---
title: Parksville dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Parksville, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/parksville
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Parksville
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Parksville dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Parksville, https://www.parksville.ca)  
**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).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw compliance, 250-954-4650
- Email: Bylaw compliance, bylaw@parksville.ca

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 1 and s. 24](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814)
  - Official wording: ""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."
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks, Dogs in Parks page](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444)
  - Official wording: "Dogs are welcome ON LEASH in Parksville"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 1, "Leash"](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814)
  - Official wording: ""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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** 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.
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks, Dogs in Parks page](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Etiquette for Parksville Parks and Open Spaces, Park etiquette page](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=654)
  - Official wording: "Keep your dog on a leash unless visiting our designated off-leash"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Parksville and Rathtrevor beaches during the Brant geese migratory season in March and April, even on a leash.
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks, Dogs in Parks page](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444)
  - Official wording: "Annually during Brant geese migratory season in March and April, dogs are not allowed on Parksville or Rathtrevor beaches even when on leash."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 26](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=96)
  - Official wording: "Every dog owner must immediately remove excrement left by their dog on another person's property or on public property."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice: $75 ($56.25 if paid within 14 days; $93.75 late). Second offence $112.50; third and later $168.75.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw s. 24 (or 27)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2814)
  - Official wording: "Dog At Large $75.00 $56.25 $93.75" … "Second offence $112.50 $112.50" … "Third and subsequent offences $168.75 $168.75"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Parksville Animal Control Bylaw, 2016, No. 1524
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 37](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "City of Parksville Animal Control Bylaw, 2016,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

## Steps

1. Keep your dog on a leash on streets, trails and in parks. The City's trail page also asks for a short leash.
2. To let it run, use the off-leash dog park on Despard Avenue near Springwood Park.
3. In March and April, keep dogs off Parksville and Rathtrevor beaches entirely, even on a leash.

## Good to know

- 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.
- No map or list of other off-leash areas was found. Ask Bylaw Compliance at 250-954-4650.
- The beach ban is for the Brant geese migration. No other dog bans (playgrounds, sports fields) were found in the City's park rules.
- 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.
- Impound fees can also apply.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dogs in Parks, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444)
- [Etiquette for Parksville Parks and Open Spaces](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=654)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 1524, 2016 (PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814)

## Related questions

- [Parksville dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-licence.md)
- [Parksville rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Dogs in Parks, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=444) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Etiquette for Parksville Parks and Open Spaces](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=654) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/21814) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licences, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=96) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2814) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Parksville. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dog-leash-rules/_