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Kimberley dog leash rules and off-leash areas

Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?

Kimberley, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In the City of Kimberley a dog off its owner's property must be on a leash, except in a designated off-leash area. The City lists the Lois Creek Trails and the Kimberley Nature Park. Dogs there must be under voice control and wear a collar with a valid licence tag.

Key facts

Leash ruleAny dog that is not on its owner's property must be on a leash at all times, except in a designated off-leash area. A dog must never run at large outside an off-leash area. Vicious dogs off their owner's property must also be muzzled.Animal Control, Leash & Off-Leash Areas; Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 20; Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 38(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Any dog not on the property of its owner must be on a leash at all times, unless the dog is in one of the three designated off-leash areas.
shall ensure that such animal does not run at large, other
than within an off leash area
when off the property of the owner , the dog is on leash, muzzled
Maximum leash lengthNone set. The bylaw and the City's pages set no maximum leash length.Read: Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017)
Off-leash areasLois Creek Trails (Townsite) and Kimberley Nature Park. In them a dog must be under its owner's verbal control and within view, wear a collar with a valid licence tag, not act aggressively, and not chase wildlife; the owner must carry a leash. Vicious and dangerous dogs are not allowed.Sources differ: The Animal Control page says "three designated off-leash areas" but lists two; the Off-leash Dog Areas page says two. The bylaw defines off-leash areas by Schedules C-1, C-2 and C-3 (maps, no text), so the count could not be checked. Maps are at kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=1715 and ID=1716.Off-leash Dog Areas, Page text; Animal Control, Leash & Off-Leash Areas; Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), ss. 27, 28 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Kimberley has two large off-leash areas to explore, in the Kimberley Nature Park and the Lois Creek Trails.
Lois Creek Trails, located in Townsite
Kimberley Nature Park, accessible by several entrances
at all times, be in possession of a leash to control the dog;
keep the dog within view and within voice control;
must not allow that dog to run at large
in an off-leash area.
Places dogs are not allowedNone set. No bylaw read bans dogs from particular parks, beaches or sports fields.Read: Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017)
Cleaning upA dog's owner must immediately remove its excrement on a highway, park or other public place and put it in a trash receptacle, and must not let the dog foul private property unless the owner there removes it at once. In an off-leash area the waste must at least be moved off the trail.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), ss. 29, 31, 27(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
immediately remove or cause to be removed any excrement deposited
dog and dispose of the excrement in a trash receptacle.
ensure excrement deposited by the dog is moved off the trail
Fine, dog at large or off leashMunicipal ticket: animal at large $75 first offence, $150 each later offence. An uncontrolled animal in an off-leash area is also $75 and $150.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2540, 2016, Schedule 2; Animal Control, Licencing & Fines · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Animal at large 20 75 150
Uncontrolled animal in off-leash area
| Animal at large | 20 | $75 | $150
BylawCity of Kimberley Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
City of Kimberley Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016

How it works

Under the Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, a dog that is not on its owner's property must be on a leash at all times, except in a designated off-leash area. A dog must never run at large outside an off-leash area. A vicious dog off its owner's property must also be muzzled.

The City lists two off-leash areas: the Lois Creek Trails (Townsite) and the Kimberley Nature Park.

Good to know

  • In an off-leash area the dog must be under its owner's verbal control and within view, wear a collar with a valid licence tag, not act aggressively, and not chase wildlife. The owner must carry a leash.
  • Vicious and dangerous dogs are not allowed in off-leash areas.
  • The bylaw and the City's pages set no maximum leash length.
  • No bylaw we read bans dogs from particular parks, beaches or sports fields, but the Good Neighbour Bylaw bans letting any animal roam at large in a park.
  • Pick up after your dog right away on a highway, park or other public place and put the waste in a trash receptacle. Do not let your dog foul private property unless the owner there removes it at once. In an off-leash area the waste must at least be moved off the trail.
  • A municipal ticket for a dog at large is $75 for a first offence and $150 for each later one. An uncontrolled dog in an off-leash area is the same.
  • The City's Animal Control page says "three" off-leash areas but names only two, and its Off-leash Dog Areas page says two. Confirm with the City before you rely on a third.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Cranbrook · Canal Flats · Fernie · Creston · Kaslo · Sparwood

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Off-leash Dog Areas, City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Animal Control, City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016 (PDF), City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2540, 2016 (PDF), City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.