Chetwynd dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?
Short answer
In Chetwynd, a dog must be on a leash of no more than 2 metres (6.5 feet) and under the control of a competent person in any public place, except a designated off-leash area. The District does not publish a list of off-leash areas that we could find.
Key facts
| Leash rule | A dog must be on a leash and under the immediate control of a competent person in a public place (other than a designated off-leash area), and on private property unless the owner or occupier has given permission for it to be off leash. A dog must not be at large.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 5.1, 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAn Owner of a dog must not permit, allow, or suffer the dog to be At Large. shall keep the dog on a Leash and under immediate control of a competent person while the dog is in a public place (other than a designated off leash |
|---|---|
| Maximum leash length | 2 metres (6.5 feet) at most. A dangerous dog must be on a leash of 1 metre at most when off its owner's property.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 2 "Leash"; s. 6.4(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingno longer than 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length a maximum length of one (1) meter |
| Off-leash areas | Not confirmed. The District's site does not list any off-leash areas. |
| Places dogs are not allowed | Parks and Public Places Bylaw: no person may permit a dog or other animal to be in a park or public place unless otherwise posted or with prior written approval for a special event.Sources differ: This appears to conflict with Animal Responsibility Bylaw s. 5.2, which lets a leashed dog be in a public place. No list of posted parks was found. Check with the District before taking a dog into a park.Parks and Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 926, 2010, s. 4.3.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingshall permit any dog or other animal to be in a park or public place unless otherwise posted or with prior |
| Cleaning up | Remove the dog's excrement immediately and put it in a suitable refuse container. Parks bylaw: the person in custody of the dog must remove and dispose of the feces in a sanitary manner. Exempt only an assistance-animal owner who is blind or physically unable.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 5.6, 5.7; Parks and Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 926, 2010, s. 4.3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmust immediately remove excrement deposited by the dog and deposit it in a suitable refuse container is exempt from section 5.6 if the Owner remove from a permitted area or public place and dispose of in a sanitary manner |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | Municipal ticket under Animal Responsibility Bylaw Schedule B: $75 for a 1st offence, $150 for a 2nd, and $75 more for each further offence within 12 months by the same owner. Impound fees: $30 a day, $15 for part of a day under 6 hours.Sources differ: Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 935, 2011, Appendix 3 lists "Dog at Large" at $50 (increasing by $50) under the repealed Dog Control Bylaw No. 908, 2009.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, Schedule B, ss. 1, 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording1st offence $75.00 $150.00 Per day (6 hours or more) $30.00 Per part day (less than 6 hours) $15.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023 (leash rules); Parks & Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 926, 2010 (parks)Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 1; Parks and Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 926, 2010, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited for all purposes as Parks and Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 926, 2010 |
How it works
Under the Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, a dog in Chetwynd must be on a leash and under the immediate control of a competent person in a public place, other than a designated off-leash area. On private property it must be leashed unless the owner or occupier has given permission for it to be off leash. A dog must not be at large. A dangerous dog must be on a leash of 1 metre at most when off its owner's property.
Good to know
- The bylaw defines an off-leash area as one the District designates, but the District's site does not list any. Ask Bylaw Enforcement at 250-401-4119.
- The Parks and Public Places Regulation Bylaw says no person may permit a dog or other animal to be in a park or public place unless otherwise posted or with prior written approval for a special event. This appears to conflict with the leash rule, so check with the District before taking a dog into a park.
- Pick up after your dog: remove its excrement immediately and put it in a suitable refuse container. The only exemption is for an assistance-animal owner who is blind or physically unable.
- A dog at large can bring a municipal ticket: $75 for a first offence, $150 for a second, and $75 more for each further offence within 12 months. The older Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw still lists $50 under a repealed dog bylaw, so confirm the amount with the District.
- Impound fees are $30 a day, or $15 for part of a day under 6 hours.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Tumbler Ridge · Fort St. John · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Mackenzie · Prince George
Sources
- Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
- Parks and Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 926, 2010 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Enforcement, District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
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. How answers are checked.