if it is under control and within 3 metres of you. The page mentions a dog park but gives no list or map; ask Bylaw Services where it is.
- Dogs are not allowed on Sandy Beach, Tunstall Bay Beach and Bowen Bay Beach in July and August. The page says service dogs and their handlers are the only exception. On other beaches dogs must be on a leash or within 3 metres of you.
- If your dog defecates on a public traffic area or on someone else's property, remove the faeces immediately.
- A bylaw notice for a dog running at large, off leash or not under control is $25 for a first offence, $50 for a second and $150 for further ones. Paid within 14 days they are $15, $25 and $125.
- Questions: Bylaw Services, 604-947-4255 ext. 2 or bylaw@bimbc.ca.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
West Vancouver · Gibsons · Lions Bay · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver · Vancouver
Sources
- Dog Control, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Enforcement, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.