---
title: Comox dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Comox, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Comox, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/comox
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Comox
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Comox dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Comox, a dog must never be at large. On any street or public place it must be on a leash under a competent person's control, and in Town parks, fields and forests it must be on leash at all times. The one fenced off-leash park is at the former Comox Elementary School site.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Comox, https://www.comox.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice: $50 if paid within 14 days, $90 after (at large or off leash). Municipal ticket under the dog bylaw: $90.  
**Where:**
- Online: Bylaw Complaint Form (Report an Issue), https://www.comox.ca/reporting
- Phone: Town Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Comox Town Hall), 250-339-2202 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Online: Pets in Parks page (off-leash map), https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog must never be at large. On any street or public place it must be under full control of a competent person on a leash. In Town parks, playing fields and forests dogs must be on leash at all times.
  - Source: [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322 (consolidated to March 18, 2026), ss. 5.1, 5.2](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No owner shall permit a dog to be at large within the Municipality." … "No owner of a dog shall permit, suffer or allow the dog to be on any street or in any public place unless it is under the full custody and control of a competent person by means of a leash"
  - Source: [Pets in Parks, Pets in Parks page](https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks)
  - Official wording: "dogs must be on leash at all times"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 2.5 m. Aggressive or dangerous dogs in public must be on a non-retractable leash of 2 m or less.
  - Source: [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322 (consolidated to March 18, 2026), s. 2 (At Large), s. 5.2, s. 5.5(b)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a leash not exceeding 2.5 metres in length" … "muzzled, on a non-retractable leash not exceeding two metres in length"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** One fenced off-leash dog park at the former Comox Elementary School site (Rodello Street and Fairbairn Avenue), with a separate small-dog area. A map is on the Town's Pets in Parks page.
  - Source: [Pets in Parks, Pets in Parks page](https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks)
  - Official wording: "Yes, there is one off-leash park located at the former Comox Elementary School location (Rodello Street and Fairbairn Avenue)." … "a small dog space was added" … "Location Map of the off-leash dog park in Comox."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Aggressive or dangerous dogs are banned from school grounds, from within 30 m of any playground, and from designated off-leash areas and parks. In parks no animal may enter a body of water except the ocean.
  - Source: [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322 (consolidated to March 18, 2026), s. 5.5(a)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "on school grounds, within 30 metres of any playground"
  - Source: [Parks Use Bylaw No. 1881 (consolidated to December 4, 2024), s. 3(4)(c)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/Bylaw%201881%20Consolidated%20-%20Parks%20Use%20-%20as%20at%20Dec%204%2C%202024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to enter any body of" … "water, except the ocean"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** An owner must immediately remove and sanitarily dispose of solid dog excrement left on any public place or on private property other than the owner's own.
  - Source: [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322 (consolidated to March 18, 2026), s. 5.15](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to allow or suffer any dog to leave or deposit solid" … "excrement on any public place or private property other than the property of the owner unless the owner shall immediately take steps to remove such solid excrement"
  - Source: [Pets in Parks, Pets in Parks page](https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks)
  - Official wording: "Please help keep our parks clean and respect fellow users by picking up after your pet"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice: $50 if paid within 14 days, $90 after (at large or off leash). Municipal ticket under the dog bylaw: $90 for either.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026), Schedule A, A3 Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large 5.1 50 90 N/A" … "Dog not on leash 5.2 50 90 N/A"
  - Source: [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322 (consolidated to March 18, 2026), s. 7.3 (offence table)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large 5.1 $90.00" … "Dog off leash 5.2 $90.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322
  - Source: [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322 (consolidated to March 18, 2026), s. 1](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf), a dog must never be at large. On any street or public place it must be under the full control of a competent person on a leash, and the leash must be 2.5 m or shorter. In Town parks, playing fields and forests, dogs must be on leash at all times, according to the Town's [Pets in Parks page](https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks).

There is one fenced off-leash dog park, at the former Comox Elementary School site (Rodello Street and Fairbairn Avenue), with a separate small-dog area. A map is on the Pets in Parks page, which also points to off-leash areas in the nearby Comox Valley Regional District.

## Good to know

- Pick up after your dog. An owner must immediately remove and sanitarily dispose of dog excrement left on any public place, or on private property other than the owner's own.
- Aggressive or dangerous dogs must be on a non-retractable leash of 2 m or less in public. They are banned from school grounds, from within 30 m of any playground, and from designated off-leash areas and parks.
- In parks, no animal may enter a body of water except the ocean ([Parks Use Bylaw No. 1881](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/Bylaw%201881%20Consolidated%20-%20Parks%20Use%20-%20as%20at%20Dec%204%2C%202024.pdf)).
- The sources found do not ban ordinary leashed dogs from particular parks or beaches. Ask the Town if you are unsure about a specific park.
- At large or off leash: a bylaw notice is $50 if paid within 14 days and $90 after; a municipal ticket under the dog bylaw is $90.
- To report a dog problem, use the Town's Bylaw Complaint Form or call the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-339-2202.

## Official forms and pages

- [Pets in Parks, Town of Comox](https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks)
- [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322 (consolidated to March 18, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf)
- [Parks Use Bylaw No. 1881 (consolidated to December 4, 2024) (PDF)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/Bylaw%201881%20Consolidated%20-%20Parks%20Use%20-%20as%20at%20Dec%204%2C%202024.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Comox dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dog-licence.md)
- [Comox rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/how-many-pets.md)
- [Comox bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Pets in Parks, Town of Comox](https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dog Licence and Pound Bylaw No. 1322 (consolidated to March 18, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Bylaw%201322%20Consolidated%20-%20Dog%20Licence%20and%20Pound%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Parks Use Bylaw No. 1881 (consolidated to December 4, 2024) (PDF)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/Bylaw%201881%20Consolidated%20-%20Parks%20Use%20-%20as%20at%20Dec%204%2C%202024.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Report an Issue, Town of Comox](https://www.comox.ca/reporting) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Comox. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dog-leash-rules/_