{"title":"Sechelt dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules in Sechelt?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Sechelt","url":"https://www.sechelt.ca"},"short_answer":"In Sechelt, a dog must be on a leash whenever it is off the owner's property, and a dog running free can be impounded. Owners must clean up after their dog. The District lists off-leash dog parks, including Jane Bowers Dog Park.","aliases":["dog leash law sechelt","off leash dog park sechelt","dogs at large sechelt","poop bylaw sechelt"],"cost":"Bylaw notice for a dog at large: $150 first offence, $300 second, $500 third. Failing to collect dog feces: $150.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"604-885-1986 ext. 2"},{"type":"online","label":"Bylaw Enforcement online complaint form (link on the District page)","value":"https://www.sechelt.ca/our-government/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie Street, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0","note":"9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (the District page does not give the days of the week)"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Off-Leash Dog Parks, District of Sechelt","url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/arts-and-recreation/parks-and-playgrounds/off-leash-dog-parks/"},{"title":"Dog Licences, District of Sechelt","url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/pets-and-wildlife/dog-licences/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Sechelt dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Sechelt rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dangerous-dogs/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Sechelt bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dog-leash-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules/"},"facts":{"leash_rule":{"label":"Leash rule","value":"A dog must be on a leash when off the owner's property. A dog seen running free can be impounded.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/pets-and-wildlife/dog-licences/","title":"Dog Licences, District of Sechelt","section":"Dog Regulation FAQ","quotes":["Yes, dog owners must have the dog on a leash when off your property.","If your dog is seen running free it can be impounded."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"scanned","note":"Sechelt's Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw is posted only as a scan.","sources":[]},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"The District lists these off-leash dog parks: Jane Bowers Dog Park (5730 Ebbtide, one acre, fully enclosed, not shared with other park users), Creekside Park (5661 Creekside Park), Brookman Park (4574 Sunshine Coast Highway) and Lynnwood Park (6505 Lynnwood Court). Heritage Forest Trails and Hidden Grove Trails (Sechelt Inlet Road) are also listed but are not maintained by the District.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/arts-and-recreation/parks-and-playgrounds/off-leash-dog-parks/","title":"Off-Leash Dog Parks, District of Sechelt","section":"Off-Leash Dog Parks page","quotes":["The District of Sechelt maintains 4 designated Off-Leash Dog Parks.","Jane Bowers Dog Park","5730 Ebbtide","Creekside Park","Brookman Park","4574 Sunshine Coast Highway","Lynnwood Park","6505 Lynnwood Court","This park and trails are not maintained by the District of Sechelt"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"scanned","note":"Sechelt's Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw is posted only as a scan.","sources":[]},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"Dog owners must clean up their dog's feces and dispose of it in a sanitary way.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/pets-and-wildlife/dog-licences/","title":"Dog Licences, District of Sechelt","section":"Dog Regulation FAQ","quotes":["Yes, dog owners must clean up their dogs' feces and dispose of it in a sanitary matter."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Bylaw notice for a dog at large (Bylaw 611 s. 5.1): $150 first offence, $300 second, $500 third.","short":"Notice $150 first, $300 second, $500 third","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/d0ibsbhf/515-2012-bylaw-notice-enforcement-implementation-consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw No. 515, 2012 (consolidated February 2026) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw","quotes":["611, 2023 Section 5.1 Dog at Large No","1st Offence $150","2nd Offence $300","3rd Offence $500"]},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/pets-and-wildlife/dog-licences/","title":"Dog Licences, District of Sechelt","section":"Penalties table","quotes":["Dog tag not on the dog | $50.00 | Dog running free | $150.00 | Fail to remove excrement","| $50.00 | Dog running free | $150.00 | Fail to remove excrement | $150.00 |"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 611, 2023","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/pets-and-wildlife/dog-licences/","title":"Dog Licences, District of Sechelt","section":"Dog Licences page","quotes":["Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 611, 2023"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":2},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 611](<https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rx3lr4ph/611-2023-animal-control-and-licensing-bylaw.pdf>), a dog off the owner's property must be on a leash. A dog seen running free can be impounded. The bylaw is only posted as a scan, so this answer uses the District's Dog Licences page and the ticket schedule.\n\nThe District's [Off-Leash Dog Parks page](<https://www.sechelt.ca/arts-and-recreation/parks-and-playgrounds/off-leash-dog-parks/>) lists:\n\n- Jane Bowers Dog Park, 5730 Ebbtide (one acre, fully enclosed, not shared with other park users)\n- Creekside Park, 5661 Creekside Park\n- Brookman Park, 4574 Sunshine Coast Highway\n- Lynnwood Park, 6505 Lynnwood Court\n- Heritage Forest Trails and Hidden Grove Trails (Sechelt Inlet Road), which are listed but not maintained by the District\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Owners must clean up their dog's feces and dispose of it in a sanitary way. A bylaw notice for failing to is $150.\n- A bylaw notice for a dog at large is $150 for a first offence, $300 for a second and $500 for a third.\n- The District's pages and the bylaw schedule do not state a maximum leash length or a list of places where dogs are banned outright. Ask Bylaw Enforcement at 604-885-1986 ext. 2.\n- The Parks Bylaw also bars permitting a domestic animal to run at large in a park.\n- The off-leash parks page asks dog owners to hold a dog licence.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/pets-and-wildlife/dog-licences/","title":"Dog Licences, District of Sechelt","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/arts-and-recreation/parks-and-playgrounds/off-leash-dog-parks/","title":"Off-Leash Dog Parks, District of Sechelt","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/d0ibsbhf/515-2012-bylaw-notice-enforcement-implementation-consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw No. 515, 2012 (consolidated February 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rx3lr4ph/611-2023-animal-control-and-licensing-bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 611, 2023 (PDF, scanned)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/our-government/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/","title":"Bylaw Enforcement, District of Sechelt","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dog-leash-rules.json"}}