--- title: Central Saanich dog leash rules and off-leash areas question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Central Saanich, and what are the leash rules?" place: Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/central-saanich category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: District of Central Saanich sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-leash-rules/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-leash-rules.json" --- # Central Saanich dog leash rules and off-leash areas **Question:** Where can dogs be off leash in Central Saanich, and what are the leash rules? **Short answer:** In Central Saanich, a dog in a public place must be on a leash or chain, or with a competent person and under control. The leash is 6 feet (1.8 m). The bylaw mentions off-leash areas but the District does not list any. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Central Saanich, https://www.centralsaanich.ca) **Cost:** No fee. A ticket amount for a dog at large is not confirmed for the current bylaw (see below). **How long:** Rules apply at all times. **Where:** - Phone: CRD Animal Control, 250-478-0624 (Animal control is provided by the CRD.) - Phone: Bylaw Enforcement Officer, 250-544-4237 (Bylaw@csaanich.ca; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) ## Key facts - **Leash rule:** A dog must not be at large on a highway, public place, public beach or public building grounds unless it is on a leash or chain, or with a competent person and under control. 'Under control' off leash means it comes when called, stays in sight, and does not approach others or chase wildlife. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), s. 2.4.1 and definition of Under Control](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "unless the animal is confined on a leash or chain or" … "the Dog returns immediately to the Owner when called" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Maximum leash length:** 6 feet (1.8 m). Aggressive and dangerous dogs: 1.2 m, no retractable leashes. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), s. 1 Leash; ss. 4.8, 4.10](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "that does not exceed 6 feet (1.8 meters)" … "with a maximum length of 1.2 metres from Owner to Aggressive Dog" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Off-leash areas:** Not confirmed. No list or map of off-leash areas was found on the District's website. - **Places dogs are not allowed:** No dogs (or farm animals) in any public park area used as a picnic area, playing field, sports field or children's playground, whether or not in use. Guide dogs with a person with a disability are exempt. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), ss. 2.4.3, 2.4.4](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "present on or within any public park area utilized as a picnic area, playing field, sports field or children's playground area" … "do not apply to a person with a disability accompanied by a guide dog" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cleaning up:** Remove your dog's droppings immediately from any highway, public beach, park or other public property, or from private property that is not yours. Guide-dog handlers with a disability are exempt. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), s. 2.5](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "unless the person shall immediately remove the excrement." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Not confirmed for the current bylaw. The 2020 municipal ticket schedule lists 'Animal or bird at large' (s. 2.4.1) at $100 but names Animal Control Bylaw No. 2054, not No. 2097. Bylaw Notice amounts under Bylaw No. 2242 could not be read. - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 2057, 2020, with schedules, Appendix 13](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2057_-_mti.pdf) - Official wording: "Animal or bird at large 2.4.L $100.00" … "Animal or bird not under control 2.4.L" … "CENTRAT SAANICH ANIMAL CONTROT BYTAW NO. 2054, 2O2O" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Central Saanich Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), s. 14.1](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "Central Saanich Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097]() says a dog must not be at large on a highway, public place, public beach or public building grounds unless it is on a leash or chain, or with a competent person and under control. "Under control" off leash means the dog comes when called, stays in sight, and does not approach other people or chase wildlife. A leash means 6 feet (1.8 m). ## Steps 1. Keep your dog on a leash or chain in public places, or stay with it and keep it under control. 2. Keep dogs out of any public park area used as a picnic area, playing field, sports field or children's playground. 3. Pick up your dog's droppings right away from any highway, public beach, park or other public property, or from private property that is not yours. 4. To report a dog at large, call CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624. ## Good to know - The bylaw bars dogs and farm animals from picnic areas, playing fields, sports fields and playgrounds whether or not they are in use. Guide dogs with a person with a disability are exempt. - Guide-dog handlers with a disability are also exempt from the clean-up rule. - Aggressive and dangerous dogs must be on a leash no longer than 1.2 m, and not a retractable one. - The bylaw mentions off-leash areas, but no list or map was found on the District's website. Ask Bylaw Enforcement at 250-544-4237. - The 2020 municipal ticket schedule lists "animal or bird at large" at $100, but it names an earlier bylaw. Confirm the current amount with the District. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) ## Related questions - [Central Saanich dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-licence.md) - [Central Saanich rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dangerous-dogs.md) - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/how-many-pets.md) - [Central Saanich bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/bylaw-fines.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dog-leash-rules.md) - [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-leash-rules.md) - [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules.md) ## Sources - [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Pets and Wildlife, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/pets-wildlife) (read 2026-11-06) - [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 2057, 2020, with schedules (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2057_-_mti.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-06) _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 District of Central Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-leash-rules/_