---
title: Kitimat dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Kitimat, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kitimat
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Kitimat dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Kitimat an animal must be on a leash of no more than 2 metres and under a person's control, except in the named off-leash areas such as the Off-Leash Dog Park on Kuldo Boulevard and Hirsch Creek Park. Owners must pick up feces in the neighbourhoods named in the bylaw.

**Who handles it:** Municipal  
**Cost:** No cost to follow the rule. Animal running at large: a bylaw notice is $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days; $350 late); a municipal ticket is $1,000 ($500 if paid within 30 days).  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 270 City Centre, Kitimat, BC V8C 2H7 (Office hours are not stated in the documents we read.)
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-632-8900

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** Unless noted otherwise, an animal must be on a leash and under the care and control of its owner or another person. Running at large means not on the owner's or carer's property, not attached by leash to a competent person, and not securely confined in an enclosure.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.10.1, 5.5.1.1](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unless otherwise noted in this Part, an Animal must be on Leash" … "Running at Large shall mean an Animal not under control by being other than"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** A leash cannot be more than 2 metres long.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.1.1 (Leash)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Leash shall mean a tether, strap or device, not exceeding two (2) metres in length"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Hirsch Creek Park and Hirsch Creek North Trail; beach areas at Hirsch Creek Park; the Off-Leash Dog Park on Kuldo Boulevard (inside the fenced area); Kildala Dike; Forest Avenue. Animals must still be under the care and control of a person.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.10.2-3](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Hirsch Creek Park and Hirsch Creek North Trail as" … "Beach areas at Hirsch Creek Park" … "Off-Leash Dog Park (inside the" … "Kildala Dike as shown in the attached Schedule D" … "Forest Avenue as shown in the attached Schedule E" … "all Animals must be under the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** No animal may be within the fenced area of the Kitimat Municipal Cemetery. No animal may be tethered or fastened in a public place.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.3.2-3](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall take an Animal into or otherwise allow any Animal" … "to be within the fenced area of the Kitimat Municipal Cemetery" … "No person shall tether or otherwise fasten an Animal in a public"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** Remove an animal's feces immediately from publicly accessible areas of City Centre, Service Centre, Kildala, Whitesail and Nechako neighbourhoods, and from any private residential or commercial property not owned by the owner or person in charge, and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.5.3-4](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall remove" … "immediately any feces deposited by the Animal from publicly" … "accessible areas of City" … "Centre, Service Centre, Kildala" … "Neighbourhood, Whitesail Neighbourhood, and Nechako"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice: $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days; $350 late) for an animal running at large, off leash where prohibited, or not under care and control. Municipal ticket: $1,000 ($500 if paid within 30 days).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System, Part 1 Division 3 of the Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 5 table](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/part1-div3-municipalticket-20241202.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal running at large" … "5.5.3.1" … "$50" … "Animal off Leash where prohibited" … "Animal not under care and control"
  - Source: [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026, Schedules A and B, rows 69, 85, 86](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-05-19-reg.pdf)
  - Official wording: "69 Animal running at large 5.5.3.1 $ 250.00 $ 200.00 $ 350.00" … "85 Animal off Leash where prohibited 5.5.10.1 $ 250.00 $ 200.00 $ 350.00" … "86 Animal not under care and control 5.5.10.3 $ 250.00 $ 200.00 $ 350.00" … "69 Animal running at large 5.5.3.1 $1,000.00 $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 5, Division 5 - Animal Control (Bylaw No. 2031, 2023)
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, Part 5, Division 5, Subdivision 10](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the Kitimat Community Humane Society at no additional cost. Subdivision 10 - Off-Leash Dog Areas Bylaw No. 2031, 2023 5.5.10 1. Unless otherwise noted in this Part, an Animal must be on Leash"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Part 5, Division 5 of the [Kitimat Municipal Code](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf) says an animal must be on a leash and under the care and control of its owner or another person, unless the bylaw says otherwise. A leash cannot be more than 2 metres long. Running at large means not on the owner's or carer's property, not on a leash held by a competent person, and not securely confined.

Off-leash areas are Hirsch Creek Park and the Hirsch Creek North Trail, the beach areas at Hirsch Creek Park, the Off-Leash Dog Park on Kuldo Boulevard (inside the fenced area), Kildala Dike and Forest Avenue. Animals must still be under a person's care and control. The boundaries are on maps in the bylaw's schedules.

## Steps

1. Keep your dog on a leash of 2 metres or less outside your property and the off-leash areas.
2. Do not tether or fasten an animal in a public place.
3. Pick up feces right away and dispose of it in a sanitary way.

## Good to know

- No animal may be inside the fenced area of the Kitimat Municipal Cemetery.
- Feces must be removed from publicly accessible areas of the City Centre, Service Centre, Kildala, Whitesail and Nechako neighbourhoods, and from any private property you do not own.
- An animal at large, off leash where prohibited or not under control: a bylaw notice is $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days; $350 late); a municipal ticket is $1,000 ($500 if paid within 30 days).
- To report a problem, use the Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form or call 250-632-8900.

## Official forms and pages

- [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
- [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-05-19-reg.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Kitimat dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dog-licence.md)
- [Kitimat rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/how-many-pets.md)
- [Kitimat bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-05-19-reg.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System, Part 1 Division 3 of the Kitimat Municipal Code (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/part1-div3-municipalticket-20241202.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dog-leash-rules/_