---
title: Cumberland dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Cumberland, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/cumberland
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Cumberland
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Cumberland dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Cumberland, a dog off its owner's property must be on a leash of no more than 2 metres, held by a competent person. In parks dogs stay leashed except in the fenced off-leash dog park in Village Park. Owners must pick up after their dogs.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Cumberland, https://cumberland.ca)  
**Cost:** Dog at large or off leash ticket: $100 first offence ($50 if paid early), $150 second ($75), $200 third or continued ($100).  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control, 250-336-2291
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control, bylaw@cumberland.ca

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog must not be at large. Off the owner's property it must be on a leash held and controlled by a competent person. In parks, dogs must be on a leash at all times except in the off-leash area.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 11-12](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An owner shall not permit, suffer or allow a dog to be at large." … "An owner shall ensure their Dog is securely affixed to a leash with the other end of the leash held and controlled by a competent person while off the property owned or occupied by the owner."
  - Source: [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 840, 2007 (2015 consolidation), s. 8.1(b)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bylaw-840-Parks-Regulation-CONS-2015-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person with care and control of a dog in a park must have the dog on a leash at all times"
  - Source: [Dogs and Animal Control, Dogs and Animal Control page](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "Please keep your dog on a leash in public places, including parks and trails"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Maximum leash length:** 2.0 metres (6.6 feet) at most.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 2, definition of LEASH](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No more than 2.0 metres (6.6 feet) in length, and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Off-leash areas:** The fenced off-leash dog park in Village Park.
  - Source: [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 840, 2007 (2015 consolidation), Schedule E, Dogs Permitted Off-Leash](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bylaw-840-Parks-Regulation-CONS-2015-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The fenced area of the designated off-leash dog park in Village Park"
  - Source: [Dogs and Animal Control, Dogs and Animal Control page](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "Except for in the fenced off-leash dog park, dogs are not permitted in Village Park"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Village Park, except inside its fenced off-leash dog park.
  - Source: [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 840, 2007 (2015 consolidation), Schedule D, Dogs Prohibited](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bylaw-840-Parks-Regulation-CONS-2015-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Village Park, except within the fenced area of the designated off-leash dog park."
  - Source: [Dogs and Animal Control, Dogs and Animal Control page](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "dogs are not permitted in Village Park to keep the park clean and safe for everyone"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Cleaning up:** An owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement from any public street, lane, sidewalk or other public or private property and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. In parks, pick up all feces immediately.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 13](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An owner shall immediately remove any and all of their dog’s excrement from another person’s property or any public street, lane, sidewalk or any other public or private property and dispose of it in a sanitary manner."
  - Source: [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 840, 2007 (2015 consolidation), s. 8.1(e)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bylaw-840-Parks-Regulation-CONS-2015-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "immediately pick up and remove all feces deposited by each dog;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Dog at large or off leash: first offence $100 ($50 if paid early); second $150 ($75); third or continued $200 ($100). Graduated by offences within a calendar year. (Sources differ: The Village's web page says a fine of $50 to $250; the ticket schedule lists $50 to $200 (early-pay and full amounts). The schedule is followed here. Ticket amounts are the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 schedule (consolidated August 2025): the first amount is the ticket, the second is the early-payment amount if paid by the 30th day after the ticket is served. No Bylaw Notice Enforcement bylaw is listed in the Bylaw Directory.)
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025), Schedule B; s. 7](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large, first offence 11 $100 $50" … "Dog at large, third or continued offences 11 $200 $100" … "Dog off leash, first offence 12 $100 $50" … "Dog off leash, third or continued offence 12 $200 $100" … "Graduated penalties for offences apply to the number of offences committed within a calendar year."
  - Source: [Dogs and Animal Control, Dogs and Animal Control page](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "Having your dog off leash in public places or in Village Park can lead to a fine of $50 to $250."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (s. 11-13); Park Regulations Bylaw No. 840, 2007 (s. 8) for parks
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 1](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017”."
  - Source: [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 840, 2007 (2015 consolidation), s. 8.1](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bylaw-840-Parks-Regulation-CONS-2015-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Park Regulations Bylaw No. 840, 2007"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061](<https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf>), a dog must not be at large in Cumberland. Off the owner's property it must be on a leash held and controlled by a competent person. The leash can be 2.0 metres (6.6 feet) long at most.

## Steps

1. Keep your dog on a leash of 2 metres or less when you leave your property.
2. In parks, keep it leashed at all times. The one place off leash is allowed is the fenced off-leash dog park in Village Park.
3. Pick up your dog's feces right away and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. This applies on any public street, lane, sidewalk or other property, and in parks.

## Good to know

- Under the [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 840](<https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bylaw-840-Parks-Regulation-CONS-2015-2.pdf>), dogs are not allowed in Village Park except inside its fenced off-leash dog park. A peace officer can also require a dog to be removed from any park if it is potentially dangerous or disruptive.
- An aggressive or biting dog must be on a non-retractable leash of 2 metres or less.
- The ticket for a dog at large or off leash is $100 for a first offence ($50 if paid early), $150 for a second ($75) and $200 for a third or continued offence ($100), counted within a calendar year.
- The Village web page says the fine is $50 to $250. The ticket schedule lists $50 to $200, so check with the Village if you get a ticket.
- No map or longer list of off-leash areas was found on the Village pages.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dogs and Animal Control, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
- [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 840, 2007 (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bylaw-840-Parks-Regulation-CONS-2015-2.pdf)

## Related questions

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

- [Dogs and Animal Control, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 840, 2007 (2015 consolidation) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bylaw-840-Parks-Regulation-CONS-2015-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Cumberland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-leash-rules/_