{"title":"North Saanich dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the rules on beaches and in parks?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of North Saanich","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca"},"short_answer":"North Saanich has no general leash requirement for ordinary dogs. Under Animal Control Bylaw 751 a dog may not run at large, meaning off its owner's land and not under direct and continuous control. The District's park guide shows an off-leash area at Cy Hampson Park and requires leashes at Dominion Brook Park.","aliases":["off leash dog park north saanich","dogs on beach north saanich","dog leash law north saanich","dogs in parks north saanich","dog poop bylaw north saanich"],"cost":"Running at large is a $130 municipal ticket, or $100 if paid within 30 days (2022 amounts; may have changed).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"CRD Animal Control","value":"250-478-0624","note":"After hours 1-800-884-0919."},{"type":"phone","label":"Infrastructure Services (park issues)","value":"250-655-5480"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/0751-Animal-Control-Cons-February-2014.pdf"},{"title":"Parks Bylaw No. 1470 (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1470-North-Saanich-Parks-Bylaw-No.-1470-2018.pdf"},{"title":"Parks, Beaches & Trails","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/parks-beaches-trails"}],"related":[{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"North Saanich rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dangerous-dogs/"},{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"North Saanich dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dog-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules/"},"facts":{"leash_rule":{"label":"Leash rule","value":"A dog must not 'run at large': that means being on land the owner does not own or occupy, unless the dog is under the direct and continuous control of a competent person, securely confined, or securely fastened. The bylaw does not say 'on a leash' for ordinary dogs. In parks a dog may run at large only as Bylaw 751 allows. Dominion Brook Park: dogs must be leashed at all times.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/0751-Animal-Control-Cons-February-2014.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF)","section":"ss. 1.2, 17.1(a)","quotes":["if it is on land which is not owned or occupied by the owner of the animal;","under the direct and continuous control of a person who is competent to control it","No owner of an animal shall suffer or permit such animal to"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1470-North-Saanich-Parks-Bylaw-No.-1470-2018.pdf","title":"Parks Bylaw No. 1470 (PDF)","section":"s. 9","quotes":["may allow it to run at large in a park only if that is permitted under"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/ns-parks-trails-and-beach-access-pamphlet-web-final-v1.pdf","title":"Guide to Parks, Trails & Beach Accesses (PDF)","section":"Guide to Parks, Trails & Beach Accesses (Dominion Brook Park)","quotes":["must be leashed at all times in Dominion Brook Park."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Bylaw 751 sets no leash length for ordinary dogs.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/0751-Animal-Control-Cons-February-2014.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF)"}]},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"Cy Hampson Park, Lochside Drive: the District's Guide to Parks, Trails & Beach Accesses describes a 'dogs off leash' area between Lochside and Patricia Bay Highway. The Guide is the District's list of parks, trails and beach accesses.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/ns-parks-trails-and-beach-access-pamphlet-web-final-v1.pdf","title":"Guide to Parks, Trails & Beach Accesses (PDF)","section":"Guide to Parks, Trails & Beach Accesses (Cy Hampson Park)","quotes":["Located on Lochside Drive, it is a wheelchair accessible waterfront park","a “dogs off leash” area between Lochside and Patricia Bay Highway."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":null,"status":"none","note":"The bylaws read have no dog ban on beaches, playgrounds or sports fields.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/0751-Animal-Control-Cons-February-2014.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF)"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1470-North-Saanich-Parks-Bylaw-No.-1470-2018.pdf","title":"Parks Bylaw No. 1470 (PDF)"}]},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"If a dog defecates in a park or on public land in the District, the owner or person in charge must clean up and remove the feces immediately.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/0751-Animal-Control-Cons-February-2014.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF)","section":"s. 17.11","quotes":["In the event that a dog or dogs defecates in or upon any park or public lands","shall be responsible for the immediate clean up and removal of feces"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Municipal ticket (MTI Bylaw 1544, Schedule 8): $130, or $100 if paid within 30 days (running at large, s. 17.1(a)). These 2022 amounts may be out of date; the District has 2026 ticket bylaws.","short":"Ticket $130 ($100 if paid in 30 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (Schedule 8) (PDF)","section":"Schedule 8","quotes":["Permit animal to run at large 17.1(a) $130.00 $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of North Saanich Animal Control By-law (1993), Bylaw No. 751 (running at large, s. 17.1); Parks Bylaw No. 1470 (animals in parks, s. 9)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/0751-Animal-Control-Cons-February-2014.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF)","section":"s. 22.1 and title","quotes":["District of North Saanich Animal Control By-law (1993)","ANIMAL CONTROL BY-LAW NO. 751"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1470-North-Saanich-Parks-Bylaw-No.-1470-2018.pdf","title":"Parks Bylaw No. 1470 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["North $aanich Parks Bylaw No. 1470 (2018)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":2,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Control Bylaw No. 751](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/0751-Animal-Control-Cons-February-2014.pdf) does not say \"on a leash\" for ordinary dogs. Instead, a dog must not run at large. That means being on land its owner does not own or occupy, unless the dog is under the direct and continuous control of a competent person, securely confined or securely fastened. In a park, a dog may run at large only as Bylaw 751 allows (see [Parks Bylaw No. 1470](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1470-North-Saanich-Parks-Bylaw-No.-1470-2018.pdf), s. 9).\n\nThe District's Guide to Parks, Trails & Beach Accesses points out two places:\n\n- Cy Hampson Park, Lochside Drive: a \"dogs off leash\" area between Lochside and Patricia Bay Highway.\n- Dominion Brook Park: dogs must be leashed at all times.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The guide's general advice for trails is to keep your dog under control and remove droppings. Other parks may have their own rules; the guide's map symbols were not readable, so check with the District.\n- If your dog defecates in a park or on public land, you must clean it up immediately.\n- Bylaw 751 sets no leash length for ordinary dogs. Dangerous dogs must be on a leash no longer than 2.4 metres.\n- Bylaw 751 bans horses, not dogs, from public beaches from May 1 to September 30. We found no dog ban on beaches, playgrounds or sports fields in the bylaws.\n- Running at large is a $130 municipal ticket, or $100 if paid within 30 days. These 2022 amounts may have changed under the District's 2026 ticket bylaws, which we could not read.\n- Report loose dogs to CRD Animal Control, 250-478-0624. Coles Bay and other CRD regional parks have their own rules.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/0751-Animal-Control-Cons-February-2014.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1470-North-Saanich-Parks-Bylaw-No.-1470-2018.pdf","title":"Parks Bylaw No. 1470 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/ns-parks-trails-and-beach-access-pamphlet-web-final-v1.pdf","title":"Guide to Parks, Trails & Beach Accesses (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (Schedule 8) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, District of North Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dog-leash-rules.json"}}