Houston dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?
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.
Key facts
| Leash rule | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 5, ss. 28, 29 and s. 1(7); Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013, Control of Animals in Parks, s. 7.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingconfined 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 Dogs shall be permitted to enter a park in designated areas only and only while they are on leash |
|---|---|
| Maximum leash length | None set. Houston's Animal Control Bylaw sets no leash length for ordinary dogs.Read: Animal Control |
| Off-leash areas | 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.Animal Control, Off-Leash Areas; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 8, ss. 55, 56 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFenced, off-leash areas have been designated at these locations: Houston Dog Park Four Seasons Park except for an aggressive dog or a dangerous dog. carry a leash; keep the dog in view at all times; and |
| Places dogs are not allowed | In parks, dogs are allowed only in designated areas, and only on leash (off leash only in designated dog run areas).Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013, Control of Animals in Parks, s. 7.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDogs 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. |
| Cleaning up | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 5, ss. 34, 35 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingthe Owner must remove the feces immediately. An owner of a dog must carry a suitable means of removing dog feces on their person while |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018; Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019, Schedule B10, ss. 28(1), 29 and 28(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50 Dog Off-Leash $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Dog at Large 28(1 ), 29 $100.00 Dog Off-Leash 28(2) $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (Parts 5 and 8), and Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013 for parks.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Parts 5 and 8; Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013, s. 7.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingControl of Dogs Dogs may be Off Leash CONTROL OF ANIMALS IN PARKS |
How it works
Under the Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 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, dogs are allowed in parks only in designated areas, on a leash. They may be off leash only in designated dog run areas.
Good to know
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Bylaw notices have early-payment amounts ($112.50 for a $150 notice) and later amounts ($187.50).
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Telkwa · Smithers · Granisle · New Hazelton · Terrace · Kitimat
Sources
- Animal Control, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact Us, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1034, 2013 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
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. How answers are checked.