{"title":"Kelowna dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs go off leash in Kelowna, and what are the leash rules?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/kelowna","name":"Kelowna","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"regional","owner_label":"Regional district","owner_body":{"name":"Regional District of Central Okanagan","url":"https://www.rdco.com"},"short_answer":"In Kelowna, hold your dog on a leash in public unless the area is designated for off-leash use. Check the signs at the park entrance.","aliases":[],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[],"documents":[],"forms":[],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Kelowna dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Kelowna rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/west-kelowna","name":"West Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/summerland","name":"Summerland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/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":"In Kelowna, hold your dog on a leash in public unless the area is designated for off-leash use.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)","section":"PDF p. 6","quotes":["25. No Owner shall cause or permit his or her dog to be At Large. Dogs must be kept on a secure leash held by the Owner.","Designated Off-leash Parks and Areas 28. An Owner may cause or permit his or her dog to be At Large in a designated off-leash park or area provided that the Owner complies with the following requirements:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"Up to 2 metres.","short":"2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)","section":"PDF p. 3","quotes":["Leash means a leash with a fixed total length of 2 meters or less."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"Use a designated off-leash area and carry a leash.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)","section":"PDF p. 6","quotes":["Designated Off-leash Parks and Areas 28. An Owner may cause or permit his or her dog to be At Large in a designated off-leash park or area provided that the Owner complies with the following requirements: a) The dog wears a collar or harness and a valid dog tag; b) The Owner has in his or her possession a leash to control the dog; c) The Owner maintains visual sight and verbal control of his or her dog at all times;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":"Observe local designations at parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and public beaches. Some prohibit dogs entirely.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)","section":"PDF p. 6","quotes":["Prohibited Parks and Areas 26. No Owner shall cause or permit his or her dog to be within a public area to include: park, playground, sports field, school ground, swimming area or public beach where dogs are prohibited unless the area is otherwise designated by the Regional District or another local government authority."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"Immediately remove and dispose of dog waste on other people’s property or public land. On your own premises, remove it in a timely manner.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)","section":"Sections 30–31, excrement","quotes":["Excrement 30.    No Owner shall permit his or her dog to deposit excrement on public or private property other than the property of the Owner unless the Owner immediately removes the excrement and disposes of it in a sanitary manner. 31.    Every Owner shall remove and dispose any excrement left by his or her dog on the premises owned or occupied by the Owner in a timely manner."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Regional notices for a dog at large or failure to leash are $150 on a first offence, $200 on a second and $300 thereafter. Each has a $25 discount within 14 days or a $25 surcharge after 28 days.","short":"Notice $150 first offence ($25 off if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (PDF)","section":"Section 6 and Schedule A, Appendix 1, section 25","quotes":["6. The penalty for a contravention referred to in section 5 is as follows: a) Subject to sub-sections 6(b) and 6(c), is the penalty amount set out in Column A1 of “Schedule A, Appendix 1 through 29”; b) If received by the Regional District within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the notice, is the Early Payment Discount set out in Column A2 of “Schedule A, Appendix 1 through 29” shall apply; or c) If more than 28 days after the person received or is presumed to have received the Bylaw Notice, is subject to a late payment surcharge in addition to the penalty under Subsection 6(a) and is the Late Payment Penalty set out in Column A3 of “Schedule A, Appendix 1 through 29”.","Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 A2          A3          A4 A1         Early       Late     Compliance Offence                          Section Penalty    Payment     Payment    Agreement Discount    Penalty     Available","Dog at large/Fail to leash – 25        150.00       25.00      25.00       Y 1st offence Dog at large/Fail to leash – 25        200.00       25.00      25.00       Y 2nd offence Dog at large /Fail to leash – 25        300.00       25.00      25.00       Y 3rd & subsequent offences"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)","section":"PDF p. 11","quotes":["RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP BYLAW NO. 1343"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nPlan the whole walk, including the path from the parking area to the off-leash space. A designation for one part of a park can leave the adjoining trail, beach or playing field subject to different rules. Use a designated off-leash area and carry a leash.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the park or area in [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)](https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf). Look up the specific park or trail you intend to use. Check the description against the signs where you enter.\n2. Take a leash even if your destination has an off-leash area. Know where the designated section ends before letting your dog run.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Observe local designations at parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and public beaches. Some prohibit dogs entirely.\n- Up to 2 metres.\n- Immediately remove and dispose of dog waste on other people’s property or public land. On your own premises, remove it in a timely manner.\n- Regional notices for a dog at large or failure to leash are $150 on a first offence, $200 on a second and $300 thereafter. Each has a $25 discount within 14 days or a $25 surcharge after 28 days.\n- Read the applicable provisions in [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf).","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/","title":"Dog licences","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-complaints/","title":"Dog complaints","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-09"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-09","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-leash-rules.json"}}