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

# Castlegar dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Castlegar, no one may let an animal roam at large in a park or other public place. Dogs must be on leash at Millennium Park & Ponds unless signs say otherwise, and it has fenced off-leash areas. The leash rules for the rest of the city are in Bylaw 1342, which the City has not published in readable form.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Castlegar, https://www.castlegar.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: BC SPCA West Kootenay (animal control), 250-509-0297
- Email: Corporate Services, info@castlegar.ca

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** No one may let an animal roam at large in any park or other public place (Good Neighbour Bylaw 1449, s. 4.2(i); also Parks Bylaw 698, s. 6(g)). At Millennium Park & Ponds dogs must be on leash in all areas unless signs say otherwise. Leash rules elsewhere are in Bylaw 1342 (not readable).
  - Source: [Parks Administration Bylaw 698, Parks Administration Bylaw 698, s. 6(g)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bylaw-698-Parks-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Permit any animal under their ownership or custody to run at large"
  - Source: [Dog Park page, City page: Dog Park Survey, Leashing](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/city-planning-capital-projects/dog-park-survey/)
  - Official wording: "Dogs are required to be on-leash in all areas of Millennium Park & Ponds unless otherwise indicated by signage."
  - Source: [Council agenda, March 23, 2026 (includes Good Neighbour Bylaw 1449), Good Neighbour Bylaw 1449, s. 4.2(i)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Regular-Agenda_March-23-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unless done by an employee or agent of the City in the performance of their duties, or if authorized by the City, no person shall in any park or other public place:" … "i) cause or permit any animal to roam at large, create a nuisance, or injure another animal or individual;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** Not confirmed. Castlegar's Animal Control Bylaw 1342 is a scanned PDF that could not be read.
- **Off-leash areas:** Fenced off-leash areas at Millennium Park & Ponds (separate areas for large dogs, small dogs and all sizes), entered from the parking lot on 5th Ave between 6th and 7th Streets. The beach off-leash area is currently leash-only. Park hours 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  - Source: [Dog Park page, City page: Dog Park Survey](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/city-planning-capital-projects/dog-park-survey/)
  - Official wording: "The main off-leash area at Millennium Park & Ponds can be accessed via the parking lot on 5th Ave, between 6th and 7th Streets." … "Please note that this area is currently a leash-only area." … "Millennium Park & Ponds is open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Inside the Millennium Park off-leash dog parks: no unattended dogs (supervised by someone 16 or older), no sick dogs, no dogs in heat, no puppies under 4 months, no spike or choke collars.
  - Source: [Dog Park page, City page: Dog Park Survey, Dog Park Rules](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/city-planning-capital-projects/dog-park-survey/)
  - Official wording: "no unattended dogs: all dogs must be supervised by persons of at least 16 years of age" … "no sick dogs" … "no dogs in heat: all un-neutered male dogs must be closely supervised" … "no puppies under 4 months of age" … "no spike or choke collars"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** In the Millennium Park dog parks: clean up after your dog and put litter in the trash receptacles provided. The ticket schedule also lists 'General (barking, defecating)' under Bylaw 1342 ss. 13.1-13.3.
  - Source: [Dog Park page, City page: Dog Park Rules](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/city-planning-capital-projects/dog-park-survey/)
  - Official wording: "please clean up after your dog: deposit all litter in trash receptacles provided"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-1, ss. 13.1-13.3](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "General (barking, defecating) $50 $100 $150"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Municipal ticket under Bylaw 1342, 'Prohibitions (at large, dog in heat, more than 3 animals etc)', ss. 5.1-5.8: $50, then $100, then $150 for a second and third offence in 12 months. In a park or other public place: $100 (Good Neighbour Bylaw s. 4.2; Parks Bylaw s. 6(g), 'Animal at large').
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-1, ss. 5.1-5.8](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Prohibitions (at large, dog in" … "heat, more than 3 animals etc)" … "5.1-5.8 $50 $100 $150" … "4.2 Parks and Public Spaces violations $100" … "6(g) Animal at large $100"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-6 (Parks Administration Bylaw)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "6(g) Animal at large $100"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1449, s. 4.2 (animals at large in parks and public places); Parks Administration Bylaw No. 698, s. 6(g) (parks); Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1342 (not readable; its ticket schedule lists at-large offences)
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Related Bylaws](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw 1342 – Animal Control and Licencing"
  - Source: [Parks Administration Bylaw 698, Citation, s. 1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bylaw-698-Parks-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as "Parks Administration Bylaw No. 698, 1994"."
  - Source: [Council agenda, March 23, 2026 (includes Good Neighbour Bylaw 1449), Good Neighbour Bylaw 1449, Part 4](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Regular-Agenda_March-23-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "PART 4 – PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES" … "i) cause or permit any animal to roam at large, create a nuisance, or injure another animal or individual;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Good Neighbour Bylaw 1449 (section 4.2) says no one may let an animal roam at large in any park or other public place, and [Parks Administration Bylaw 698](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bylaw-698-Parks-Administration.pdf) (section 6(g)) says the same for parks. Leash rules for the rest of the city are in [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/), which the City has not published in readable form, so they are not stated here. The City's pages do not give a leash length.

## Good to know

- Millennium Park & Ponds: dogs must be on leash in all areas unless signs say otherwise.
- Fenced off-leash areas (large dogs, small dogs, all sizes) are entered from the parking lot on 5th Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets. The beach area is currently leash-only. Park hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- In the dog parks: no unattended dogs (a person 16 or older must supervise), no sick dogs, no dogs in heat, no puppies under 4 months, no spike or choke collars, and a maximum of 2 dogs per visitor. Clean up after your dog and use the trash receptacles.
- No readable City text lists beaches, playgrounds or sports fields where dogs are banned.
- A dog at large in a park or public place can bring a $100 municipal ticket. Under Bylaw 1342, at-large and similar offences are $50, then $100, then $150 for a second and third offence in 12 months.
- For leash rules outside parks, ask the City (info@castlegar.ca) or the BC SPCA West Kootenay, 250-509-0297.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342 (PDF, scanned copy)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Bylaw-1342-Animal-Control-and-Licencing.pdf)
- [Parks Administration Bylaw 698 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bylaw-698-Parks-Administration.pdf)
- [Dog Park page, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/city-planning-capital-projects/dog-park-survey/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Council agenda, March 23, 2026 (includes Good Neighbour Bylaw 1449) (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Regular-Agenda_March-23-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks Administration Bylaw 698 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bylaw-698-Parks-Administration.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Park page, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/city-planning-capital-projects/dog-park-survey/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Castlegar](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Castlegar. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-leash-rules/_