{"title":"Dawson Creek dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/dawson-creek","name":"Dawson Creek","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Dawson Creek","url":"https://www.dawsoncreek.ca"},"short_answer":"In Dawson Creek a dog must be on a leash held by a person in control in any public place, and every animal must be leashed at all times in a City park. The only off-leash dog park named is Barbaree Park, at 105th Ave and 15th Street. A leash is up to 3 metres, or a retractable lead up to 8 metres.","aliases":["off leash dog park dawson creek","barbaree park dog park","dog leash bylaw dawson creek"],"cost":"Animal at large: bylaw notice $150 ($125 if paid within 14 days); municipal ticket $500.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Animal Services","value":"250-782-0370"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"250-784-3657"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"bylaw@dawsoncreek.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw 4420 (PDF)","url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100"},{"title":"Parks Bylaw 4371 (PDF)","url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610"},{"title":"Animal Services page, City of Dawson Creek","url":"https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/animal-services/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Dawson Creek dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Dawson Creek rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/pouce-coupe","name":"Pouce Coupe","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-john","name":"Fort St. John","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chetwynd","name":"Chetwynd","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-leash-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules/"},"facts":{"leash_rule":{"label":"Leash rule","value":"Off your own property a dog must be on a leash held by a person in control on any highway or public place, or on someone else's land without their consent, unless it is in a Council-designated off-leash area. In any City park every animal must be on a leash at all times. On your own property it must be securely confined indoors or in a fenced area.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1 \"At large\", 5.1, 5.3","quotes":["not on a leash which is under the control of a person responsible.","contained within an area that is designated by Council resolution as an off leash area.","keep the animal securely confined on the property by keeping the animal indoors, or within a fenced area sufficient to prevent the animal from leaving the property."]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610","title":"Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.14","quotes":["Any animal in any Park must be controlled and on a leash at all times."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"A leash is defined as no more than 3 metres long, or a retractable lead not exceeding 8 metres fully extended (a retractable lead cannot be used for a dog declared dangerous). High-risk and aggressive dogs: a leash not exceeding 2 metres (6.6 feet).","short":"3 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1 \"Leash\", 7.1, 8.4","quotes":["no more than three (3) meters in length","or a retractable lead not exceeding eight (8) metres in length when fully extended","on a leash not exceeding 2 metres or 6.6 feet."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"Barbaree Park, at 105th Ave and 15th Street, is currently designated as the off-leash dog park. Off-leash areas are those designated by Council resolution.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/animal-services/","title":"Animal Services, City of Dawson Creek","section":"Dog parks","quotes":["Barbaree Park at 105th Ave and 15th Street, which is currently designated as an off-leash Dog Park."]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1 \"At large\"","quotes":["contained within an area that is designated by Council resolution as an off leash area."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Neither Dawson Creek bylaw bans dogs from specific places.","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF)"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610","title":"Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018 (PDF)"}]},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"Dog owners must immediately remove and dispose of any dog waste left on any public place, park or private property, in a waste container or by other sanitary means.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.5","quotes":["must immediately remove and dispose of, in a waste container or by other sanitary means, any fecal matter deposited by the animal on any public place, park or private property."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Animal at large: bylaw notice $150 ($125 if paid within 14 days; $175 if paid late); municipal ticket $500. Animal not on a leash in a park: bylaw notice $150 ($100 within 14 days; $200 late); municipal ticket $750.","short":"Notice $150 ($125 if paid in 14 days); ticket $500","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B (PDF)","section":"Schedule B, s. 5.1 and Parks s. 4.14","quotes":["4420 5.1 Animals at large 150 125 175 No","4371 4.14 Animal not on a leash 150 100 200 No"]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278 (PDF)","section":"Schedule B and L","quotes":["4420 5.1 Animals at large 500","4371 4.14 Animal not on a leash 750"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019; for parks, Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 4420, 2019"]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610","title":"Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018 (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["PARKS BYLAW NO. 4371, 2018"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 4420](<https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100>), a dog in Dawson Creek must be on a leash held by a person in control on any highway or public place, or on someone else's land without their consent, unless it is in an off-leash area designated by Council. [Parks Bylaw 4371](<https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610>) says every animal in a City park must be on a leash at all times. On your own property a dog must be securely confined indoors or in a fenced area. The City's Animal Services page names Barbaree Park (105th Ave and 15th Street) as the designated off-leash dog park.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A leash is no more than 3 metres long, or a retractable lead not over 8 metres fully extended. A retractable lead cannot be used for a dog declared dangerous. High-risk and aggressive dogs need a leash of 2 metres or less.\n- Owners must immediately remove and dispose of dog waste left on any public place, park or private property. Neither bylaw bans dogs from specific places.\n- Fines: animal at large is a bylaw notice of $150 ($125 within 14 days; $175 late) or a municipal ticket of $500. An animal not on a leash in a park is a bylaw notice of $150 ($100 within 14 days; $200 late) or a municipal ticket of $750.\n- To report a loose dog, call Animal Services at 250-782-0370. Call 911 for immediate danger.\n- The City has announced changes to animal services and licensing from December 2026; check with the City.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/animal-services/","title":"Animal Services, City of Dawson Creek","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610","title":"Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dog-leash-rules.json"}}