{"title":"Fort St James dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash in Fort St James, and what are the leash rules?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fort-st-james","name":"Fort St James","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":"District of Fort St James","url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca"},"short_answer":"In Fort St James, a dog on any street or public place must be on a leash no longer than 3 metres, except in posted off-leash areas. The bylaw does not list those areas. The fine for a dog off leash is $25.","aliases":["dog off leash fort st james","leash law fort st james","dog park fort st james","dog poop bylaw fort st james"],"cost":"$25 for failing to keep a dog on a leash. A dog at large pays the impoundment fees: $40 first time in a calendar year if neutered or spayed, $60 if not, plus $10 a day.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"477 Stuart Drive West, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"District Office","value":"250-996-8233"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement Officer","value":"250-996-8670 ext. 3"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf"},{"title":"Splash Park, District of Fort St James","url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/community/parks-recreation/splash-park"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Fort St James dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Fort St James rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dangerous-dogs/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fort St James","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/vanderhoof","name":"Vanderhoof","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/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 on any street or in a public place must be on a leash at all times, except in posted designated off-leash areas. An unleashed dog's owner must carry a leash, keep the dog in view, keep effective control so it returns when signalled, and leash it at once if it shows aggression.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","section":"s. 4.2.3","quotes":["must keep such dog that is on any street or in a public place on a leash at all times, except in areas posted as designated dog off-","leash areas"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","section":"s. 3.1.4","quotes":["A person must not permit any animal other than a cat to be running at large"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"No more than 3 metres.","short":"3 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","section":"s. 2.29","quotes":["no more than three (3) metres in length"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"Only in areas posted by sign as designated dog off-leash areas.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","section":"s. 2.15","quotes":["Designated Dog Off-Leash Area means an area posted by sign"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":"The District's splash pad: no pets allowed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/community/parks-recreation/splash-park","title":"Splash Park, District of Fort St James","section":"Splash park page","quotes":["No pets, bikes, skateboards, or scooters allowed on the splash pad."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"The owner of a dog (other than an assistance dog) must clean up immediately any feces the dog leaves on any parcel other than the owner's own.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","section":"s. 4.2.4","quotes":["Every owner of a dog other than an assistance dog must ensure that any","feces deposited on any parcel, other than the parcel of the owner, is cleaned"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Failure to keep dog on leash: $25. Dog running at large: the fine is the applicable impoundment fees (first impoundment in a calendar year $40 for a neutered or spayed dog, $60 otherwise).","short":"$25 off leash; at large: impound fees","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","section":"Sched. D","quotes":["Failure to keep dog on leash","Permit animal to be running at large","Impoundment Fees"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","section":"Sched. A, s. 1.1(a)","quotes":["First impoundment in any calendar year:","Neutered Male or Spayed Female"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006 (office consolidation March 27, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1081, 2025)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["“District of Fort St. James Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006”"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the District's [Animal Regulation Bylaw 833](<https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf>), a dog on any street or in a public place in Fort St James must be on a leash at all times. The leash may be no more than 3 metres long. The only exception is a designated off-leash area marked by a sign.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The pages read do not list or map any off-leash areas. Ask the District office at 250-996-8233 which ones are posted.\n- An owner with an unleashed dog must carry a leash, keep the dog in view, keep control so it returns when signalled, and leash it at once if it shows aggression.\n- The owner of a dog (other than an assistance dog) must clean up immediately any feces it leaves on a parcel other than the owner's own.\n- The District's splash pad allows no pets.\n- The bylaw does not ban dogs from parks, beaches or sports fields in general, and other park rules were not checked.\n- Failing to keep a dog on a leash is a $25 fine. A dog running at large is charged the impoundment fees, which are $40 the first time in a calendar year for a neutered or spayed dog and $60 otherwise, plus $10 a day while impounded.\n- Report a dog to the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-996-8670 ext. 3 or the District office at 250-996-8233.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/community/parks-recreation/splash-park","title":"Splash Park, District of Fort St James","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjames.ca/services/protective-services/animal-control-conservation","title":"Animal Control and Conservation, District of Fort St James","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/fort-st-james/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-leash-rules.json"}}