Kitimat dog leash rules and off-leash areas
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.
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.Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.10.1, 5.5.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUnless 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 |
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| Maximum leash length | A leash cannot be more than 2 metres long.Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.1.1 (Leash) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingLeash shall mean a tether, strap or device, not exceeding two (2) metres in length |
| 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.Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.10.2-3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHirsch 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 |
| 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.Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.3.2-3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 |
| 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.Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.5.3-4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall remove immediately any feces deposited by the Animal from publicly accessible areas of City Centre, Service Centre, Kildala Neighbourhood, Whitesail Neighbourhood, and Nechako |
| 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).Municipal Ticket Information System, Part 1 Division 3 of the Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 5 table; Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026, Schedules A and B, rows 69, 85, 86 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal running at large 5.5.3.1 $50 Animal off Leash where prohibited Animal not under care and control 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 |
| Bylaw | Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 5, Division 5 - Animal Control (Bylaw No. 2031, 2023)Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, Part 5, Division 5, Subdivision 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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 |
How it works
Part 5, Division 5 of the Kitimat Municipal Code 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
- Keep your dog on a leash of 2 metres or less outside your property and the off-leash areas.
- Do not tether or fasten an animal in a public place.
- 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
The same question in other places
Terrace · Port Edward · Prince Rupert · Telkwa · Smithers · Houston
Sources
- Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information System, Part 1 Division 3 of the Kitimat Municipal Code (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. How answers are checked.