---
title: Kelowna dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs go off leash in Kelowna, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kelowna
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: regional
owner_body: Regional District of Central Okanagan
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Kelowna dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Regional District of Central Okanagan, https://www.rdco.com)  

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** In Kelowna, hold your dog on a leash in public unless the area is designated for off-leash use.
  - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 6](https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Maximum leash length:** Up to 2 metres.
  - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 3](https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Leash means a leash with a fixed total length of 2 meters or less."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Off-leash areas:** Use a designated off-leash area and carry a leash.
  - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 6](https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Observe local designations at parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and public beaches. Some prohibit dogs entirely.
  - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 6](https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Cleaning up:** 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.
  - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, Sections 30–31, excrement](https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Section 6 and Schedule A, Appendix 1, section 25](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343
  - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 11](https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP BYLAW NO. 1343"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

Plan 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.

## Steps

1. 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.
2. Take a leash even if your destination has an off-leash area. Know where the designated section ends before letting your dog run.

## Good to know

- Observe local designations at parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and public beaches. Some prohibit dogs entirely.
- Up to 2 metres.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).

## Related questions

- [Kelowna dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-licence.md)
- [Kelowna rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF)](https://www.rdco.com/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Dog licences](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Dog complaints](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-complaints/) (read 2026-11-09)
- [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) (read 2026-11-09)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Regional District of Central Okanagan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-leash-rules/_