---
title: Esquimalt dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Esquimalt, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/esquimalt
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Township of Esquimalt
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Esquimalt dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Esquimalt, a dog in any public place must be firmly held on a leash by a competent person. Dogs may be off leash only in designated off-leash areas, such as Captain Jacobsen Park and Highrock Park, and must stay under effective control.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Esquimalt, https://www.esquimalt.ca)  
**Cost:** No cost. Bylaw notice for an unleashed dog: $100 ($75 if paid early).  
**How long:** Rules apply year-round. The Fleming Beach off-leash area is open November 1 to May 1 only.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Victoria Animal Control Services (pound and animal control officers), 250-414-0233
- Phone: Bylaw enforcement, 250-414-7161 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: After hours and weekends (VicPD non-emergency), 250-995-7654 (For emergencies call 9-1-1.)

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog in any public place (streets, boulevards, parks, municipal or school district land) must be firmly held on a leash by a competent person. Dogs may be off leash only in designated off-leash areas, under effective control (comes back within three calls), if the area is not closed or under permit.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 21(1)-(2), s. 2](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "must not allow the dog to be in a public place unless the dog" … "is firmly held on" … "the dog is under the effective control of a competent person" … "the animal returns to the person within three calls"
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks](https://www.esquimalt.ca/parks-recreation/parks/dogs-parks)
  - Official wording: "Maintain voice control over your dog at all times"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** Leash up to 2.4 m, or a retractable lead up to 8 m fully extended.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 21(1)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "a leash not exceeding 2.4 m in length; or" … "a retractable lead not exceeding 8 m in length when fully extended;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Schedule B lists: Captain Jacobsen Park; Esquimalt's Gorge Park (designated area); Fleming Beach at Macaulay Point Park (November 1 to May 1 only); Highrock Park; Macaulay Point Park (trails from the breakwater to the Clifton Terrace entrance, and a designated area); Saxe Point Park westerly side. A printable guide and a map are on the Township's Dogs in Parks page.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), Schedule B](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "Dogs Off Leash" … "Captain Jacobsen Park" … "Fleming Beach at Macaulay Point" … "Highrock Park" … "November 1st to May 1st only."
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks](https://www.esquimalt.ca/parks-recreation/parks/dogs-parks)
  - Official wording: "Find a dog-friendly park near you (printable)" … "Use our mobile-friendly map"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Not permitted at any time: lacrosse boxes, sports fields, playgrounds, splash parks, skate parks and gardens; Anderson Park, Brodeur Field, Bullen Park, Hither Green, Lampson Park, Lugrin Tot Lot, Paradise Tot Lot; the fenced protected-species areas of Macaulay Point Park; and the wedding area and east-side grass of Saxe Point Park. Also not school grounds.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 21(3), Schedule B](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "must not allow the dog to be in a dog-" … "prohibited area at any time." … "Dogs not permitted in lacrosse box," … "sports fields, playgrounds, splash" … "Anderson Park"
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks](https://www.esquimalt.ca/parks-recreation/parks/dogs-parks)
  - Official wording: "Dogs are not permitted in school grounds, lacrosse boxes, sports fields, playgrounds, skate parks, and gardens." … "In Macaulay Point Park dogs are not allowed inside the restricted fenced areas."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** The owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement and dispose of it lawfully if the dog defecates in a public place or on any private property other than the owner's.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 51(1)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "must not allow the dog to defecate:" … "unless the owner immediately removes the excrement and lawfully disposes of it."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice: unleashed dog $100 ($75 early, $125 late); dog at large on private lands $100 ($75 early, $125 late); dog in a prohibited area $150 ($112 early, $187 late).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026), Schedule N, s. 20, 21(1), 21(3)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "20 Dog at large on private lands 100.00 75.00 125.00" … "21(1) Unleashed Dog 100.00 75.00 125.00" … "21(3) Dog in prohibited area 150.00 112.00 187.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 1](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animal Management Bylaw No. 2841](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation) requires a dog in any public place (streets, boulevards, parks, municipal or school district land) to be firmly held on a leash by a competent person. The leash may be up to 2.4 m, or a retractable lead up to 8 m fully extended.

Dogs may be off leash only in designated off-leash areas, if the area is not closed or under permit, and only under effective control, meaning the dog comes back within three calls. Leash your dog when entering and leaving an off-leash area. Cats and rabbits may not go in off-leash areas.

## Off-leash areas

Schedule B of the bylaw lists:

- Captain Jacobsen Park
- Esquimalt's Gorge Park (designated area)
- Fleming Beach at Macaulay Point Park (November 1 to May 1 only)
- Highrock Park
- Macaulay Point Park (trails from the breakwater to the Clifton Terrace entrance, and a designated area)
- Saxe Point Park, westerly side

The Township's [Dogs in Parks page](https://www.esquimalt.ca/parks-recreation/parks/dogs-parks) has a printable guide and a map.

## Good to know

- Dogs are not permitted at any time on lacrosse boxes, sports fields, playgrounds, splash parks, skate parks, gardens or school grounds. Also off limits: Anderson Park, Brodeur Field, Bullen Park, Hither Green, Lampson Park, Lugrin Tot Lot, Paradise Tot Lot, the fenced protected-species areas of Macaulay Point Park, and the wedding area and east-side grass of Saxe Point Park.
- Pick up after your dog immediately, in public places and on other people's private property.
- Bylaw notices: unleashed dog $100 ($75 early); dog at large on private land $100 ($75 early); dog in a prohibited area $150 ($112 early). Early means paid within 14 days.
- Report problems to Victoria Animal Control Services (250-414-0233) or Bylaw Enforcement (250-414-7161). After hours, call VicPD at 250-995-7654.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dogs in Parks, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/parks-recreation/parks/dogs-parks)
- [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)

## Related questions

- [Esquimalt dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-licence.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/how-many-pets.md)
- [Esquimalt rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Esquimalt bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dogs in Parks, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/parks-recreation/parks/dogs-parks) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/animal-control) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Contacts, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/bylaws-enforcement/contacts) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Township of Esquimalt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules/_