---
title: Lantzville dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Lantzville, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lantzville
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Lantzville
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Lantzville dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Lantzville a dog must not be "at large": off the owner's property and not under the immediate control of a responsible person. The bylaw does not say in so many words that every dog must be leashed, and the District's pages do not list off-leash areas. Ask Bylaw Enforcement.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Lantzville, https://www.lantzville.ca)  
**Cost:** No ticket amount is set for an ordinary dog at large. Impound fee $50 (first time).  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control (Coastal Animal Control Services, by contract), 1.888.754.1397
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement Services, 250.933.8092

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog must not be "at large", meaning elsewhere than on the owner's land or premises and not under the immediate charge and control of a responsible person. The owner must not let the dog harass or molest a person or an animal.
  - Source: [Regional District of Nanaimo Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066, 1996, s. 2 (at large); s. 4(2)](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID539atID5170.pdf)
  - Official wording: "being elsewhere than on lands or premises of the owner and not being under the immediate charge and control of a responsible person" … "The owner of a dog shall not permit or allow their dog:" … "(a) to be at large." … "(b) to harass or molest a person or an animal."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Maximum leash length:** The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs. It defines a leash as not more than 6 feet long, and requires one in terms only for dangerous dogs (s. 4(3)).
  - Source: [Regional District of Nanaimo Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066, 1996, s. 2 ("Leash")](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID539atID5170.pdf)
  - Official wording: "that does not exceed six(6) feet in length" … "means a chain or other material of sufficient strength" … "not exceed six(6) feet in length, that is suitable for a control of a" … "The owner of a dangerous dog shall not permit or allow their dangerous dog:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Off-leash areas:** Not confirmed. The District's pages and bylaws that were read do not list off-leash areas.
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** None set. The District's bylaws that were read do not ban dogs from beaches, parks or sports fields.
- **Cleaning up:** None set. The District's bylaws that were read do not require owners to pick up after their dogs.
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** No ticket amount is set for an ordinary dog at large. Conviction under Bylaw 1066 carries a fine of up to $2,000. The ticket schedule lists only "Dangerous dog at large" at $500.
  - Source: [Regional District of Nanaimo Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066, 1996, s. 6(2)](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID539atID5170.pdf)
  - Official wording: "liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000.00)"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 100, Amendment Bylaw No. 378, 2024, Appendix 7](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID483atID6898.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog at large 4. (3) (a) $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Regional District of Nanaimo Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066, 1996
  - Source: [Regional District of Nanaimo Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066, 1996, s. 1](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID539atID5170.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066, 1996""
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Lantzville follows the Regional District of Nanaimo's [Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID539atID5170.pdf). A dog is "at large" when it is anywhere other than its owner's land or premises and not under the immediate charge and control of a responsible person. An owner must not let a dog be at large, or let it harass or molest a person or an animal.

## Good to know

- The bylaw defines a leash as no more than 6 feet long, but it requires one in terms only for dangerous dogs. It sets no maximum leash length for other dogs.
- The District's pages and bylaws we read do not list off-leash areas, ban dogs from beaches, parks or sports fields, or require owners to pick up after their dogs. Ask Bylaw Enforcement Services (250.933.8092) or Animal Control (1.888.754.1397).
- No ticket amount is set for an ordinary dog at large. A conviction under the bylaw can carry a fine of up to $2,000. The ticket schedule lists only a dangerous dog at large, at $500.
- Impound fee for a dog at large: $50 the first time, $100 for a second or later impounding within six months.

## Official forms and pages

- [RDN Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066, 1996 (PDF)](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID539atID5170.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Lantzville rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Regional District of Nanaimo Animal Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 1066, 1996 (PDF)](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID539atID5170.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 100, Amendment Bylaw No. 378, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID483atID6898.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact information, District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=384) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Lantzville. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dog-leash-rules/_