Salt Spring Island dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?
Short answer
On Salt Spring Island, an unincorporated area, CRD Bylaw 1465 has no general leash rule, but a dog must not run at large: it must be under direct and continuous control, securely confined or fastened. In CRD community parks carry a leash no longer than 2 metres and keep the dog under control. The CRD lists no off-leash areas.
Key facts
| Leash rule | No general leash rule. An owner must not let a dog 'run at large': be on land the owner does not own or occupy, unless it is under direct and continuous control of a competent person, securely confined, or fastened. In CRD community parks the dog must be under control at all times.CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023), ss. 1(2)(a)-(b), 24(1); CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations, s. 8(1)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan animal is deemed to be "running at large" if it is on land which is not owned or occupied by the owner of the animal Under the direct and continuous control of a person who is competent to control No owner of an animal shall suffer or permit such animal to "run at large" have the animal under control at all times; |
|---|---|
| Maximum leash length | No length set in the animal bylaw. In CRD community parks a dog owner must carry a leash not longer than 2 metres.CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations, s. 8(1)(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingcarry at least one leash not exceeding two meters, and one collar for each dog at all times |
| Off-leash areas | The CRD lists the Rainbow Road Dog Park on Rainbow Road, in front of the indoor pool (7 a.m. to 11 p.m.). Its page does not say whether dogs may be off leash there. No CRD list or map of off-leash areas was found.Rainbow Road Dog Park, Capital Regional District, park page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe dog park, located in front of the indoor pool, in Rainbow Road Park, opened in April 2011. Hours: 7am to 11pm |
| Places dogs are not allowed | Animals, including dogs, are banned from the Vesuvius Bay and Bader Beach public beaches (Bylaw 1465 Schedule E) from June 15 to September 15 inclusive. Dangerous dogs are banned from CRD community parks. Dogs may not enter park areas posted as prohibited.CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023), s. 29, Sched. E; CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations, s. 8(2)(b), 8(3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingto be on any of the public beaches listed in Schedule "E" from June 15 to September 15 4. VESUVIUS BAY BEACH 5. BADER BEACH from June 15 to September 15 enter any area where that animal is prohibited, as indicated by a sign or posted notice must not permit the dangerous dog to enter a community park |
| Cleaning up | In a CRD community park the person with the dog must immediately remove any faeces it leaves (except a legally visually impaired person).CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations, s. 8(4)-(5) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust immediately remove any faeces deposited by that dog |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | $100 for an animal at large (ticket). $100 for a domestic animal not under control in a CRD community park.CRD Bylaw 1857, Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw, Sched. 9 item 9; Sched. 23 item 18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal at large 24 (1) $100.00 Domestic Animal Not Under Control 8(1)(a) $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw No. 1465); in CRD community parks, Community Parks Regulations (Juan de Fuca and Salt Spring Island Electoral Areas) Bylaw No. 1, 2012 (CRD Bylaw No. 3795).CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023), title; CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingANIMAL REGULATION AND IMPOUNDING BYLAW NO. 1, 1986 COMMUNITY PARKS REGULATIONS (JUAN DE FUCA AND SALT SPRING ISLAND ELECTORAL AREAS) BYLAW NO. 1, 2012 |
How it works
Dogs are regulated by CRD Animal Care Services under Bylaw 1465; Islands Trust does not regulate animal control. The bylaw sets no general leash rule. It says an owner must not let a dog run at large: on land the owner does not own or occupy, the dog must be under direct and continuous control of a competent person, securely confined, or fastened.
In CRD community parks, Bylaw 3795 applies. The dog must be under control at all times, and the owner must carry a leash no longer than 2 metres.
Good to know
- Off-leash areas: the CRD lists the Rainbow Road Dog Park (in front of the indoor pool, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.), but its page does not say whether dogs may be off leash there. No CRD list or map of off-leash areas was found. Ask CRD Parks.
- Animals, including dogs, are banned from the Vesuvius Bay and Bader Beach public beaches from June 15 to September 15 inclusive. Dogs may not enter park areas posted as prohibited.
- In a community park, the person with the dog must immediately remove any faeces it leaves. No pick-up rule outside community parks was found in Bylaw 1465.
- Tickets: $100 for an animal at large, $100 for a domestic animal not under control in a community park, $100 for faeces not removed in a park, $50 for an animal on a beach.
- A dangerous dog is never treated as under control and is banned from community parks. See the dangerous dogs answer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sources
- Rainbow Road Dog Park, Capital Regional District (read 2026-11-05)
- CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- CRD Bylaw 1857, Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.