Saanich dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

Saanich, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

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.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 10, 12.1, 12.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Maximum leash length	A leash must be a fixed, non-extendable leash not more than 2.4 m long.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 1 definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording NON-EXTENDABLE LEASH means a fixed, non-extendable leash not more than 2.4 meters in length
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.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 12.2, 12.3; Dogs in Parks FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 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
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).Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 13.1 to 13.6; Dogs in Parks FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Dogs are not permitted in fenced baseball diamonds from March 1 to October 31.
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.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 14.1, 14.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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)).Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 8, s. 10; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525, Schedule 8, s. 10; Dogs in Parks FAQ, Dogs in Parks FAQ, fines table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Dog running at large 10 $150.00 $200.00 Unleashed dog in prohibited area Dog running at large 10 $150.00 $50.00 What are the fines relating to dogs in Saanich Parks? Dog running at large
Bylaw	Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording ANIMALS BYLAW, 2004, NO. 8556

How it works

Under the Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, 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 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

Check the maps on the Dogs in Parks FAQ before you go.
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

The same question in other places

Oak Bay · Esquimalt · Victoria · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Dogs in Saanich | District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
Dogs in Parks FAQ, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
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. How answers are checked.