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

# District of North Vancouver dog leash rules and off-leash areas

**Question:** Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules in the District of North Vancouver?

**Short answer:** In the District of North Vancouver (not the City of North Vancouver), a dog on a street or other public place must be on a leash no longer than 2.5 metres, unless it is in an area where the bylaw allows off-leash. Dogs may not run at large, and owners must pick up after them.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Vancouver, https://www.dnv.org)  
**Cost:** Not a service. A dog at large: bylaw notice $100, municipal ticket $100. Dog in a park where not permitted: $50.  
**How long:** Rules apply year-round.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-990-3711
- In person: Municipal Hall, 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 4N5

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** On a street or any other public place a dog must be on a leash held by the person with it, unless it is in an area where Schedule A allows off-leash. In most listed parks dogs must be on leash; some trails allow leash or 'under control'. Dogs may not run at large.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8(c); Schedule A](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "permit the dog to be on a street or any other public place unless" … "the dog is under the immediate control of the person by means of a leash" … "PARKS WHERE DOGS ARE PROHIBITED EXCEPT ON LEASH"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 2.5 metres at most.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8(c)(i)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "by means of a leash that is not more than 2.5 metres long"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Schedule A section C lists areas where a dog may be on leash or off leash under the control of a competent person, for example Mosquito Creek Park, Seycove Park, Hastings Creek Park, the Baden-Powell Trail and the powerlines. 'Under control' means the dog returns immediately when called and is not annoying wildlife or other animals.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, Schedule A, C; s. 2](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "PARKS AND OTHER AREAS WHERE DOGS ARE PROHIBITED EXCEPT ON LEASH OR UNDER THE CONTROL OF A COMPETENT PERSON" … "Mosquito Creek Park" … "Seycove Park" … "Hastings Creek Park" … "immediately returns when called by the person who owns or has care and control"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Dogs are prohibited on playgrounds, picnic areas, playing fields, beaches, fitness circuits and similar facilities, and entirely in the parks listed in Schedule A section A (for example Lynn Valley Park, Maplewood Farm, Delbrook Park). Assistance dogs are exempt.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, Schedule A, A](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dogs ARE PROHIBITED on playgrounds, picnic areas, playing fields, beaches, fitness circuits," … "PARKS WHERE DOGS ARE PROHIBITED" … "Lynn Valley Park" … "Assistance Dogs Are Not Subject To The Following Regulations"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** An owner must immediately remove and dispose of the dog's excrement, in a waste container or by other sanitary means, anywhere off the owner's own property.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8(h)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to fail to immediately remove and dispose in a waste container or by other sanitary means, any excrement deposited by such dog on any place off the owner's property"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice: $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $150 after 28 days). Municipal ticket (in the Dog bylaw): $100. Dog in a park where not permitted: $50.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458, Schedule A, Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large 100 75 150" … "Dog in park 50 40 75"
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 14.4](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large 8(c) $100.00" … "Dog in park 8(g) $50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (s. 8(c) and Schedule A).
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8(c)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "DOG TAX AND REGULATION BYLAW, 1988"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981](<https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf>), in the District of North Vancouver a dog on a street or any other public place must be on a leash held by the person with it, unless it is in an area where Schedule A allows off-leash. The leash can be no longer than 2.5 metres. In most listed parks dogs must be on leash. Some trails allow leash or "under control".

## Steps

1. Check Schedule A of the bylaw, or the District's dog park page on dnv.org, for the park or trail you plan to use.
2. Keep your dog on a leash of 2.5 metres or less unless the area allows off-leash.
3. In an off-leash area, keep the dog under the control of a competent person. That means it returns immediately when called and is not annoying wildlife or other animals.
4. Immediately pick up and dispose of your dog's excrement anywhere off your own property.

## Good to know

- Schedule A section C lists leash-or-off-leash areas, for example Mosquito Creek Park, Seycove Park, Hastings Creek Park, the Baden-Powell Trail and the powerlines.
- Dogs are banned from playgrounds, picnic areas, playing fields, beaches and fitness circuits, and entirely from the parks in Schedule A section A (for example Lynn Valley Park, Maplewood Farm and Delbrook Park). Assistance dogs are exempt.
- A dog at large is a $100 fine. A bylaw notice is $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days, $150 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $100. A dog in a park where it is not permitted is $50.
- The Schedule A list may be out of date. Confirm on dnv.org or with Bylaw Services at 604-990-3711.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)

## Related questions

- [District of North Vancouver dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dog-licence.md)
- [District of North Vancouver rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/how-many-pets.md)
- [District of North Vancouver bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [https://docs.dnv.org/documents/dog-walkers-guide.pdf](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/dog-walkers-guide.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF), District of North Vancouver](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dog-leash-rules/_