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

# Creston dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Creston, a dog in a public place must be on a leash, chain or tether (or in a carrier) and must not run at large. The only off-leash area is the Creston Dog Park at 1414 Cedar Street. Two Town bylaws set the leash length differently, at 183 cm and 2 m.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Creston, https://www.creston.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice for a dog at large is $100; a dog in a public place that is not leashed is $50.  
**How long:** The rules apply all year.  
**Where:**
- Online: Creston Dog Park page, https://www.creston.ca/dog-park
- Online: Bylaw Complaint Form (complaints and claims), https://www.creston.ca/complaints-and-claims
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-428-2214

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** In any public place a dog must be on a leash, chain or tether (or in a carrier) and must not be at large. Off leash only at the Creston Dog Park. Parks bylaw: keep control of the dog at all times in public spaces.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.1(b), (c), (d)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf)
  - Official wording: "be in a public place unless the dog or cat is in a carrier or kept on a leash, chain or tether not" … "be At Large in the Town" … "dogs are permitted to be off-leash at the Creston off-leash dog"
  - Source: [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 8.1.2, 8.1.3](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must maintain control of the dog at all times while on or in a Public Space;" … "must keep the dog on a leash not more than two metres in length at all times"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** Animal Care bylaw: no longer than 183 cm (6 feet). Parks bylaw: no more than 2 m in public spaces and Town parks. (Sources differ: The two bylaws set different maximums (183 cm vs 2 m). The Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030 is the newer one; the Animal Care copy is consolidated to February 13, 2024.)
  - Source: [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.1(c)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf)
  - Official wording: "exceeding 183 centimeters (6 feet) in length"
  - Source: [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 8.1.3](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must keep the dog on a leash not more than two metres in length at all times"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Creston Dog Park, 1414 Cedar Street. Leash the dog when entering and leaving; the dog must be under the owner's immediate verbal control.
  - Source: [Dog Park, Dog Park page](https://www.creston.ca/dog-park)
  - Official wording: "Creston's off leash dog park is located at 1414 Cedar Street." … "Be attached to owner by a leash when entering and leaving the park"
  - Source: [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 8.3](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Creston Dog Park is designated a “Dog Off-Leash Park"."
  - Source: [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.1(d)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf)
  - Official wording: "any dog not under the immediate verbal control of its Owner/Person Responsible"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Animal Care bylaw: no dogs or cats in Centennial Park, Burns Park or Millennium Park. Parks bylaw: dogs only in designated on-leash parks (it lists Burns Park) and the off-leash park; other animals except guide or service dogs are barred from Town parks. (Sources differ: The two bylaws disagree about Burns Park: the Animal Care bylaw bans dogs there, while the newer Parks bylaw lists it as a Dog On-Leash Park. Other on-leash parks in s. 8.2: Dwight and Rosamond Moore Community Wetlands, Dodd's Creek Park, Schikurski Park, Downtown Green Space, Ken Huscroft Park and one park whose name is in Ktunaxa.)
  - Source: [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.1(e)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no dogs or cats are permitted in Centennial Park, Burns Park or Millennium Park;"
  - Source: [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, ss. 6.5, 8.2](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall bring an animal, other than a guide dog or service dog, into a Town Park," … "8.2.5 Burns Park;" … "8.2.1 Kinsmen Park;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** Remove the dog's feces immediately whenever the dog is off your premises and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. In public spaces, put it in a sealed bag and take it away or use a public garbage receptacle.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.3](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf)
  - Official wording: "immediately remove or cause to be removed any feces deposited" … "by the animal, and dispose of the feces in a sanitary manner."
  - Source: [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 8.1.4](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must place all excrement deposited by the dog in or on a Public Space into a" … "sealed bag and:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notices: dog at large $100 ($85 early, $115 late); dog in a public place not leashed $50 ($35 early, $65 late); dog not under verbal control at the off-leash park $50 ($35, $65); dog in a Town park not designated on-leash or off-leash $50 ($25, $75).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw rows](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1826 7.1(b) Cat/dog at Large $100.00 $85.00 $115.00 YES" … "1826 7.1(c) Cat/dog in public place, not leashed $50.00 $35.00 $65.00 YES"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Parks bylaw rows](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dogs in parks not designated as “Dog On-" … "2030 8.1.1 $50.00 $25.00 $75.00 Yes Leash” or “Dog Off-Leash” parks"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, 2015; Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, 2025 (Town parks)
  - Source: [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, title, s. 1.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, 2015"
  - Source: [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 1.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations" … "Bylaw No. 2030, 2025"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Two Town bylaws set dog rules in public. The [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826](<https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf>) says a dog in any public place must be on a leash, chain or tether (or in a carrier) and must not be at large. The [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030](<https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf>) says to keep control of your dog at all times in public spaces.

The only off-leash area is the Creston Dog Park, 1414 Cedar Street. Leash your dog when entering and leaving, and keep it under your immediate verbal control.

## Steps

1. Keep your dog leashed everywhere except the Dog Park.
2. Use a leash no longer than 183 cm (6 feet) under the Animal Care bylaw, or no more than 2 m under the Parks bylaw. Staying under 183 cm meets both.
3. Pick up your dog's feces immediately when off your own premises. In public spaces, put it in a sealed bag and take it away or use a public garbage receptacle.
4. Report a problem dog with the Bylaw Complaint Form (name, address and phone number are required).

## Good to know

- The bylaws disagree on leash length (183 cm or 2 m) and on Burns Park. The Animal Care bylaw bans dogs in Centennial, Burns and Millennium parks. The newer Parks bylaw lists Burns Park as an on-leash park. Check with Town Hall before you go.
- The Parks bylaw allows dogs on leash only in designated on-leash parks (Burns Park, Dwight and Rosamond Moore Community Wetlands, Dodd's Creek Park, Schikurski Park, Downtown Green Space, Ken Huscroft Park and one more) and in the off-leash park.
- The Parks bylaw makes an exception for Municipal Trails; the Animal Care bylaw does not.
- Not allowed in the Dog Park: dogs under 4 months, in heat, showing aggression, ill, unimmunized or unattended. Dangerous dogs may not be off leash there.
- Bylaw notices: dog at large $100 ($85 early, $115 late); dog in a public place not leashed $50 ($35, $65); dog not under verbal control at the off-leash park $50; dog in a Town park not designated for dogs $50 ($25, $75).

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf)
- [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dog Park, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/dog-park) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf) (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 Creston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/dog-leash-rules/_