Courtenay dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?
Short answer
Courtenay has no off-leash parks. Under the City of Courtenay's Animal Control Bylaw, a dog must be on a leash on any highway, in a City park or other public place, and the person holding it must be able to control it. The leash or chain cannot be longer than 1.83 metres (6 feet).
Key facts
| Leash rule | Dogs must be on a leash on any highway, in City parks and in other public places, led by a person able to control them.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 16; Animal control, What you need to know · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo owner shall permit any dog to be on a highway, City park or other public place within the City led by that person on a leash or chain that does not exceed 1.83 metres (6 feet) in length. Dogs must be on a leash in all public spaces. |
|---|---|
| Maximum leash length | 1.83 m (6 feet) maximum, leash or chain.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingled by that person on a leash or chain that does not exceed 1.83 metres (6 feet) in length. |
| Off-leash areas | None. The City says there are no off-leash parks in Courtenay.Animal control, What you need to know · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThere are no off-leash parks in Courtenay. |
| Places dogs are not allowed | Not allowed on school grounds, playgrounds, designated parks or sports fields. The bylaw also bars dogs from any restricted area of a park, except dogs in City-approved events and certified service or working dogs.Animal control, What you need to know; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDogs are not allowed on school grounds, playgrounds, designated parks or sports fields. No person shall permit, suffer or allow their dog to be in a restricted area of any park, except: |
| Cleaning up | Owners must immediately remove and sanitarily dispose of their dog's excrement on any public place or on private property other than their own.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 17; Parks and open spaces · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingdeposit excrement on any public place or on private property other than the property of the owner unless the owner immediately takes steps to remove such excrement and to dispose of it in a sanitary manner. Dogs must be on a leash in all City parks. Clean up after your pet. |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | Bylaw notice: dog at large $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late). Leash longer than 6 feet: $100 ($75 early; $125 late).Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A, Animal Control Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog at large IV.16 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes Fail to have dog on leash no longer IV.16 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 44 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996 |
How it works
Courtenay's Animal Control Bylaw requires every dog on a highway, in a City park or in any other public place to be led by a person able to control it, on a leash or chain no longer than 1.83 metres (6 feet). The City says there are no off-leash parks in Courtenay.
Good to know
- Dogs are not allowed on school grounds, playgrounds, designated parks or sports fields. The bylaw also bars dogs from any restricted area of a park. Dogs in City-approved events and certified service or working dogs are excepted. The bylaw does not define "restricted area" and the City does not list the parks, so ask Bylaw Enforcement.
- Clean up after your dog right away, in any public place and on private property other than your own, and dispose of it sanitarily.
- A bylaw notice for a dog at large is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late). A leash longer than 6 feet is $100 ($75 early; $125 late).
- To report a loose dog, see the dog complaint answer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Sources
- Animal control, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Parks and open spaces, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.