Langford dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?
Short answer
In the City of Langford a dog must not be at large. In a public place it must be on a leash no longer than 1.8 m or under your control, and you must always carry a leash. Dogs must be leashed in playgrounds and on public beaches, and are not allowed in sports facilities.
Key facts
| Leash rule | A dog must not be at large. In a public place it must be on a leash or 'under control' (in sight, returns at once when called, does not approach people without permission). Owners must always carry a leash. Dogs must be leashed in playgrounds and on public beaches.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 9(1), 9(2), 8(3)(a); s. 3 "Under Control" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe Owner of a Dog must not cause, fail to prevent, permit, or allow their Dog to be At Large in the City. The Owner of a Dog must at all times carry a Leash while their Dog is in a Public Place. (a) when the Dog is attached to a Leash which is securely held by its Owner, or the Dog returns immediately to the Owner when called and remains with the Owner (a) to be in or on a Playground or public beach unless the Dog is Leashed; or |
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| Maximum leash length | A leash may not be longer than 1.8 m. For aggressive or dangerous dogs the limit is 1.2 m and retractable leashes are not allowed.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 3 "Leash"; s. 16(5); Municipal Parks Bylaw No. 177 (consolidated to March 16, 2026), s. 1.18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingwhich does not exceed 1.8 metres in length, must not exceed a maximum length of 1.2 metres from Owner to Dog, and must not include a retractable style Leash. affixed to a harness, tether, or locked extendable leash not exceeding 6 feet |
| Off-leash areas | Off-leash areas are places with a sign posted by the City or CRD. The City names Danbrook Park (744 Danbrook Ave) and a fenced off-leash area next to the Langford Walmart. No full list or map was found.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 3 "Off-leash Area"; Parks and Lakes, Danbrook Park; Walmart Canada and City of Langford open off-leash dog area (December 11, 2024), News story, Dec 11, 2024 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmeans an area where a sign is posted by the City or Regional District indicating Danbrook Park is located at 744 Danbrook Ave. Dogs are permitted off leash and doggy waste bags are available. off-leash space for dogs to run around and play adjacent to the Langford Walmart store. |
| Places dogs are not allowed | Sports facilities, at any time (except guide, service and police dogs, or as approved by the Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities). Playgrounds and public beaches are allowed only on a leash under the bylaw. City web pages say dogs are banned on beaches June 15 to September 15.Sources differ: The 2026 bylaw only requires a leash on public beaches and has no summer ban (Parks Bylaw 177 s. 4.26 says the same). Two City web pages describe a summer beach ban (Parks and Lakes: June 15 to Sept 15; Bylaw Enforcement page: leash Sept 16 to May 30, total ban in summer); they may predate the 2026 bylaw. Value follows the bylaw.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 8(3); Parks and Lakes, Parks and Lakes page; Bylaw Enforcement and Ticket Payment Information, Parks section · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording(b) to be in or on a Sports Facility at any time, unless the Dog is a Guide Dog, Service Dog, or police Dog, or as approved by the Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities. (a) to be in or on a Playground or public beach unless the Dog is Leashed; or Please note that dogs are prohibited on Langford beaches from June 15 – September 15. the total ban of dogs on beaches in summer and in sports facilities at all times. |
| Cleaning up | The owner must immediately remove the animal's excrement from a public place, or from private property without that owner's consent, and put it in a suitable refuse container.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe Owner of an Animal that defecates in a Public Place, or on private property without the consent of the owner of that property, must immediately remove the excrement and dispose of it in a suitable refuse container |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | Not confirmed. The City does not publish the fine for a dog at large. |
| Bylaw | Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026”. |
How it works
Under the City's Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, an owner must not let a dog be at large. In a public place (streets, parks and anywhere the public is ordinarily invited) the dog must be on a leash or "under control": in sight, returns at once when called, and does not approach people without permission. Always carry a leash. Obey any sign posted for that place.
Good to know
- A leash may not be longer than 1.8 m. For aggressive or dangerous dogs the limit is 1.2 m and retractable leashes are not allowed.
- Off-leash areas are places with a sign posted by the City or the CRD. The City names Danbrook Park (744 Danbrook Ave) and a fenced off-leash area next to the Langford Walmart. No full list or map is published.
- Dogs must be leashed in playgrounds and on public beaches. Sports facilities are off limits at any time, except guide, service and police dogs or as approved by the Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities.
- Two City web pages describe a summer ban on dogs at beaches (June 15 to September 15). The 2026 bylaw only requires a leash, so check with Bylaw Enforcement before you go.
- Clean up immediately: the owner must remove the dog's excrement from a public place, or from private property without the owner's consent, and put it in a suitable refuse container.
- The fine for a dog at large is not published. Tickets are set under Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 34 and Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1980, and neither schedule is online.
- Report a loose dog to CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Highlands · Colwood · View Royal · Esquimalt · Metchosin · Sooke
Sources
- Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026 (PDF), City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Parks Bylaw No. 177 (consolidated to March 16, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Parks and Lakes, City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Enforcement and Ticket Payment Information, City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)
- Walmart Canada and City of Langford open off-leash dog area (December 11, 2024) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.