---
title: Highlands dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Highlands, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Highlands, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/highlands
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Highlands
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Highlands dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Highlands, a dog may not run at large. Off its owner's land it must be under the direct and continuous control of a competent person, securely confined or securely fastened. The bylaws set no leash length and name no off-leash areas. In District parks the dog must be under control at all times.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Highlands, https://www.highlands.ca)  
**Cost:** A dog at large is a $75 bylaw notice or ticket; a dog at large in a District park is $200.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services (animal bylaw complaints), 250-478-0624
- Phone: CRD Animal Control after hours, 1-800-884-0919
- Phone: District of Highlands Municipal Hall, 250-474-1773

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** An animal may not run at large. A dog is 'at large' on land that its owner does not own or occupy, unless it is under the direct and continuous control of a competent person, securely confined, or securely fastened. A dangerous (vicious) dog must be muzzled and on a leash. In District parks the animal must be under control at all times.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465), s. 1(2) and s. 24](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)
  - Official wording: "an animal is deemed to be "running at large" if" … "Under the direct and continuous control of a person who is competent to control" … "An owner of a vicious dog shall keep it muzzled and on a leash."
  - Source: [Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025, s. 4(5)(c)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1594)
  - Official wording: "No person shall allow an animal to run at Large and must ensure the animal is under" … "control at all times to prevent annoyance, injury, or damage to property."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Maximum leash length:** None set. Highlands' bylaws do not set a maximum leash length.
- **Off-leash areas:** Not confirmed. No official source read names an off-leash area.
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** No animals on the public beaches in Schedule E of the animal bylaw from June 15 to September 15 (Aylard Farm, Glen Lake, Langford Lake, Vesuvius Bay and Bader Beach). Horses are not allowed in District parks except in designated equestrian areas. Park staff may require any dog to be removed (guide and service dogs excepted).
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465), s. 29 and Schedule E](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)
  - Official wording: "to be on any of the public beaches listed in Schedule "E" from June 15 to September" … "AYLARD FARM BEACH" … "VESUVIUS BAY BEACH"
  - Source: [Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025, s. 4(5)(b), (e), (f)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1594)
  - Official wording: "No person shall permit or cause a horse to enter or remain in any park, except in areas" … "Authorized personnel may require any person to restrain or remove a dog or other" … "nothing shall interfere with the rights of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Cleaning up:** In District parks, anyone bringing a dog must clean up and dispose of excrement in the designated waste containers, or remove it from the park if there is no container.
  - Source: [Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025, s. 4(5)(d)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1594)
  - Official wording: "clean up and dispose of any excrement in designated waste containers" … "if no container is available, remove the excrement from the park"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Animal at large (animal bylaw s. 24(1)): bylaw notice $75 ($60 within 14 days; $90 after 28 days); municipal ticket $75. Dog running at large in a District park (Parks Bylaw s. 4(5)(c)): bylaw notice $200 ($160 within 14 days; $240 after 28 days); municipal ticket $200.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025, Schedule A, animal bylaw s. 24(1); Parks bylaw 4. 5) c.](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623)
  - Official wording: "Animal at Large 24 (1) $75.00 $60.00 $90.00" … "Dog running at large 4. 5) c. $200.00 $160.00 $240.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025, Schedule A, Appendix 2 and Appendix 11](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635)
  - Official wording: "Animal at Large 24 (1) $75.00" … "Dog running at large 4. 5) c. $200.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw No. 1465); and the Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025 for District parks.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465), title page](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)
  - Official wording: "CRD Bylaw - 1465 Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw Page 15 CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT ANIMAL REGULATION AND IMPOUNDING BY-LAW NO. 1465, 1986 SCHEDULE "E" 1. AYLARD FARM BEACH The sandy beach at the Capital Regional"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025, Schedule A, Park Management Bylaw](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623)
  - Official wording: "Park Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434) (CRD Bylaw 1465), an animal may not run at large. A dog is "at large" on land its owner does not own or occupy unless it is under the direct and continuous control of a competent person, securely confined, or securely fastened. A vicious dog must be muzzled and on a leash. In District parks, the [Parks Management Bylaw No. 470](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1594) says no one may let an animal run at large and the animal must be under control at all times.

## Good to know

- The bylaws do not set a maximum leash length, and no off-leash areas or map are named. Ask the District at 250-474-1773.
- In parks, clean up and put excrement in the waste containers, or take it with you if there is none. The animal bylaw has no general pick-up rule for streets or private land.
- No animals are allowed on the public beaches listed in Schedule E of the animal bylaw from June 15 to September 15. The schedule is regional and names none in Highlands, so check whether any applies to you.
- Horses are not allowed in District parks except in designated equestrian areas. Park staff may require a dog to be removed (guide and service dogs excepted).
- Animal at large: bylaw notice $75 ($60 within 14 days; $90 after 28 days); municipal ticket $75. Dog running at large in a District park: bylaw notice $200 ($160 within 14 days; $240 after 28 days); municipal ticket $200.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)
- [Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1594)

## Related questions

- [Highlands dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-licence.md)
- [Highlands rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/how-many-pets.md)
- [Highlands bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1594) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control & Licensing, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/community-services/animals-wildlife/animal-control-licensing) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Find a Bylaw, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/local-government/bylaw/find-bylaw) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Highlands. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules/_