--- title: Lake Country dog leash rules and off-leash areas question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Lake Country, and what are the leash rules?" place: Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/lake-country category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: shared sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dog-leash-rules/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dog-leash-rules.json" --- # Lake Country dog leash rules and off-leash areas **Question:** Where can dogs be off leash in Lake Country, and what are the leash rules? **Short answer:** In Lake Country a dog must be on a secure leash of 2 metres or less on any highway, public place or other people's property. In District parks, dogs are allowed only in parks designated Dog Walking (leashed) or Dog Off-Leash. Confirm the current park list with the District. **Who handles it:** More than one level of government **Cost:** Dog at large or not leashed: $150 first offence, $200 second, $300 third and later. Dog in a prohibited area: $100. **How long:** Not applicable. **Where:** - Phone: RDCO Dog Control, 250-469-6284 - Phone: District of Lake Country Bylaw Services (parks), 250-766-6673 ## Key facts - **Leash rule:** On a highway, public place or other people's property a dog must be on a secure leash held by the owner. In District parks, dogs are allowed only in parks designated Dog Walking (leashed) or Dog Off-Leash. - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 6 (At Large), 25](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "At Large means any dog on a highway or public place or on private property other than" … "Dogs must be kept on a" … "secure leash held by the Owner." - Source: [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 36-39](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) - Official wording: "unless the said park is designated, by resolution of Council, as a ‘Dog Walking Park’ or a ‘Dog" … "unless such dog is on a leash two meters or less in length which is controlled by a" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Maximum leash length:** 2 metres or less (fixed length). - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 6 (Leash)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/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." - Source: [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 38](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) - Official wording: "on a leash two meters or less in length" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Off-leash areas:** Only in parks Council designates as Dog Off-Leash. Parks Bylaw Schedule F (2018 copy) lists Woodsdale Road, Bottom Wood Lake Rd (at Wood Lake) and Coral Beach North End. Dog must be under control of a person able to control it. RDCO also has an online dog park map. - Source: [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 1 definitions; s. 37, 39; Schedule F](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) - Official wording: "“Dog off-leash park” means a park which has been so designated by Council resolution and within which" … "SCHEDULE F - DOG ON AND OFF LEASH ALLOWED/NOT ALLOWED" … "Bottom Wood Lake Rd.(at Wood Lake)" … "Coral Beach - North End" … "Schedule F deleted and replaced by Bylaw 1057" - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 28](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "An Owner may cause or permit his or her dog to be At Large in a designated off-leash" - Source: [Dog Licences and Control, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Dog licences and control page](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/) - Official wording: "View an online map of dog friendly areas within the Regional District boundaries." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Places dogs are not allowed:** Dogs are banned in any District park not designated Dog Walking or Dog Off-Leash (unless the District approves a special event). Schedule F (2018 copy) also bans dogs at Swalwell and Beasley April 1 to Sept 30. Also banned: playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and beaches where prohibited. Aggressive and dangerous dogs are banned from all. - Source: [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 36](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) - Official wording: "No person, possessor or harbourer of a dog shall permit such dog to enter upon or be in a park," … "Swalwell (between April 1 to Sept 30)" … "Swalwell (dogs allowed on leash Oct 1-March 31)" … "if approved by the District." - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 26, 37](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "park, playground, sports field, school ground, swimming area or public beach where dogs are" … "No Owner shall allow a Dangerous Dog or an Aggressive Dog into any sports field," - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cleaning up:** An owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement from public land or other people's property and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 30](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "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" - Source: [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 41(a)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) - Official wording: "unless the owner immediately removes such" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** RDCO bylaw (bylaw notice or municipal ticket): dog at large or not leashed $150 first offence, $200 second, $300 third and later. Lake Country parks: dog at large $150, $200, $300; municipal ticket $75, $100, $150 if paid within 30 days; bylaw notice $75, $100, $150 if paid early. Dog in prohibited area $100. - Source: [Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule B, Appendix 1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/fknipfoc/bl1537-ticket-information-and-utilization-consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "Dog at large / Fail to Leash 25 $150.00 $200.00 $300.00" - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule A, Appendix 1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "Dog at large/Fail to leash –" … "25 300.00 25.00 25.00 Y" - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated), Schedule A.1 (Parks)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-760-2010-consolidated) - Official wording: "2.37 Dog at large 1 offence $150.00 $75.00 $190.00 Yes" … "2.36 Dog in prohibited area $100.00 $50.00 $125.00 Yes" - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated), Schedule 2 (Parks)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-753-2010-consolidated) - Official wording: "2.37 Dog at large 1st offence $150.00 $75.00" … "2.37 Dog at large 3rd and subsequent offence $300.00 $150.00" … "2.37 Dog at large 2nd offence $200.00 $100.00" … "2.36 Dog in prohibited area $100.00 $50.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (regional leash rules) and District of Lake Country Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (District parks). - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 2](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014" - Source: [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), Title](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) - Official wording: "Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Two bodies share this. The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) enforces leash rules everywhere under its [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw 1343](). The District of Lake Country sets the rules for its parks under its [Parks Bylaw 829](). On a highway, in a public place or on other people's property, your dog must be on a secure leash of 2 metres or less, held by you. ## Steps 1. Keep your dog on a leash of 2 metres or less unless you are in a park Council has designated Dog Off-Leash. 2. In an off-leash park, carry a leash, keep your dog in sight and under voice control, and take control if it shows aggression. 3. Make sure the dog wears its collar and valid licence tag, has up-to-date vaccinations, and follow the posted rules. 4. Remove your dog's excrement at once and dispose of it in a sanitary way. ## Good to know - Dogs are banned in any District park not designated Dog Walking or Dog Off-Leash, unless the District approves a special event. They are also banned from playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and beaches where prohibited. - The 2018 Parks bylaw schedule names Woodsdale Road, Bottom Wood Lake Rd (at Wood Lake) and Coral Beach North End as off-leash. It also bans dogs at Swalwell and Beasley from April 1 to September 30. The check marks in that schedule were lost when the text was read, so confirm the current list with the District. The RDCO also has an online dog park map. - Aggressive and dangerous dogs are banned from parks entirely. - Under the RDCO bylaw, a dog at large or not leashed is $150 for a first offence, $200 for a second and $300 for a third and later. In Lake Country parks the amounts are the same; a municipal ticket paid within 30 days is $75, $100 or $150. A dog in a prohibited area is $100. ## Official forms and pages - [RDCO Dog Licences and Control](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/) - [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) ## Related questions - [Lake Country dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dog-licence.md) - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/how-many-pets.md) - [Lake Country rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Lake Country bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/bylaw-fines.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/dog-leash-rules.md) - [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/dog-leash-rules.md) ## Sources - [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) (read 2026-11-06) - [Dog Licences and Control, Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/) (read 2026-11-06) - [Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/fknipfoc/bl1537-ticket-information-and-utilization-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-760-2010-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06) - [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-753-2010-consolidated) (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/lake-country/dog-leash-rules/_