--- title: Chilliwack dog leash rules and off-leash areas question: "Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?" place: Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/chilliwack category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: regional owner_body: Fraser Valley Regional District sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/dog-leash-rules/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/dog-leash-rules.json" --- # Chilliwack dog leash rules and off-leash areas **Question:** Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules? **Short answer:** In Chilliwack, a dog in a public place must be on a leash no longer than three metres, except in designated off-leash areas. The City lists eight off-leash areas, including Vedder Park, Island 22 and Sheffield. The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) enforces the leash rules. **Who handles it:** Regional district (Fraser Valley Regional District, https://www.fvrd.ca) **Cost:** Fine for a dog at large or not leashed in a public place: $100 (FVRD ticket schedule). Dog off leash on City civic property: $100. Failing to remove dog waste: $75. **Where:** - Phone: FVRD Animal Control, 1-844-495-2273 (Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) ## Key facts - **Leash rule:** FVRD bylaw: a dog may not be at large. Outside designated off-leash areas, a dog in a public place must be on a leash not exceeding 3 metres and under the immediate control of a competent person. On private land, a dog that is not sufficiently contained by a fence and gate, an enclosure or another effective containment mechanism must be under the immediate control of a competent person. City parks bylaw: dogs must be on leash and under control at all times on civic properties, except in a designated dog off leash area. In Natural Areas and Nature Reserves, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 3 metres. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), s. 17](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" … "on a leash not exceeding three metres in length and is under the immediate" … "control of a competent person;" … "is kept under the immediate control of a competent person whenever the dog is" … "on private land and is not sufficiently contained" … "on private land and is not sufficiently contained, either by a fence and a gate, an" - Source: [City of Chilliwack Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290, s. 20, 26(3)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=3306) - Official wording: "Dogs must be on leash and kept under control at all times when in or upon civic" … "permit or allow a dog to enter or be in any Natural Area or Nature Reserve other than" … "on leash not exceeding three metres in length and under the immediate control of a competent person;" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 - **Maximum leash length:** 3 metres (FVRD bylaw, public places; City parks bylaw, Natural Areas and Nature Reserves). - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), 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: [City of Chilliwack Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290, s. 26(3)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=3306) - Official wording: "on leash not exceeding three metres in length and under the immediate control of a" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 - **Off-leash areas:** The City lists these off-leash areas: Vedder Park, Island 22, Cultus Lake, Sheffield Dog Off Leash Area, Vedder North Dyke Trail (off-leash zone from Webster Road to Lickman Road), Fairfield Park, Jinkerson Park, and No.3 Rd Dog Off Leash Area. Under the parks bylaw an off-leash area is identified by posted signage, and the dog must stay under control and follow the posted guidelines. The list is on the City's Dog Off-Leash Areas page. - Source: [Dog Off-Leash Areas, page](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=2579) - Official wording: "Certain areas around Chilliwack are designated as off-leash areas for dogs." … "Vedder North Dyke Trail (Off Leash zone from Webster Road to Lickman Road)" … "No.3 Rd Dog Off Leash Area" - Source: [City of Chilliwack Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290, s. 1, 20](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=3306) - Official wording: "has been designated as an" … "off leash area and is identified by posted signage." … "subject to maintaining control of the dog and adhering to the guidelines on" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 - **Places dogs are not allowed:** City parks bylaw: dogs may not enter Salish Pond or Sardis Pond (or its tributary watercourses); in any Natural Area or Nature Reserve a dog may not enter a stream, creek, watercourse or other water, and in the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve dogs are allowed only on the north/south road through the reserve. Council may also designate any civic property or area where animals are prohibited. The FVRD bylaw also bans dogs from public areas that local zoning or other regulations define as no-dog areas. - Source: [City of Chilliwack Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290, s. 21, 24-26](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=3306) - Official wording: "permit or allow a dog to enter Salish Pond." … "permit or allow a dog to enter Sardis Pond or any tributary watercourses." … "permit or allow a dog to enter any stream, creek, watercourse or other body of water" … "permit or allow a dog to enter or be in the Great Blue Heron" … "Council may designate any Civic Properties or any defined area within Civic Properties" … "as an area in which the presence of any animal is prohibited." - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), s. 17(b)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "does not trespass on private property or within a public area defined by local" … "zoning and other regulations as an area where dogs are not permitted;" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 - **Cleaning up:** The dog owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement and dispose of it in a sanitary manner, whether in a public place or on private property other than the owner's or occupier's own (FVRD bylaw s. 18). The City parks bylaw says the same for civic properties. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), 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" … "private property other than property owned or occupied by the dog owner, without" … "immediately removing the excrement and disposing of it in a sanitary manner." - Source: [City of Chilliwack Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290, s. 19](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=3306) - Official wording: "to defecate without immediately removing the excrement and disposing of it in a sanitary manner" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 - **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** FVRD bylaw notice schedule A-3: dog at large $100 (s. 17(a)), and dog not restrained in a public place (not on a leash, s. 17(d)) $100; each is $90 if paid early (within 14 days) and $110 if paid late (after 28 days). On City civic properties, 'Dog Off Leash' is $100 ($90 early, $110 late) under City Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4573. - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 Animal Control (consolidated)](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 Yes" … "17(d) Dog Not $100 $90 $110 Yes" - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 Animal Control (consolidated), s. 5.2, 5.3](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "the early payment penalty set out in columns A2 of each of the Schedules to this bylaw" - Source: [City of Chilliwack Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4573, parks schedule, Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw schedule](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=2436) - Official wording: "Dog Off Leash 19 100.00 90.00 110.00 Yes" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 - **Bylaw:** FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (leash, at large and clean-up); City of Chilliwack Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290 (civic properties, off-leash areas, closed areas). - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), title](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as the “Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation" … "Bylaw No. 1206, 2013”." - Source: [City of Chilliwack Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290, title](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=3306) - Official wording: "“Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290” - Page 7" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 ## How it works Two bylaws apply. The FVRD's [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206]() says a dog may not be "at large", meaning off the owner's premises and not contained or on a leash under direct and continuous control. The City's [Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 3290]() says dogs on civic properties must be on leash and under control at all times, except in a designated off-leash area. ## Good to know - Off-leash areas listed by the City: Vedder Park, Island 22, Cultus Lake, Sheffield Dog Off Leash Area, Vedder North Dyke Trail (off-leash zone from Webster Road to Lickman Road), Fairfield Park, Jinkerson Park and No. 3 Road Dog Off Leash Area. Off-leash areas are marked by posted signs, and your dog must stay under control and follow the posted guidelines. - Elsewhere in a public place, a dog must be on a leash up to 3 metres long, held by a competent person. - On private land, a dog that is not contained by a fence and gate, an enclosure or another effective means must be under the immediate control of a competent person. - In Natural Areas and Nature Reserves, the leash can be no longer than 3 metres and dogs may not enter streams, creeks or other water. In the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, dogs are allowed only on the north/south road through the reserve. - Dogs may not enter Salish Pond or Sardis Pond. Council can also close other civic properties to animals. - Owners must immediately remove their dog's waste and dispose of it in a sanitary manner, in public places and on other people's property ($75 ticket). - A female dog in heat must be kept securely confined. - Loose or unlicensed dogs can be seized by animal control officers. - Tickets: $100 for a dog at large or not leashed in a public place; $100 for a dog off leash on civic property. ## Official forms and pages - [Dog Off-Leash Areas, City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=2579) - [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) - [Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290 (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=3306) ## Related questions - [Chilliwack dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/dog-licence.md) - [Chilliwack rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/dangerous-dogs.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/dog-leash-rules.md) ## Sources - [Dog Off-Leash Areas, City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=2579) (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, Schedule A-3 Animal Control (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [City of Chilliwack Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw 2006, No. 3290 (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=3306) (read 2026-11-05) - [City of Chilliwack Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4573, parks schedule (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=2436) (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 Fraser Valley Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/dog-leash-rules/_