Grand Forks dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?
Short answer
In the City of Grand Forks, a dog on a street or in a public place must be on a leash, held by a competent person. The leash may be up to 2.4 metres, or an extendable lead up to 8 metres. Dogs may run loose only in posted or designated off-leash areas, which the bylaws do not list.
Key facts
| Leash rule | On a highway or public place a dog must be under the immediate charge and control of a competent person, on a leash, unless in a posted off-leash area. In any park or public space a dog is 'at large' unless securely leashed, except in a designated Dog Off-Leash Park.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, ss. 8, 10; Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057 (consolidated, PDF), ss. 2.1, 15, 15.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingunless the Dog is under the immediate charge and control of a person competent to restrain the Dog: unless specifically posted as an off-leash area in the Control Area. and not securely leashed and under control of the Owner; A person shall not cause, allow, or permit pets or other animals to be At Large on any beach, Park, or Public Space within the Municipality. which has been designated as a Dog Off-Leash Park. |
|---|---|
| Maximum leash length | A leash up to 2.4 metres, or a leash lead up to 8 metres when fully extended.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, s. 8.1, 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingon a leash that is not longer than 2.4 metres; or, on a leash lead that is not longer than 8 metres when fully extended. |
| Off-leash areas | Not confirmed. Neither bylaw nor any City page read lists off-leash parks or places where dogs are banned. |
| Places dogs are not allowed | Not confirmed. Neither bylaw nor any City page read lists off-leash parks or places where dogs are banned. |
| Cleaning up | Pick up and dispose of dog excrement in a sanitary manner immediately, on any highway or public place and on private property you don't own. Also required in parks and on trails. A person who is legally blind or visually impaired with a registered guide dog is exempt.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, ss. 11-13; Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057 (consolidated, PDF), s. 15.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingunless the person immediately removes the excrement and disposes of it in a sanitary manner. Paragraphs 11 and 12 do not apply to a person who is legally blind or visually impaired An Owner must immediately remove and dispose of, in a sanitary manner, feces |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | Municipal ticket: $15 for a dog or animal at large (Animal Control Bylaw s. 15); $50 for an animal at large on a beach, in a park or public space (Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw s. 15).Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073, Schedule U; Schedule R · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog or animal at large $15.00 Animal At Large on beach, Park, or Public Space $50.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116 and Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, s. 1; Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057 (consolidated, PDF), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116” Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057 |
How it works
Under the Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, a dog on a highway or public place must be under the immediate charge and control of a competent person, on a leash, unless it is in a posted off-leash area. The leash may be up to 2.4 metres, or a leash lead up to 8 metres when fully extended. The Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057 says a dog in any park or public space is "at large" unless securely leashed, except in a designated Dog Off-Leash Park.
Good to know
- Neither bylaw, nor any City page read, lists where the off-leash parks are, or any places where dogs are banned. Ask City Hall at 250-442-8266.
- Pick up and dispose of your dog's excrement in a sanitary manner immediately, on streets and public places, on parks and trails, and on private property you do not own. A person who is legally blind or visually impaired with a registered guide dog is exempt.
- The leash rule does not apply to dogs in a lawfully organized dog show or performance trial.
- A dog at large is a $15 municipal ticket under the Animal Control Bylaw, or $50 on a beach, in a park or in a public space under the Park Bylaw. Not picking up excrement is $25.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057 (consolidated, PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Inspections and Bylaw Services, City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.