New Hazelton dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash in New Hazelton, and what are the leash rules?
In New Hazelton a dog must be on a leash and under a competent person's control on a highway, in a park or in any other public place. On your own property it must be in a building, securely tethered or behind an adequate fence. The bylaw names no off-leash areas.
Key facts
| Leash rule | A dog must be leashed and under a competent person's control on a highway, in a park or any other public place. On the owner's property it must be in a building, securely tethered or behind an adequate fence. Exceptions: dog shows or trials, and dogs under a Peace Officer or security guard.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394, 2026, s. 6.1-6.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingnot leashed and under the control of a competent person while on a highway or in a park or other public place prevented from leaving the property by an adequate fence actively involved in a formal dog show, dog trial or similar activity |
|---|---|
| Maximum leash length | None set. The bylaw sets no maximum leash length.Read: Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394, 2026 |
| Off-leash areas | Not confirmed. The bylaw names no off-leash areas. |
| Places dogs are not allowed | None set. The bylaw bans dogs from no named places.Read: Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394, 2026 |
| Cleaning up | If a dog or cat defecates on any public property or on private property other than its owner's, the owner must have the feces removed immediately.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394, 2026, s. 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingIf a dog or cat defecates on any public or private property other than the property of its owner, the owner shall cause such feces to be removed immediately. |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | Dog at large: $100 first offence, $200 second, $300 third, $400 fourth. Failure to keep a dog on a leash in a public place: $100.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 393, 2026, Sched. B, Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAny dog at large — first offence 6.2 $100.00 Any dog at large — fourth offence 6.2 $400.00 Failure to keep a dog on a leash in a public place 6.1 $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394, 2026Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394, 2026, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCITATION this Bylaw will be cited for all purposes as “Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394, 2026.” |
How it works
The Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394 says a dog must be leashed and under a competent person's control on a highway, in a park or in any other public place. On the owner's property it must be in a building, securely tethered or behind an adequate fence. Exceptions are dog shows or trials, and dogs under a Peace Officer or security guard. Dangerous dogs have stricter rules (see the dangerous dogs answer).
Good to know
- The bylaw sets no maximum leash length, names no off-leash areas and bans dogs from no named places. Ask the District Office at (250) 842-6571 if you are unsure about a particular park.
- If a dog or cat defecates on public property or on someone else's private property, the owner must have the feces removed immediately.
- Under the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 393, a dog at large is a $100 fine for a first offence, $200 for a second, $300 for a third and $400 for a fourth. Counts restart each January 1.
- Failing to keep a dog on a leash in a public place is a $100 fine. Impoundment is a further $200 each offence.
- A first at-large or nuisance offence gets a Warning Notice unless the dog is seized.
- The fines schedule also lists a fine for a dog off leash in the cemetery.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sources
- Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 394, 2026 (PDF), District of New Hazelton (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 393, 2026 (PDF), District of New Hazelton (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. How answers are checked.