{"title":"Fort St. John dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fort-st-john","name":"Fort St. John","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 Fort St. John","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca"},"short_answer":"In Fort St. John, a dog must be on a leash in a public place unless the place is designated an off-leash area. No official City text we read lists any designated off-leash area. The leash may be no more than 3 metres long. A dog at large or unleashed is a $200 bylaw notice.","aliases":["off leash dog park fort st john","dog on leash fort st john","dogs in parks fort st john"],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"250-787-8150","note":"Also dial 3-1-1. City Hall, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2556, 2021 (consolidated PDF)","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw"},{"title":"Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw 2615, 2025 (PDF)","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Fort St. John dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Fort St. John rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/dawson-creek","name":"Dawson Creek","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/pouce-coupe","name":"Pouce Coupe","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chetwynd","name":"Chetwynd","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/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":"Every owner must keep their dog on a leash in a public place unless the place is designated an off-leash area. A dog must not be at large (not under direct and continuous control of its owner or a competent person).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"ss. 18-19, 3 (\"At large\")","quotes":["Every Owner shall Keep their Dog leashed when the Dog is in a public place unless that place","has been designated an off-leash area","is not At large"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"No more than 3 metres, of strong material, held by a person able to control the dog. Aggressive and biting dogs off their property: non-retractable leash of 2 metres or less, held by a competent person over 16. A female dog in heat may be leashed that way instead of being confined.","short":"3 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"s. 3 (\"Leash\"), ss. 21, 34(f)","quotes":["no more than three meters in length","non-retractable leash no more than two metres","material no more than three meters in length and of sufficient strength and design to restrain","securely leashed or harnessed with a non-retractable leash no more than two metres","with a non-retractable leash no more than two metres in length and under the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"None of the bylaws or City pages read names an off-leash area.","sources":[]},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":"Any school ground, playground, park or sports field where dogs are expressly prohibited. School grounds are off-limits for dogs. In parks, dogs may not run at large except in a designated Dog Off-Leash Park.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"s. 25","quotes":["No Owner shall permit or allow their Dog on any school ground, playground, park or sports"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Fort St. John","section":"Regulations","quotes":["School grounds are off-limits for dogs"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf","title":"Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.7(d)","quotes":["Allow any dog or other animal to run at large with the exception of areas designated"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"The owner must immediately remove dog feces left on any property other than the owner’s own. A legally blind owner is exempt for a service dog. The City page says to pick up and dispose of waste from any public or private property.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"ss. 22-23","quotes":["must immediately remove feces deposited by the Owner’s Dog on property other than the Owner’s property","An Owner who is legally blind is exempt"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Fort St. John","section":"Regulations","quotes":["Pick up and dispose of dog waste from any public or private property"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"A dog at large or a failure to leash carries a $200 bylaw notice, $150 on days 1–14 or $250 on days 31–60. Failure to prevent an attack has a separate $400 penalty.","short":"Notice $200 ($150 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"Schedule C / Schedule C, dog at large, failure to leash and failure to prevent attack","quotes":["Dog at large","Fail to leash a dog","$200.00","$150.00","$250.00","Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 OFFENCE SECTION PENALTY EARLY LATE COMPLIANCE PAYMENT PAYMENT AGREEMENT AVAILABLE (15 - 30 (1 - 14 (31 - 60 Days (50% of Penalty) Days) Days) Collections 60+) Unlicensed Dog 5 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes Fail to affix license to collar/harness 15 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes Keep more than three dogs 20 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes Dog at large 21 (a) $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 No Fail to prevent attack 21 (b) $400.00 $350.00 $450.00 No Dog damaging property 21 (c) $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 No Fail to leash a dog 22 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 No"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure","title":"Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF)","section":"Bylaw Infractions","quotes":["you can also stop by City Hall, where reception dogs per household Keep more than 3 dogs $200 will assist you in the Docupet licensing process. Dog at large $200 Responsible guardianship Leashing and running-at-large • Do not let your dog bite","Dog damaging property $200 • Dogs must not be allowed to run at large Unleashed dog $200 • Owners must provide food and water, and a"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/parks-and-recreation/parks-and-trails/walking-trails","title":"Walking Trails, City of Fort St. John","section":"Dog Etiquette","quotes":["Failure to leash or pick up after your dog is a $100 fine."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The Walking Trails page says $100 for failing to leash or pick up on trails; the bylaw schedule and brochure say $200. The bylaw schedule is followed. The consolidated Animal Control Bylaw (to Bylaw 2584, 2023) still prints the older section numbers in Schedule C, so Schedule C section numbers do not match the current section numbers."},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to include Bylaw 2584, 2023); in parks also the Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021”."]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf","title":"Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.7","quotes":["Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Control Bylaw](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw) requires every owner to keep a dog on a leash in a public place unless it is a designated off-leash area. A dog must also not be \"at large\", meaning not under the direct and continuous control of its owner or another competent person. Under the [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf), dogs may not run at large in a park except in a designated Dog Off-Leash Park. None of the bylaws or City pages we read names such an area, so ask Bylaw Services before you let a dog off leash.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The leash must be strong, no more than 3 metres long, and held by a person able to control the dog.\n- Aggressive and biting dogs off their property need a non-retractable leash of 2 metres or less held by a competent person over 16. A female dog in heat may be leashed that way instead of being confined.\n- Dogs are not allowed on school grounds, or on playgrounds, parks and sports fields where dogs are expressly prohibited. The sources do not list which places have a ban.\n- You must immediately remove dog feces left on any property other than your own. A legally blind owner is exempt for a service dog.\n- A bylaw notice for a dog at large or failing to leash is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 on days 31 to 60). Failing to prevent an attack is $400. The City's Walking Trails page says $100 for trails; the bylaw says $200, so confirm with Bylaw Services.\n- Questions: Bylaw Services at 250-787-8150.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf","title":"Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Fort St. John","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure","title":"Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/parks-and-recreation/parks-and-trails/walking-trails","title":"Walking Trails, City of Fort St. John","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 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules.json"}}