{"title":"Parksville dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","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":"City of Parksville","url":"https://www.parksville.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Parksville a dog off its owner's property must be on a leash of 6 feet (183 cm) or shorter, except in the off-leash dog park on Despard Avenue near Springwood Park. Dogs are banned from Parksville and Rathtrevor beaches in March and April, even on a leash.","aliases":["off leash dog park parksville","dogs on beach parksville","dog leash bylaw parksville","brant geese dog ban"],"cost":"Dog at large: bylaw notice $75 ($56.25 if paid within 14 days, $93.75 if paid late); second offence $112.50; third and later $168.75. Not picking up after your dog: $150 ($112.50 early, $187.50 late).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw compliance","value":"250-954-4650"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw compliance","value":"bylaw@parksville.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Dogs in Parks, City of Parksville","url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444"},{"title":"Etiquette for Parksville Parks and Open Spaces","url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=654"},{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw 1524, 2016 (PDF)","url":"https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Parksville dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Parksville rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/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 may not be \"at large\": anywhere off the owner's own property it must be on a leash. Exceptions: inside a designated off-leash area under the owner's supervision and control, or a dog under contract with the City for controlling wild birds.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1)","section":"s. 1 and s. 24","quotes":["\"AT LARGE\" when used in reference to a dog, means being elsewhere than on the lands or","premises of a person owning or having the care, custody of control of any such dog, and not","being on a leash.","the dog is within a designated off leash area, provided that such dog shall at all times","be under the supervision and control of their owner."]},{"url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444","title":"Dogs in Parks, City of Parksville","section":"Dogs in Parks page","quotes":["Dogs are welcome ON LEASH in Parksville"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"The bylaw defines a leash as a line, rope, cord, strap or chain no longer than 6 feet (183 cm), strong enough to restrain the dog.","short":"6 feet (183 cm)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1)","section":"s. 1, \"Leash\"","quotes":["\"LEASH\" means a line, rope, cord, strap or chain that does not exceed a length of 6 ft.","(183 cm) that is of sufficient strength to restrain a dog without breaking"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"One off-leash dog park on Despard Avenue near Springwood Park. Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, leashed going in and out, and the owner must stay with the dog; no puppies under four months.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444","title":"Dogs in Parks, City of Parksville","section":"Dogs in Parks page","quotes":["There is an off-leash dog park located on Despard Avenue near Springwood Park","Dogs must be properly licensed and vaccinated to use an off-leash area.","No puppies under four months old are permitted."]},{"url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=654","title":"Etiquette for Parksville Parks and Open Spaces","section":"Park etiquette page","quotes":["Keep your dog on a leash unless visiting our designated off-leash"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":"Parksville and Rathtrevor beaches during the Brant geese migratory season in March and April, even on a leash.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444","title":"Dogs in Parks, City of Parksville","section":"Dogs in Parks page","quotes":["Annually during Brant geese migratory season in March and April, dogs are not allowed on Parksville or Rathtrevor beaches even when on leash."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"The owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement from another person's property or public land and dispose of it in a sanitary, lawful way. The bylaw does not apply to a blind person with a guide dog.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1)","section":"s. 26","quotes":["An owner whose dog defecates on another person's property or public lands shall forthwith","remove the excrement and dispose of it in a sanitary and lawful manner."]},{"url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=96","title":"Dog Licences, City of Parksville","section":"Dog Licences page","quotes":["Every dog owner must immediately remove excrement left by their dog on another person's property or on public property."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Bylaw notice: $75 ($56.25 if paid within 14 days; $93.75 late). Second offence $112.50; third and later $168.75.","short":"Notice $75 ($56.25 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2814","title":"Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A","section":"Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw s. 24 (or 27)","quotes":["Dog At Large $75.00 $56.25 $93.75","Second offence $112.50 $112.50","Third and subsequent offences $168.75 $168.75"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"City of Parksville Animal Control Bylaw, 2016, No. 1524","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1)","section":"s. 37","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as \"City of Parksville Animal Control Bylaw, 2016,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the City's [Animal Control Bylaw 1524](<https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814>), a dog may not be \"at large\". Anywhere off your own property it must be on a leash, a line, rope, cord, strap or chain no longer than 6 feet (183 cm). The exceptions are a designated off-leash area, where the dog must be under your supervision and control, and a dog under contract with the City to control wild birds.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Keep your dog on a leash on streets, trails and in parks. The City's trail page also asks for a short leash.\n2. To let it run, use the off-leash dog park on Despard Avenue near Springwood Park.\n3. In March and April, keep dogs off Parksville and Rathtrevor beaches entirely, even on a leash.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Off-leash park rules from the City page: dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, leashed going in and out, and the owner must stay with the dog. No puppies under four months.\n- No map or list of other off-leash areas was found. Ask Bylaw Compliance at 250-954-4650.\n- The beach ban is for the Brant geese migration. No other dog bans (playgrounds, sports fields) were found in the City's park rules.\n- You must immediately remove your dog's excrement from another person's property or public land and dispose of it in a sanitary, lawful way. This does not apply to a blind person with a guide dog.\n- Impound fees can also apply.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444","title":"Dogs in Parks, City of Parksville","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=654","title":"Etiquette for Parksville Parks and Open Spaces","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=96","title":"Dog Licences, City of Parksville","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2814","title":"Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A","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 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-leash-rules.json"}}