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

# Port Coquitlam dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Port Coquitlam a dog must be on a leash off its owner's property unless it is in an off-leash area. The City has six: three fenced dog parks and three off-leash areas. Owners must pick up their dog's waste, and no one may have more than three dogs in an off-leash area.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Coquitlam, https://www.portcoquitlam.ca)  
**Cost:** Dog at large $150 (bylaw notice).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-927-5440
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylawservices@portcoquitlam.ca

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** Off the owner's property a dog must be secured on a leash to its owner (or, in an off-leash area, under the owner's care and control). Owners must stop dogs running at large and trespassing on private property, even on a leash.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 2, 8.1, 8.2](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every Owner of a Dog shall prevent the Dog from being or running At Large." … "not secured on a Leash to its Owner or is not under the care and control of its" … "Every Owner of a Dog shall prevent the Dog, whether on a Leash or otherwise,"
  - Source: [Animal Control, FAQ](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Unless a dog is in an off-leash area, all dogs are required to be on leash off their own private property."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** None set. The Animal Control Bylaw does not set a leash length.
- **Off-leash areas:** Six areas: fenced dog parks at Maple Street (2501 Maple St), Lions (2300 Lougheed Hwy) and Shaughnessy (3345 Shaughnessy St); off-leash areas at Chelsea Park, Skyline Park and Castle Park. Dogs must stay under control; no one may have more than three dogs there.
  - Source: [Off-Leash Dog Areas, page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/dogs/leash-dog-areas)
  - Official wording: "We have six off-leash dog areas in Port Coquitlam." … "Maple Street Dog Park (2501 Maple Street)" … "Lions Dog Park (2300 Lougheed Highway)" … "Shaughnessy Dog Park (3345 Shaughnessy Street)" … "Chelsea Park Off-Leash Dog Area (1277 Chelsea Avenue)" … "Skyline Park Off-Leash Dog Area (1305 Eastern Drive)" … "Castle Park Off-Leash Dog Area (2252 Castle Crescent)"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 9.2, 9.3](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "When in an Off Leash Area, a Dog shall at all times be under the care and" … "No person shall at any time have custody of more than three (3) Dogs in an Off"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Not confirmed. The pages read do not list places where dogs are banned.
- **Cleaning up:** The owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement and dispose of it in a lawful and sanitary manner.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 8.3](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every Owner of a Dog shall immediately take steps to remove excrement left or" … "deposited by the Dog and dispose of the excrement in a lawful and sanitary"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Dog at large: $150 (bylaw notice). $105 if paid within 30 days; $225 if paid after 90 days. Failure to remove excrement: $150 as well. Failing to secure a dog in an off-leash area: $150.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3814, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-10/3814%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog at Large 8.1 150 105 225 N/A" … "Failure to Remove Excrement 8.3 150 105 225 N/A"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw, 2017, No. 3990
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 1](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Animal Control Bylaw, 2017, No. 3990”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control Bylaw 3990](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf), off the owner's property a dog must be secured on a leash to its owner. In an off-leash area it must be under the owner's care and control. Owners must also stop their dog running at large or trespassing on private property, even on a leash.

## Where dogs can run

- Fenced dog parks: Maple Street (2501 Maple Street), Lions (2300 Lougheed Highway) and Shaughnessy (3345 Shaughnessy Street).
- Off-leash areas: Chelsea Park, Skyline Park and Castle Park.

## Good to know

- Dogs must stay under control in these areas, and no one may have more than three dogs there.
- The bylaw does not set a leash length, and the pages read do not list places where dogs are banned. Ask Bylaw Services.
- The owner must immediately remove the dog's excrement and dispose of it in a lawful and sanitary manner.
- Bylaw notices are $150 each for a dog at large, for failing to remove excrement, and for failing to secure a dog in an off-leash area. The early amount is $105 if paid within 30 days; the late amount is $225 after 90 days.
- Report a loose dog to Bylaw Services at 604-927-5440.

## Official forms and pages

- [Off-Leash Dog Areas (City of Port Coquitlam)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/dogs/leash-dog-areas)
- [Animal Control page and FAQ](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 3990 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port Coquitlam dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dog-licence.md)
- [Port Coquitlam rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Off-Leash Dog Areas, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/dogs/leash-dog-areas) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3814, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-10/3814%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Port Coquitlam. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dog-leash-rules/_