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Kelowna dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

Kelowna, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-09

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.

Key facts

Leash ruleIn Kelowna, hold your dog on a leash in public unless the area is designated for off-leash use.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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:
Maximum leash lengthUp to 2 metres.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
Official wording
Leash means a leash with a fixed total length of 2 meters or less.
Off-leash areasUse a designated off-leash area and carry a leash.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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;
Places dogs are not allowedObserve local designations at parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and public beaches. Some prohibit dogs entirely.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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.
Cleaning upImmediately remove and dispose of dog waste on other people’s property or public land. On your own premises, remove it in a timely manner.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, Sections 30–31, excrement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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.
Fine, dog at large or off leashRegional 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Section 6 and Schedule A, Appendix 1, section 25 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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
BylawResponsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, PDF p. 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
Official wording
RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP BYLAW NO. 1343

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). 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).

The same question in other places

West Kelowna · Lake Country · Peachland · Coldstream · Vernon · Summerland

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
  2. Dog licences (read 2026-11-09)
  3. Dog complaints (read 2026-11-09)
  4. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (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. How answers are checked.