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

# Duncan dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Duncan, a dog in a public place must be held on a leash of no more than 1.83 metres, or otherwise securely contained. Dogs may be off leash only in the Rotary Park off-leash area, east from the Silver Bridge to Marchmont Road, which excludes the playing field.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Duncan, https://duncan.ca)  
**Where:**
- In person: Rotary Park off-leash area, 545 Al Wilson Grove, Duncan
- Phone: Coastal Animal Control Services, 250-748-3395

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog in a public place must be firmly held on a leash or otherwise securely contained, and its handler must be a competent person (big and strong enough to control it). Dogs may be off leash only in the designated off-leash area.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 6.2.1, 6.2.2](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "No person may permit a Dog to be in a public place unless the Dog is firmly held on a Leash or otherwise securely contained." … "No person may have care or control of a Dog in a public place unless that person is a Competent Person."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 1.83 metres: the bylaw defines a leash as a rope, line, cord, leather strip or chain not longer than 1.83 m.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 2 (Leash)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "means a rope, line, cord, leather strip, or chain that does not exceed a length of 1.83 metres"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Rotary Park Off-Leash Dog Area (545 Al Wilson Grove), running east from the Silver Bridge to Marchmont Road; it excludes the playing field. Dogs there must stay under control of a competent person: in sight and returning within 3 calls.
  - Source: [Rotary Park, Off-Leash Dog Area](https://duncan.ca/visitors/parks-recreation/rotary-park/)
  - Official wording: "Rotary Park Off-Leash Dog Area is located within Rotary Park at 545 Al Wilson Grove and excludes the playing field." … "The off-leash area runs east from the Silver Bridge to Marchmont Road"
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 6.2.3, 6.2.4](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "the Dog returns to the person within 3 calls"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Off-Leash Area](https://duncan.ca/city-hall/finance/animal_control/)
  - Official wording: "The off-leash dog park is located at Rotary Park."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** None set. Duncan's bylaws do not ban dogs generally from any park or place.
- **Cleaning up:** An owner must immediately remove and lawfully dispose of any dog (animal) excrement on public or private property. Bagged waste may go in a public garbage bin only if sealed in an impermeable container.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 9.1.1, 9.1.2](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "Every Owner of an Animal must ensure that their Animal does not defecate on any public or private Property unless the Owner immediately removes the excrement and lawfully disposes of it." … "impermeable container so as not to ooze, leak, or fall out in the public litter receptacle"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice, dog off leash in a public place: first offence $100 ($85 if paid within 14 days, $115 late); second $200 ($175, $225); third $300 ($275, $325). Same amounts for an animal at large on private property. No municipal ticket amount is listed.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), Schedule A, Animal Care and Control Bylaw s. 6.2.1, 6.1.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059)
  - Official wording: "Dog off leash (public place)" … "1st offence $100.00 $85.00 $115.00 YES" … "2nd offence $200.00 $175.00 $225.00 NO" … "3rd offence $300.00 $275.00 $325.00 NO"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 1 (Title)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229), a dog in a public place must be firmly held on a leash or otherwise securely contained. The handler must be a competent person, meaning someone big and strong enough to control the dog. The bylaw defines a leash as a rope, line, cord, leather strip or chain no longer than 1.83 metres.

## Good to know

- Off leash is allowed only in the designated off-leash area. The City's Rotary Park page names the Rotary Park Off-Leash Dog Area at 545 Al Wilson Grove. No other off-leash area is stated.
- In the off-leash area the dog must stay under the control of a competent person. The bylaw counts a dog as under control if you can see it and it returns within 3 calls.
- Clean up at once. Remove and lawfully dispose of your dog's waste on public or private property. Bagged waste may go in a public garbage bin only if sealed in a container that cannot leak.
- The bylaws do not ban dogs generally from any park or place. Dangerous and aggressive dogs have extra limits; see the dangerous dogs answer.
- A dog off leash in a public place is a bylaw notice under [Bylaw No. 3200](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059): $100 for a first offence ($85 if paid within 14 days, $115 after 28 days), $200 for a second, $300 for a third. Not ensuring a competent person controls the dog is $100.
- Report a loose dog to Coastal Animal Control Services at 250-748-3395.

## Official forms and pages

- [Rotary Park, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/visitors/parks-recreation/rotary-park/)
- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Rotary Park, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/visitors/parks-recreation/rotary-park/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/city-hall/finance/animal_control/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059) (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 Duncan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/dog-leash-rules/_