---
title: Fort St. John dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fort-st-john
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Fort St. John
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Fort St. John dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fort St. John, https://www.fortstjohn.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-787-8150 (Also dial 3-1-1. City Hall, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** 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).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 18-19, 3 ("At large")](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 3 ("Leash"), ss. 21, 34(f)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Not confirmed. None of the bylaws or City pages read names an off-leash area.
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 25](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "No Owner shall permit or allow their Dog on any school ground, playground, park or sports"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Regulations](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "School grounds are off-limits for dogs"
  - Source: [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025, s. 3.7(d)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "Allow any dog or other animal to run at large with the exception of areas designated"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 22-23](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Regulations](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Pick up and dispose of dog waste from any public or private property"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** 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. (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.)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), Schedule C / Schedule C, dog at large, failure to leash and failure to prevent attack](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Bylaw Infractions](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Walking Trails, Dog Etiquette](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/parks-and-recreation/parks-and-trails/walking-trails)
  - Official wording: "Failure to leash or pick up after your dog is a $100 fine."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to include Bylaw 2584, 2023); in parks also the Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 1](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021”."
  - Source: [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025, s. 3.7](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

## Good to know

- The leash must be strong, no more than 3 metres long, and held by a person able to control the dog.
- 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.
- 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.
- You must immediately remove dog feces left on any property other than your own. A legally blind owner is exempt for a service dog.
- 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.
- Questions: Bylaw Services at 250-787-8150.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw 2556, 2021 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw)
- [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw 2615, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf)

## Related questions

- [Fort St. John dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-licence.md)
- [Fort St. John rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/parks-and-open-spaces-bylaw-no-2615-2025pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Walking Trails, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/parks-and-recreation/parks-and-trails/walking-trails) (read 2026-11-05)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Fort St. John. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules/_