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

# Saanich dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Saanich, a dog off your property must be under a person's control, and on a leash in public places unless the area is leash-optional. A leash must be non-extendable and no longer than 2.4 m. A dog running at large is a $150 bylaw notice or a $150 municipal ticket.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Dog running at large: bylaw notice $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days, $200 if paid more than 28 days after); municipal ticket $150 if paid within 30 days, $200 after.  
**How long:** Rules apply at all times; some areas have seasonal dog closures (May to August) or fenced-diamond closures (March 1 to October 31).  
**Where:**
- Online: Dogs in Parks FAQ (maps of leash-optional and on-leash parks), https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich/dogs-in-parks-faq.html
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624
- Phone: Saanich Bylaw Enforcement, 250-475-5456 (Monday to Friday, normal working hours)

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** Off your own property a dog must be accompanied by and under control of a person. Dogs on highways, school and college grounds, parks, public beaches, trails and other public property must be on a leash held by a person who has control, except in leash-optional areas (where the dog must still be under control). In leash-optional areas you must carry a leash and the dog must wear a collar.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 10, 12.1, 12.5](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one’s charge to run at large or be on any public place unless the dog is accompanied by and under control of a person" … "provided the dog is confined by a leash held by a person who has the dog under control" … "must carry a leash for the dog and cause the dog to wear a collar"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** A leash must be a fixed, non-extendable leash not more than 2.4 m long.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 1 definitions](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "NON-EXTENDABLE LEASH means a fixed, non-extendable leash not more than 2.4 meters in length"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Leash optional (dog under control): Schedule C parks 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Schedule D parks; fenced areas of Hyacinth, Lambrick and Rudd parks; beaches outside the Migratory Bird Sanctuary; marked areas of Cuthbert Holmes Park, PKOLS trail and Schedule K. Maps: Saanich Dogs in Parks FAQ. Parks on neither list: on leash.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 12.2, 12.3](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the following areas are leash optional provided the dog is under control of a person" … "the parks listed in Schedule “C” attached hereto between the hours of 6:00 am" … "the parks listed in Schedule “D” attached hereto except for any area marked with signage as an on leash area" … "within a 10 meter radius of any playground equipment"
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks FAQ](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich/dogs-in-parks-faq.html)
  - Official wording: "See the map below for more information on leash optional parks" … "if it is not on those lists, the default is dogs must be on a leash in those parks"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** No dogs: Quick's Bottom; Schedule K shaded areas; P-5 land (except Rithet's Bog leashed perimeter trail); Cedar Hill golf course; artificial turf, hard courts, playgrounds. May to August: Whitehead Park, Cordova Bay beach area, PKOLS beach. Fenced baseball diamonds Mar 1 to Oct 31 (Saanich FAQ page).
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 13.1 to 13.6](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Lands known as Quick’s Bottom lands" … "to be in any of the following areas during the months of May to August, inclusive" … "to be on artificial turf fields and all hard surface sports courts" … "to be on any playground"
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks FAQ](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich/dogs-in-parks-faq.html)
  - Official wording: "Dogs are not permitted in fenced baseball diamonds from March 1 to October 31."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** A person in control of a dog must immediately remove the dog's droppings and put them in a garbage bin, on public property or anyone else's private property. Exception for people physically unable to comply.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 14.1, 14.2](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "unless the person immediately removes and disposes of the excrement in a garbage bin" … "shall not apply to persons who are incapable of complying because of physical disability"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Municipal ticket: $150 if paid within 30 days, $200 after (dog running at large, s. 10; unleashed dog in a prohibited area, ss. 12.1, 12.3). Bylaw notice: $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $200 if more than 28 days). (Sources differ: Saanich's Dogs in Parks FAQ lists "Dog running at large" and several other leash offences at $100 within 30 days and $150 after; the Ticket Bylaw 9029 (consolidated through Amendment 10278) says $150 and $200, so the bylaw is followed. The FAQ page looks out of date. Court conviction: minimum fine $100 first offence, $200 later (Animals Bylaw s. 72.2(a)).)
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 8, s. 10](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog running at large 10 $150.00 $200.00" … "Unleashed dog in prohibited area"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525, Schedule 8, s. 10](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog running at large" … "10" … "$150.00" … "$50.00"
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks FAQ, Dogs in Parks FAQ, fines table](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich/dogs-in-parks-faq.html)
  - Official wording: "What are the fines relating to dogs in Saanich Parks?" … "Dog running at large"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, title](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ANIMALS BYLAW, 2004, NO. 8556"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf), off your own property a dog must be accompanied by and under the control of a person. On highways, school and college grounds, parks, public beaches, trails and other public property, the dog must be on a leash held by a person in control, except in leash-optional areas, where it must still be under control. In those areas you must carry a leash and the dog must wear a collar.

A leash must be fixed (non-extendable) and not more than 2.4 m long. The [Dogs in Parks FAQ](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich/dogs-in-parks-faq.html) says retractable leashes may be used in leash-optional areas because no leash is required there.

Leash-optional: Schedule C parks from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Schedule D parks; fenced areas of Hyacinth, Lambrick and Rudd parks; beaches outside the Migratory Bird Sanctuary; marked areas of Cuthbert Holmes Park, PKOLS trail and Schedule K. A park on neither list is on leash.

No dogs: Quick's Bottom, Schedule K shaded areas, Cedar Hill golf course, artificial turf, hard courts and playgrounds. From May to August: Whitehead Park, Cordova Bay beach area and PKOLS beach.

## Steps

1. Check the maps on the [Dogs in Parks FAQ](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich/dogs-in-parks-faq.html) before you go.
2. Bring a leash and a bag. You must immediately remove your dog's droppings and put them in a garbage bin, unless you are physically unable to.

## Good to know

- Running at large: a bylaw notice is $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days, $200 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $150 if paid within 30 days and $200 after. A court conviction carries a minimum fine of $100, or $200 for a later offence.
- The Dogs in Parks FAQ lists lower ticket amounts ($100/$150). The bylaw is followed here; confirm with Saanich.
- The FAQ also says dogs are not allowed in fenced baseball diamonds from March 1 to October 31; that is not in the bylaw text. The Director of Parks can close an area to dogs by sign.
- Report problems to CRD Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dogs in Parks FAQ, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich/dogs-in-parks-faq.html)
- [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Saanich dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-licence.md)
- [Saanich rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Saanich bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Dogs in Saanich | District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dogs in Parks FAQ, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/dogs-in-saanich/dogs-in-parks-faq.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.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 Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-leash-rules/_