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Lake Country dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

Lake Country, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Leash ruleOn 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.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 6 (At Large), 25; Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 36-39 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
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
Maximum leash length2 metres or less (fixed length).Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 6 (Leash); Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 38 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Leash means a leash with a fixed total length of 2 meters or less.
on a leash two meters or less in length
Off-leash areasOnly 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.Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 1 definitions; s. 37, 39; Schedule F; Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 28; Dog Licences and Control, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Dog licences and control page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
An Owner may cause or permit his or her dog to be At Large in a designated off-leash
View an online map of dog friendly areas within the Regional District boundaries.
Places dogs are not allowedDogs 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.Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 36; Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 26, 37 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
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,
Cleaning upAn owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement from public land or other people's property and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 30; Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), s. 41(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
unless the owner immediately removes such
Fine, dog at large or off leashRDCO 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.Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule B, Appendix 1; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule A, Appendix 1; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated), Schedule A.1 (Parks); Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated), Schedule 2 (Parks) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Dog at large / Fail to Leash 25 $150.00 $200.00 $300.00
Dog at large/Fail to leash –
25 300.00 25.00 25.00 Y
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
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
BylawRegional 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).Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 2; Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014
Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012

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

The same question in other places

Kelowna · Vernon · Coldstream · West Kelowna · Lumby · Peachland

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (2018 consolidation), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Dog Licences and Control, Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  7. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)

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