{"title":"Fernie dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash in Fernie, and what are the leash rules?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","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 Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Fernie a dog must be on a leash in any public place, except in a signed off-leash area. The City's page names one, the Railyard Dog Park at 95 Ridgemont Avenue. Dogs are banned, even on a leash, in Rotary Park, Ridgemont Park and school grounds.","aliases":["off leash dog park fernie","railyard dog park","dogs on leash fernie","dog poop bylaw fernie"],"cost":"Using the off-leash park has no stated cost. A municipal ticket for not keeping a dog on a leash in a public place is $150.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"250-423-2244"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"bylawservices@fernie.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html"},{"title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF)","url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Fernie dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Fernie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/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":"A dog must be on a leash on any sidewalk, highway, boulevard, school ground, playground, park or other public place, except in an off-leash area where its owner is a competent person who keeps it in view and under control.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 5.1(a), 6.1","quotes":["to be on a sidewalk, highway, boulevard, school","unless the Dog is on a","Despite section 5.1(a) a Leash is not required for a Dog in an Off-Leash Area"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"A leash may be no longer than 6 feet (1.83 m). Aggressive, vicious and dangerous dogs must be on a leash no longer than 1 metre when off the owner's property.","short":"6 feet (1.83 m)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 1.2 \"Leash\"; s. 7.2(a)","quotes":["means a line or chain that does not exceed 6 feet (1.83 meters)","a maximum length of (1) metre"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"The Railyard Dog Park, 95 Ridgemont Avenue (run by the Fernie Pets Society). An off-leash area is City land marked by signs. In one, carry a leash, keep the dog in view and under control, leash it at once if aggressive, and remove its excrement.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html","title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","section":"Dog Off-Leash Parks","quotes":["The Off-Leash Railyard Dog Park is located at:","95 Ridgemont Avenue"]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 1.2 \"Off Leash Area\"; s. 6.2","quotes":["means an area of City-owned property designated by signs","carry a Leash;","keep the Dog in view at all times;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":"Rotary Park, the grounds of any school, and Ridgemont Park. Dogs are banned there even on a leash.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 5.1(e)","quotes":["whether or not on Leash, enter onto or be in the following restricted areas:","Rotary Park;","The grounds of any school;","Ridgemont Park."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"The owner must not let the dog leave excrement on a public place or another person's property unless the owner immediately removes it and disposes of it in a sanitary manner.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 5.1(d)","quotes":["leave or deposit excrement on any Public Place or Property of another","person, unless the Owner immediately removes such excrement and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Municipal ticket $150 for failing to keep a dog on a leash in a public place.","short":"Ticket $150","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Appendix 7 of Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, s. 5.1(a)","quotes":["Failure to keep a dog on leash in a Public place 5.1 (a) $150.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Title","quotes":["ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) requires a dog in the City of Fernie to be on a leash on any sidewalk, highway, boulevard, school ground, playground, park or other public place. A leash may be no longer than 6 feet (1.83 metres).\n\n## Off-leash areas\n\nThe Railyard Dog Park, 95 Ridgemont Avenue, is run by the Fernie Pets Society. An off-leash area is City land marked by signs. In one, the owner must carry a leash, keep the dog in view and under control, leash it at once if it behaves aggressively, and remove its excrement.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Dogs are not allowed in Rotary Park, Ridgemont Park or on the grounds of any school, even on a leash.\n- Dog waste must be removed immediately and disposed of in a sanitary manner, on public places and on other people's property.\n- Aggressive, vicious and dangerous dogs must be on a leash no longer than 1 metre when off the owner's property.\n- A municipal ticket is $150 for not keeping a dog on a leash in a public place. Other $150 tickets include a dog in a restricted area and not removing excrement.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html","title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie","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 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules.json"}}