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Lions Bay dog leash rules and off-leash areas

Where can dogs be off leash in Lions Bay, and what are the leash rules?

Lions Bay, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Lions Bay, a dog must be on a leash off its owner's property, held by a competent person. Dogs may run off leash on certain listed trails, but the first 50 metres of each trail is on-leash. Dogs are not allowed on Brunswick Beach or Lions Bay Beach at any time.

Key facts

Leash ruleNo dog may run at large. Off the owner's property a dog must be on a leash, tether or other suitable device, in the immediate care and control of a competent person. Exceptions: dog shows or trials, police or security work. On the owner's own property the dog must be securely contained.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 461, 2014, s. 6.6.1, 6.6.3, 6.6.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No owner of a dog shall permit the dog to be running at large in the Village. Dogs must
be kept on a leash, tether or other suitable device, and be under the immediate care
actively involved in a dog show, dog trial or other similar activity OR;
keep the dog securely contained so as to prevent the dog escaping from the owner’s property.
Maximum leash lengthNone set. The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs.Read: Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 461, 2014
Off-leash areasDogs may be off leash on the trails listed in s. 6.7.2 (Centennial, Crystal Falls, Harrison, Lions, Loggers Lane, Marjorie's Meadows, Soundview, Sunset, Tidewater/Kelvin, Totally Unnecessary, Trudi's and Upper Harrison), but the first 50 metres of each trail is on-leash. Owners must keep sight of the dog.Sources differ: Conflict: the Village's Forms page names Kelvin Grove Beach Park, Marjory Meadows and the trail from Soundview to Bayview Road as off-leash areas. The bylaw (s. 6.7.2) lists twelve trails and does not name Kelvin Grove Beach Park. The bylaw is followed. No map or separate list was found.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 461, 2014, s. 6.2, 6.7.2, 6.7.3; Forms & Applications, Dog License Application Form entry · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
dogs are required to be on-leash at all times within the Village
Marjorie’s Meadows
Totally Unnecessary Trail
The first 50 metres of all trails noted in Section 6.7.2 are designated as on-leash areas.
Dog owners will maintain sight of their dog at all times while utilizing off-leash areas of
Kelvin Grove Beach Park, Marjory Meadows and the trail from Soundview to Bayview Road have been designated as off-leash areas.
Places dogs are not allowedBrunswick Beach and Lions Bay Beach, at all times.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 461, 2014, s. 6.7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Dogs are prohibited at all times from the following areas in the Village:
Brunswick Beach
Lions Bay Beach
Cleaning upWhoever has care of the dog must immediately remove its excrement from a highway, public place or anyone else's land and dispose of it in a sanitary way.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 461, 2014, s. 6.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
the person having care, custody, or control of the animal shall
immediately remove the excrement and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.
Fine, dog at large or off leashBylaw notice: dog at large $85 ($75 if paid within 14 days, $95 after 28 days). Failing to remove dog waste $60 ($50 early, $70 late). Dog in a prohibited area $60 ($50, $70).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385, 2006, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control & Licensing Bylaw No. 461 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Dog at large $85 $75 $95
Fail to remove dog waste $60 $50 $70
Dog in prohibited area $60 $50 $70
BylawAnimal Control and Licencing Bylaw No 461, 2014 (s. 6.6 and 6.7).Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 461, 2014, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No 461, 2014”

How it works

Under the Village of Lions Bay's Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 461, no dog may run at large. Away from the owner's property, a dog must be on a leash, tether or other suitable device and in the immediate care and control of a competent person. Dog shows or trials and police or security work are exempt. On your own property the dog must be securely contained.

Good to know

  • Off-leash trails (bylaw s. 6.7.2): Centennial, Crystal Falls, Harrison, Lions, Loggers Lane, Marjorie's Meadows, Soundview, Sunset, Tidewater/Kelvin, Totally Unnecessary, Trudi's and Upper Harrison. The first 50 metres of each trail is on-leash, and you must keep sight of your dog.
  • Dogs are not allowed on Brunswick Beach or Lions Bay Beach at any time.
  • The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs. A leash for an aggressive or dangerous dog may be no longer than 1.5 metres.
  • Pick up after your dog right away, from any highway, public place or someone else's land, and dispose of it in a sanitary way.
  • The Village's Forms & Applications page lists slightly different off-leash places (it names Kelvin Grove Beach Park and does not list all twelve trails). The bylaw is followed here. Ask Bylaw Services to confirm a specific spot.
  • Bylaw notice fines (Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw): dog at large $85 ($75 if paid within 14 days, $95 after 28 days); not removing dog waste $60 ($50, $70); dog in a prohibited area $60 ($50, $70).

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

West Vancouver · Bowen Island · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver · Gibsons · Squamish

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 461, 2014 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385, 2006, Schedule A (PDF), Village of Lions Bay (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Forms & Applications, Village of Lions Bay (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.