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

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

Fort St. John, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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).Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 18-19, 3 ("At large") · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 3 ("Leash"), ss. 21, 34(f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 25; Animal Control, Regulations; Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025, s. 3.7(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Owner shall permit or allow their Dog on any school ground, playground, park or sports School grounds are off-limits for dogs Allow any dog or other animal to run at large with the exception of areas designated
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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 22-23; Animal Control, Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Pick up and dispose of dog waste from any public or private property
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.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; Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Bylaw Infractions; Walking Trails, Dog Etiquette · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 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 Failure to leash or pick up after your dog is a $100 fine.
Bylaw	Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to include Bylaw 2584, 2023); in parks also the Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 1; Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025, s. 3.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021”. Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021

How it works

The 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, 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

The same question in other places

Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge · Mackenzie · Prince George

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2615, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Animal Control, City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Walking Trails, City of Fort St. John (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. How answers are checked.