Creston dog leash rules and off-leash areas
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.
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.Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.1(b), (c), (d); Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 8.1.2, 8.1.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingbe 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 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 |
|---|---|
| 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.Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.1(c); Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 8.1.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexceeding 183 centimeters (6 feet) in length must keep the dog on a leash not more than two metres in length at all times |
| 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.Dog Park, Dog Park page; Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 8.3; Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.1(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCreston's off leash dog park is located at 1414 Cedar Street. Be attached to owner by a leash when entering and leaving the park Creston Dog Park is designated a “Dog Off-Leash Park". any dog not under the immediate verbal control of its Owner/Person Responsible |
| 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.Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.1(e); Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, ss. 6.5, 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno dogs or cats are permitted in Centennial Park, Burns Park or Millennium Park; 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; |
| 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.Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 7.3; Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 8.1.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingimmediately remove or cause to be removed any feces deposited by the animal, and dispose of the feces in a sanitary manner. must place all excrement deposited by the dog in or on a Public Space into a sealed bag and: |
| 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).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw rows; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Parks bylaw rows · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording1826 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 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 |
| Bylaw | Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, 2015; Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, 2025 (Town parks)Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, title, s. 1.1; Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, 2015 Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030, 2025 |
How it works
Two Town bylaws set dog rules in public. The Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 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 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
- Keep your dog leashed everywhere except the Dog Park.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
The same question in other places
Salmo · Kimberley · Cranbrook · Fruitvale · Nelson · Montrose
Sources
- Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Parks, Trails, and Public Places Regulations Bylaw No. 2030 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Park, Town of Creston (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (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. How answers are checked.