{"title":"Houston 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/houston","name":"Houston","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":"District of Houston","url":"https://houston.ca"},"short_answer":"In Houston, a dog must be kept on its owner's property or on a leash. Houston has two fenced off-leash areas: Houston Dog Park and Four Seasons Park. Owners must remove dog feces from public and other private property.","aliases":["dog off leash houston","houston dog park","dog leash bylaw houston","dog at large houston"],"cost":"Bylaw notice for a dog at large $150; dog off leash $100; failing to remove excrement $150. Municipal ticket schedule: dog at large $100; off leash $100; excrement $100.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Office","value":"3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays"},{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Office","value":"250-845-2238","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"online","label":"Service Request Portal (bylaw complaints)","value":"https://houston.ca/community/service-requests/"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control, District of Houston","url":"https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/"},{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/"},{"title":"Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145461/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Houston dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Houston rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dangerous-dogs/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kitimat","name":"Kitimat","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/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":"A dog must be kept confined to its owner's premises or on a leash when off them. A dog \"at large\" (outside an enclosure and not leashed and under control on a highway, park or other public place) is not allowed, except a police dog or at a permitted event. Parks: dogs only in designated areas, on leash.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Part 5, ss. 28, 29 and s. 1(7)","quotes":["confined to the premises at which the person resides; or","fixed to a leash when the dog is off the premises at which the person resides.","not leashed and under the control of the owner or another competent person"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145461/","title":"Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Control of Animals in Parks, s. 7.0","quotes":["Dogs shall be permitted to enter a park in designated areas only and only while they are on leash"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Houston's Animal Control Bylaw sets no leash length for ordinary dogs.","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/","title":"Animal Control, District of Houston"}]},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"Two fenced off-leash areas: Houston Dog Park and Four Seasons Park. Owners must carry a leash, keep the dog in view, and leash and remove it at once if it shows aggressive behaviour. Aggressive and dangerous dogs are not allowed off leash.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/","title":"Animal Control, District of Houston","section":"Off-Leash Areas","quotes":["Fenced, off-leash areas have been designated at these locations:","Houston Dog Park","Four Seasons Park"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Part 8, ss. 55, 56","quotes":["except for an aggressive dog or a dangerous dog.","carry a leash;","keep the dog in view at all times; and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":"In parks, dogs are allowed only in designated areas, and only on leash (off leash only in designated dog run areas).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145461/","title":"Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Control of Animals in Parks, s. 7.0","quotes":["Dogs shall be permitted to enter a park in designated areas only and only while they are on leash","Dogs may be off leash in designated dog run areas only."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"The owner must remove dog feces immediately from any public or private property other than the owner's premises, and must carry something suitable to remove it whenever the dog is off the owner's property.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Part 5, ss. 34, 35","quotes":["the Owner must remove the feces immediately.","An owner of a dog must carry a suitable means of removing dog feces on their person while"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Bylaw notice: dog at large $150; dog off-leash $100 (early payment $112.50 and $75; after 28 days $187.50 and $125). Municipal ticket schedule: dog at large $100; dog off-leash $100.","short":"Notice $150 at large; $100 off leash","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018","quotes":["Dog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50","Dog Off-Leash $100.00 $75.00 $125.00"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145065/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule B10, ss. 28(1), 29 and 28(2)","quotes":["Dog at Large 28(1 ), 29 $100.00","Dog Off-Leash 28(2) $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (Parts 5 and 8), and Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013 for parks.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Parts 5 and 8","quotes":["Control of Dogs","Dogs may be Off Leash"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145461/","title":"Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 7.0","quotes":["CONTROL OF ANIMALS IN PARKS"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/), a dog must be kept confined to its owner's premises or on a leash when off them. A dog is \"at large\" if it is outside an enclosure and not leashed and under control on a highway, park or other public place. Police dogs and permitted events are excepted. Under the [Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145461/), dogs are allowed in parks only in designated areas, on a leash. They may be off leash only in designated dog run areas.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Off-leash areas:** Houston Dog Park and Four Seasons Park are fenced. Carry a leash, keep your dog in view, and leash it and remove it at once if it shows aggressive behaviour. Aggressive and dangerous dogs are not allowed off leash.\n- **Leash length:** the bylaw sets no length for ordinary dogs. Aggressive and dangerous dogs must be on a leash of no more than one metre, held by someone 18 or older.\n- **Clean up:** you must remove feces immediately from any public property or private property other than your own, and carry something to do it whenever your dog is off your property.\n- **Banned places:** the Animal Control Bylaw has no list of places dogs are banned. Ask the Municipal Office (250-845-2238) which park areas are designated.\n- Bylaw notices have early-payment amounts ($112.50 for a $150 notice) and later amounts ($187.50).","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/","title":"Animal Control, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.ca/contact/","title":"Contact Us, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145461/","title":"Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145065/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-leash-rules.json"}}