---
title: Metchosin dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Metchosin, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Metchosin, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/metchosin
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: regional
owner_body: Capital Regional District
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Metchosin dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Metchosin, a dog outside its owner's property must be under control or securely confined, and on a leash of 6 feet (1.3 metres) or less in any designated on-leash area. No official page we read lists off-leash areas. Owners must pick up after their dog.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Capital Regional District, https://www.crd.ca)  
**Cost:** Ticket for an animal at large: $150 if paid within 30 days of being served, $200 after that.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4450 Happy Valley Road, Victoria, BC V9C 3Z3 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** Outside its owner's property a dog must not be "at large": it must be under control by a person, or securely confined or fastened. In a public space designated as an on-leash area it must be on a leash and under control. Off leash, it must not approach other users without permission, must return at once when called, stay in the handler's sight and not chase wildlife or livestock.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 2 and s. 26](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "An owner or handler of an animal must not permit such animal to be" … "a dog that is not on leash and under control when in a public space designated by the" … "the dog returns immediately to the handler when called and remains with the handler" … "the dog is always within the handler" … "the dog does not approach other users of a public space, of any species, without explicit" … "the dog does not chase wildlife or livestock, except under the direction of a handler"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** Not longer than 6 feet (1.3 metres), whether retractable or not.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 2 "leash"](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "leash means a line or chain that does not exceed 6 feet (1.3 meters) in length whether retractable or not"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Not confirmed. The pages read do not list any off-leash areas.
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Not confirmed. The pages read do not list any places where dogs are banned.
- **Cleaning up:** The handler must immediately remove a dog's excrement from a public place and keep it until it can be put in a suitable container. Guide and service dog handlers prevented by disability, and police dog handlers, are exempt.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 31-32](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "the handler of the dog will immediately remove the excrement and retain it until disposing of it in a suitable" … "Handlers of police dogs and persons with guide dogs or service dogs who are prevented by their"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Municipal ticket (Schedule 5): animal at large $150 if paid within 30 days of being served, $200 after that.
  - Source: [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, Schedule 5](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/)
  - Official wording: "9. Animal at Large 26 $150 $200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** District of Metchosin Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 1](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the District of Metchosin Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District's [Animal Control Bylaw No. 692](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/) says a dog outside its owner's property must not be "at large". It must be under control by a person, or securely confined or fastened. In a public space designated as an on-leash area, it must be on a leash and under control.

## Good to know

- A leash may not be longer than 6 feet (1.3 metres), whether or not it is retractable.
- Where a dog is off leash, it must not approach other people without permission, must return at once when called, must stay in the handler's sight and must not chase wildlife or livestock.
- The District or the Capital Regional District (CRD) designates on-leash areas. The pages we read do not list them, and they do not list any off-leash areas or any places dogs are banned. Ask Municipal Hall at 250-474-3167.
- Handlers must immediately remove their dog's excrement from a public place and keep it until it can go in a suitable container. Guide and service dog handlers who are prevented by disability, and police dog handlers, are exempt.
- Aggressive and dangerous dogs must be on a non-extendable leash. See the dangerous dogs answer.
- To report a dog at large, call CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 692](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)

## Related questions

- [Metchosin dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-licence.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/how-many-pets.md)
- [Metchosin rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits | District of Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/building-development/building-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Regulation, District of Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/animal-regulation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Capital Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-leash-rules/_