---
title: Merritt dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Merritt, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Merritt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/merritt
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Merritt
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Merritt dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Merritt, off your own property a dog must be on a secure leash held by a competent person, or in a vehicle, building, enclosure or signed off-leash area. The City lists one off-leash dog park, at Voght Park, 1500 Canford Avenue. No animals are allowed in playgrounds or sports fields.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Merritt, https://www.merritt.ca)  
**Where:**
- In person: Voght Park off-leash dog park, 1500 Canford Avenue, Merritt
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-378-4224 ext. 216
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylaw@merritt.ca

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog must not be "at large". Off the owner's property, a dog is at large unless it is securely leashed by a competent person, or securely contained in a vehicle, building or enclosure, or in an off-leash area (following the off-leash rules).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 3, 6](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Owner of a Dog must not allow or permit a Dog to be At Large in the City." … "not securely leashed by a Competent Person in any area other than the property of the owner or an Off-Leash Area" … "not securely contained within a vehicle, building, structure, or enclosure"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 3 Competent Person](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Competent Person” means a person of sufficient age, height, and weight to ensure a Dog under their control will be obedient to their commands and can be physically restrained if required"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** None set. The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs.
- **Off-leash areas:** Off-leash areas are City-owned property designated by signs. The City lists the Off-leash Dog Park at Voght Park, 1500 Canford Ave. In an off-leash area the owner must carry a leash, keep the dog in view, follow posted rules, and the dog must wear a collar or harness with a valid licence tag.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 3, 25](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Off-Leash Area” means an area of City-owned property designated by signs" … "an owner of a Dog may allow their Dog to be off-leash, provided that the Dog is not a Dangerous Dog"
  - Source: [Parks & Sports Fields, Voght Park](https://www.merritt.ca/recreation/parks-sports-fields/)
  - Official wording: "Location: 1500 Canford Ave Amenities: Off-leash Dog Park"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** No animal, leashed or not, in a City playground or sports field area, except an assistance dog or with written permission for a City-sanctioned event.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 7](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Animal, leashed or At Large, is permitted in a playground or sports field area belonging to the City, except in the case of an Assistance Dog"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** The owner must not let the animal leave excrement on any public place or other private property unless the owner immediately removes it and disposes of it in a sanitary manner.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 8](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must not allow or permit the Animal to leave or deposit excrement on any public place or on private property other than the property of the Owner, unless the Owner immediately takes steps to remove such excrement"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice: $100 ($50 if paid within 14 days; $125 after 28 days). Dog in a playground or sports field: same. Not picking up excrement: $50 ($25 early; $75 late).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2424, 2026, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw ss. 6, 7, 8](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog or other animal found at large 6 $100.00 $50.00 $125.00 No" … "Animal in prohibited playground or sports 7 $100.00 $50.00 $125.00 No" … "Failure to dispose of excrement in a sanitary 8 $50.00 $25.00 $75.00 No"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Merritt Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 1](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as the “City of Merritt Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City of Merritt's [Animal Control Bylaw 2241](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf), an owner must not let a dog be "at large". Off the owner's property, a dog is at large unless it is securely leashed by a competent person, securely contained in a vehicle, building or enclosure, or in an off-leash area and following the off-leash rules. The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs.

## Steps

1. Keep your dog securely leashed in public places, held by a competent person.
2. To let it run, use a signed off-leash area. The City's parks page lists the Off-leash Dog Park at Voght Park, 1500 Canford Avenue.
3. In an off-leash area, carry a leash, keep the dog in view, follow the posted rules, and make sure the dog wears a collar or harness with a valid licence tag.
4. Pick up and dispose of your dog's excrement in a sanitary manner right away, on any public place or other private property.

## Good to know

- No animal, leashed or not, is allowed in a City playground or sports field, except an assistance dog or an event with written City permission.
- Off-leash areas are City-owned property designated by signs. No separate off-leash map was found, so other signed areas may exist.
- Dangerous dogs are never allowed in off-leash areas. Aggressive dogs must be muzzled there. A female dog in heat must be kept out.
- Bylaw notices: a dog at large is $100 ($50 if paid within 14 days, $125 after 28 days); the same for a dog in a playground or sports field. Not picking up excrement is $50 ($25 within 14 days, $75 after 28 days).

## Official forms and pages

- [Parks & Sports Fields, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/recreation/parks-sports-fields/)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 2241 (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Merritt dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dog-licence.md)
- [Merritt rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018 (PDF), consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks & Sports Fields, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/recreation/parks-sports-fields/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Contact, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2424, 2026 (PDF), Schedule A, City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf) (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 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Merritt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dog-leash-rules/_