Port Alberni dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?
Short answer
In Port Alberni, a dog in a public place must be on a leash, chain or tether no longer than 183 cm (6 feet) and under a competent person's control. The City names one off-leash park, on Beaver Creek Road. A dog at large or off leash is a $100 bylaw notice.
Key facts
| Leash rule | In a public place (highways and City property) a dog must be on a leash, chain or tether and under the immediate care and control of a competent person. A dog must not be at large. The City page exempts the off-leash park on Beaver Creek Road.Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 17(b)-(c); Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 2; Animal Control and Wildlife, Dog rules · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingbe in a public place unless the dog is kept on a leash, chain or tether not exceeding 183 centimetres (six feet) in length and the dog is under the immediate care and control of a competent person be at large in the City in or upon a highway or public place except in the off-leash park located on Beaver Creek Road |
|---|---|
| Maximum leash length | 183 cm (6 feet) at most.Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 17(c); Animal Control and Wildlife, Dog rules · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingnot exceeding 183 centimetres (six feet) in length not exceeding 183 cm (6ft) in length |
| Off-leash areas | The off-leash park on Beaver Creek Road, per the City's Animal Control page.Animal Control and Wildlife, Dog rules · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexcept in the off-leash park located on Beaver Creek Road |
| Places dogs are not allowed | Not confirmed. Park rules may be in the Parks Bylaw, which has no readable text. |
| Cleaning up | The person with care or control of the animal must immediately remove its excrement from a highway or public place and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 20 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe person having care, custody, or control of the animal shall immediately remove the excrement so deposited and dispose of it in a sanitary manner |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | Bylaw notice: $100 for a dog at large and $100 for a dog off leash ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A-2, s. 17(b)-(c); Fees and Charges - Animal Control and Licensing, Fines and Tickets · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog at large $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Dog off-leash $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Dog at large | 17b | $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control and Pound Bylaw, No. 5126, 2025Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Control and Pound Bylaw, No. 5126, 2025 |
How it works
The Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126 says a dog in a public place (a highway or City property) must be on a leash, chain or tether not longer than 183 cm (6 feet) and under the immediate care and control of a competent person. A dog must not be "at large". The only off-leash area the City's Animal Control page names is the off-leash park on Beaver Creek Road; the bylaw text itself has no off-leash exception.
Good to know
- Whoever has care or control of the dog must immediately remove its excrement from a highway or public place and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.
- A bylaw notice is $100 for a dog at large and $100 for a dog off leash ($75 if paid within 14 days, $125 if paid late), under the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128.
- The City page gives no park name, map, fencing or hours for the off-leash park.
- The Animal Control and Pound Bylaw does not list places where dogs are banned. Park-specific rules may be in the Parks Bylaw No. 5121, whose text could not be read; ask Bylaw Services at 250-720-2831.
- Questions or complaints: Bylaw Services, 250-720-2831.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Qualicum Beach · Parksville · Cumberland · Comox · Courtenay · Lantzville
Sources
- Animal Control and Wildlife, City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges - Animal Control and Licensing, City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.