---
title: Cranbrook dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/cranbrook
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Cranbrook
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Cranbrook dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Cranbrook a dog must be under its owner's control on a leash anywhere off the owner's premises, except inside an off-leash park. The City's two off-leash dog parks are Moir Park and Muriel Baxter. Dogs are banned from playgrounds, splash pads and sports fields.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Cranbrook, https://www.cranbrook.ca)  
**Cost:** A dog at large: bylaw notice $125 ($100 if paid within 14 days, $150 after 28 days); municipal ticket $100.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services (report dogs breaking park rules), 250-489-9598
- Phone: Report off-leash park maintenance issues, 250-489-0218

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog must not run at large: away from its owner's premises it must be under the immediate charge and control of its owner by means of a leash. Dogs may be off leash only in an off-leash park (and some dog sports, trials and shows).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 1.2.1 'Run at Large'; s. 3.8(a)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "immediate charge and control of that PERSON by means of a LEASH" … "ANIMAL does not RUN AT LARGE, other than within an OFF-LEASH" … "a RESPONSIBLE PERSON actively engaged in DOG"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** No maximum is set for ordinary dogs. A vicious dog must be on a short leash, which cannot exceed 2 m (6 ft). In a cemetery the maximum leash length is 3 m.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 1.2.1 'Short Leash'; s. 3.11(a)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "means a LEASH that cannot exceed two (2) meters, or six (6)" … "on a LEASH of a maximum length of 3 (three) meters, at all times."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Moir Park Off-Leash Dog Park and Muriel Baxter Off-Leash Dog Park. In them, dogs must be licensed, wear a collar and tag, be over 4 months old, stay in view and voice control, and be on leash in parking areas.
  - Source: [https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/, Schedule A1, s. 3.12(a)(v)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/)
  - Official wording: "Dog Under Five (5) Months of Age in"
  - Source: [Moir Park Off-Leash Dog Park, Moir Park page](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/leisure-services/moir-park-off-leash-dog-park)
  - Official wording: "Dogs must remain on a leash until inside the off leash area." … "All dogs must be a minimum of four (4) months of age."
  - Source: [Muriel Baxter Off-Leash Dog Park, Muriel Baxter page](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/leisure-services/muriel-baxter-off-leash-dog-park)
  - Official wording: "All dogs must wear a collar and a valid licence tag." … "Maximum of two (2) dogs per person."
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 3.12(a)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "ensure the dog is on LEASH while in parking lot areas of the OFF-" … "ensure the DOG is over four (4) months of age;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Dedicated sports fields and courts (including ball diamonds and soccer fields), wading pools, water parks and splash pads, and in and around playgrounds, at the City parks listed in Schedule D; also any area the City closes and signs (for example shoreline habitat during waterfowl nesting) and ecologically sensitive habitat when signs are posted.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 3.9(a); s. 3.10; Schedule D](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "dedicated sports fields and courts, including baseball diamonds" … "wading pools, water parks and splash pads;" … "ANIMALS are not permitted in and around the playground equipment at CITY parks" … "TEMPORARY PROHIBITED AREAS may include shoreline habitat during" … "ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE HABITAT when City Signs/Notices are posted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** The person responsible must immediately remove any excrement their dog leaves on a highway, park or other public place and dispose of it sanitarily. They must also remove it right away from other people's private property, and clear it from their own property regularly (and within 24 hours of being directed by an animal control officer).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 3.13(a)-(c)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "immediately remove" … "or cause to be removed any excrement deposited by the ANIMAL and" … "dispose of the excrement in a sanitary manner." … "within twenty-four (24) hours of being directed to do so by an ANIMAL"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Dog running at large: bylaw notice $125 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $150 after 28 days); municipal ticket $100. A dog at large or off leash in a cemetery is the same. A vicious or dangerous dog at large in an off-leash park: notice $500 ($475 early); ticket $500.
  - Source: [https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/, Schedule A1, s. 3.8(a)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/)
  - Official wording: "Animal Running at Large $125.00 $100.00 $150.00" … "Vicious Dog Running at Large in Off-" … "Dog Running at Large or Off Leash"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B1, Schedule B1, s. 3.8(a)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106172)
  - Official wording: "Animal Running at Large 3.8(a) $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Cranbrook Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 1.1](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "City of Cranbrook Animal Control" … "Bylaw No. 3845, 2016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City of Cranbrook's [Animal Control Bylaw 3845](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528), a dog may not run at large. Away from its owner's premises it must be under its owner's immediate charge and control by a leash. A dog may be off leash only in an off-leash park (and at some dog sports, trials and shows). The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs.

## Good to know

- **Off-leash parks:** Moir Park and Muriel Baxter.
- **Park rules:** licensed dog wearing a collar and tag, at least four months old; keep it in sight and within voice control; carry a leash and keep the dog on it in parking areas and until you are inside the fenced area; maximum two dogs per person. A dog designated vicious is never allowed.
- **Banned areas:** dedicated sports fields and courts (including ball diamonds and soccer fields), wading pools, water parks and splash pads, and in and around playgrounds, at the City parks listed in the bylaw's Schedule D. Areas the City closes and signs, such as shoreline habitat during nesting, are also off limits.
- **Cemetery:** a dog must be on a leash no longer than 3 m.
- **Vicious dogs** must be on a short leash, no longer than 2 m.
- **Clean up** your dog's waste immediately on any street, park or other public place, and on other people's property.
- **Fines:** a dog at large or off leash in a cemetery is a bylaw notice of $125 ($100 if paid within 14 days, $150 after 28 days) or a municipal ticket of $100. A vicious or dangerous dog at large in an off-leash park is $500 either way.
- To report a dog breaking the rules, call Bylaw Services at 250-489-9598.

## Official forms and pages

- [Moir Park Off-Leash Dog Park](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/leisure-services/moir-park-off-leash-dog-park)
- [Muriel Baxter Off-Leash Dog Park](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/leisure-services/muriel-baxter-off-leash-dog-park)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023, PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)

## Related questions

- [Cranbrook dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-licence.md)
- [Cranbrook rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023) (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Moir Park Off-Leash Dog Park, City of Cranbrook](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/leisure-services/moir-park-off-leash-dog-park) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Muriel Baxter Off-Leash Dog Park, City of Cranbrook](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/leisure-services/muriel-baxter-off-leash-dog-park) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4049, 2021, Schedule A1 (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B1 (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106172) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/) (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 City of Cranbrook. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-leash-rules/_