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

# Dawson Creek dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Dawson Creek, https://www.dawsoncreek.ca)  
**Cost:** Animal at large: bylaw notice $150 ($125 if paid within 14 days); municipal ticket $500.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Services, 250-782-0370
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-784-3657
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@dawsoncreek.ca

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 2.1 "At large", 5.1, 5.3](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018, s. 4.14](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610)
  - Official wording: "Any animal in any Park must be controlled and on a leash at all times."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 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).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 2.1 "Leash", 7.1, 8.4](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Services, Dog parks](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/animal-services/)
  - Official wording: "Barbaree Park at 105th Ave and 15th Street, which is currently designated as an off-leash Dog Park."
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 2.1 "At large"](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100)
  - Official wording: "contained within an area that is designated by Council resolution as an off leash area."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** None set. Neither Dawson Creek bylaw bans dogs from specific places.
- **Cleaning up:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 5.5](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B, Schedule B, s. 5.1 and Parks s. 4.14](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "4420 5.1 Animals at large 150 125 175 No" … "4371 4.14 Animal not on a leash 150 100 200 No"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278, Schedule B and L](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527)
  - Official wording: "4420 5.1 Animals at large 500" … "4371 4.14 Animal not on a leash 750"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019; for parks, Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 1.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 4420, 2019"
  - Source: [Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018, s. 1.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610)
  - Official wording: "PARKS BYLAW NO. 4371, 2018"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- To report a loose dog, call Animal Services at 250-782-0370. Call 911 for immediate danger.
- The City has announced changes to animal services and licensing from December 2026; check with the City.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 4420 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100)
- [Parks Bylaw 4371 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610)
- [Animal Services page, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/animal-services/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Services, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/animal-services/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112100) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527) (read 2026-11-05)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Dawson Creek. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dog-leash-rules/_