--- title: Fernie dog leash rules and off-leash areas question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Fernie, and what are the leash rules?" place: Fernie, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/fernie category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: City of Fernie sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules.json" --- # Fernie dog leash rules and off-leash areas **Question:** Where can dogs be off leash in Fernie, and what are the leash rules? **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. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fernie, https://www.fernie.ca) **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. **Where:** - Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-423-2244 - Email: Bylaw Services, bylawservices@fernie.ca ## Key facts - **Leash rule:** 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. - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 5.1(a), 6.1](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Maximum leash length:** 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. - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2 "Leash"; s. 7.2(a)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) - Official wording: "means a line or chain that does not exceed 6 feet (1.83 meters)" … "a maximum length of (1) metre" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Off-leash areas:** 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. - Source: [Animal Responsibility, Dog Off-Leash Parks](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html) - Official wording: "The Off-Leash Railyard Dog Park is located at:" … "95 Ridgemont Avenue" - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2 "Off Leash Area"; s. 6.2](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) - Official wording: "means an area of City-owned property designated by signs" … "carry a Leash;" … "keep the Dog in view at all times;" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Places dogs are not allowed:** Rotary Park, the grounds of any school, and Ridgemont Park. Dogs are banned there even on a leash. - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 5.1(e)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) - Official wording: "whether or not on Leash, enter onto or be in the following restricted areas:" … "Rotary Park;" … "The grounds of any school;" … "Ridgemont Park." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cleaning up:** 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. - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 5.1(d)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) - Official wording: "leave or deposit excrement on any Public Place or Property of another" … "person, unless the Owner immediately removes such excrement and" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Municipal ticket $150 for failing to keep a dog on a leash in a public place. - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, Appendix 7 of Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, s. 5.1(a)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199) - Official wording: "Failure to keep a dog on leash in a Public place 5.1 (a) $150.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Title](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The [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). ## Off-leash areas The 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. ## Good to know - Dogs are not allowed in Rotary Park, Ridgemont Park or on the grounds of any school, even on a leash. - Dog waste must be removed immediately and disposed of in a sanitary manner, on public places and on other people's property. - Aggressive, vicious and dangerous dogs must be on a leash no longer than 1 metre when off the owner's property. - 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. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html) - [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) ## Related questions - [Fernie dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence.md) - [Fernie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dangerous-dogs.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/dog-leash-rules.md) ## Sources - [Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html) (read 2026-11-05) - [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) (read 2026-11-05) - [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199) (read 2026-11-05) _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 City of Fernie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules/_