Nanaimo dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

Nanaimo, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In the City of Nanaimo, dogs must be on a leash (6 feet or shorter) in any public place except 12 designated off-leash parks, such as Beban Park (fenced area) and Westwood Lake Park. Public beaches in parks are closed to animals from May to September.

Key facts

Leash rule	In any public place (land owned by any level of government), a dog must be on a leash held by a competent person, with one end securely fixed to a collar or harness on the dog. Off leash only in designated off-leash areas, under effective voice or hand control.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, ss. 43, 45; Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 2 (Public Place) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The Owner of a Dog must not allow the Dog to be in a Public Place unless the Dog is on a Leash with one end securely affixed to a collar or harness securely attached to the Dog the Owner of a Dog may allow the Dog to be Off-Leash in the areas listed in Schedule “B” to this Bylaw “Public Place” means all land owned, held, operated or administered by any level of government, including a school district.
Maximum leash length	A leash can be no longer than 6 feet (1.83 m) and strong enough to restrain the dog without breaking.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 2 (Leash) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording "Leash" means a line or chain that does not exceed 6 feet (1.83 meters) in length and is of sufficient strength to restrain a Dog without breaking.
Off-leash areas	12 designated parks: Beaufort, Beban (fenced area only), Cable Bay Trail, Colliery Dam, Diver Lake, Gallows Point, Invermere Beach, May Richards Bennett Pioneer, Northfield Rotary Lookout (fenced), St. George Ravine, Wardropper (fenced) and Westwood Lake. Several are only the areas marked by signs. Map and brochure on the City Dogs in Parks page.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, Schedule B; Dogs in Parks, web page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Designated Off-Leash Dog Areas Beban Park 2300 Bowen Road Fenced area only Westwood Lake Park 231 Westwood Road Only areas as designated by Nanaimo's 12 off-leash dog parks Print off this map of Nanaimo's dog off-leash areas (PDF format).
Places dogs are not allowed	City page: no dogs at playgrounds, sports fields, cemeteries, Buttertubs Marsh, Pipers Lagoon (Apr 1 to Oct 31) or Departure Bay Beach (May 1 to Sep 30). The bylaw bars all animals from public beaches in parks from May to September and from wading and spray pool decks.Dogs in Parks, web page; Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 48 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording "No dog" areas Pipers Lagoon (from April 1 to October 31) Departure Bay Beach Beach (from May 1 to September 30) be on a Public Beach during the months of May through September inclusive; or be on the deck of a wading pool or a spray pool.
Cleaning up	The person with the dog must immediately remove and lawfully dispose of its excrement on any public place, public beach, or private property not owned or occupied by the owner. Bags must be sealed in an impermeable bag before going in a public litter receptacle.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, ss. 86-87 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Every Person must immediately remove and lawfully dispose of any excrement deposited by a Dog in their care and custody on any Public Place, Public Beach, or private property not owned or securely contained in an impermeable bag or other impermeable container
Fine, dog at large or off leash	$100 for an unleashed dog (s. 43). Early payment $75; late payment $125. Insufficient control of a dog in an off-leash park (s. 45) is also $100.Sources differ: The City Dogs in Parks page says violators "can be fined $150 per dog" and gives a "maximum fine of $500". The ticket schedule (Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7159) says $100; the bylaw itself allows court fines up to $50,000 (s. 114). Schedule followed.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Responsibility Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 43 Unleashed dog $100.00 $ 75.00 $125.00 45 Insufficient care, custody or $100.00 $ 75.00 $125.00
Bylaw	Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as “ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW 2021 NO. 7316.”

How it works

Under the Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, a dog in a public place (land owned by any level of government, including a school district) must be on a leash held by a competent person. One end must be securely fixed to a collar or harness on the dog. A leash can be no longer than 6 feet (1.83 m) and must be strong enough to restrain the dog without breaking.

Off-leash areas

Dogs may be off leash only in the 12 designated parks, and must be under effective voice or hand control: Beaufort, Beban (fenced area only), Cable Bay Trail, Colliery Dam, Diver Lake, Gallows Point, Invermere Beach, May Richards Bennett Pioneer, Northfield Rotary Lookout (fenced), St. George Ravine, Wardropper (fenced) and Westwood Lake. Some are only the areas marked by signs. The City's Dogs in Parks page has a map.

Good to know

Pick up after your dog right away on any public place, public beach, or private property you do not own or occupy. Seal the waste in an impermeable bag before putting it in a public litter bin.
The City page lists no-dog areas: playgrounds, sports fields, cemeteries, Buttertubs Marsh, Pipers Lagoon (April 1 to October 31) and Departure Bay Beach (May 1 to September 30).
The bylaw bars all animals from public beaches in parks from May to September, and from wading and spray pool decks.
The City page also says two dogs maximum per person in the off-leash parks, dogs must be leashed entering and leaving, and no dogs under 4 months or females in heat.
An unleashed dog is a $100 ticket ($75 if paid early, $125 if late). The City page says $150 per dog and a $500 maximum; confirm with the City.
Report problems to Animal Control or Bylaw Regulation and Security.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Lantzville · Ladysmith · Parksville · Sechelt · Qualicum Beach · Lake Cowichan

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Dogs in Parks, City of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-05)
Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A (read 2026-11-05)

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