Sidney dog leash rules and off-leash areas
Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?
Short answer
In Sidney, a dog must be under a competent person's control on a leash no longer than 6 feet (1.83 m). The Town says dogs must be on leash in all public places except Peter Grant Park. A bylaw notice for a dog at large is $130; a municipal ticket is $130.
Key facts
| Leash rule | A dog must not be at large unless accompanied by and under the effective control of a competent person by means of a leash. In a Town park a dog must be under that control unless the park is designated off leash. The Town says dogs must be on leash in all public places except Peter Grant Park.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.1(a), 4.1(e); Dogs, intro · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA Dog Owner must not permit, suffer or allow a dog to be at large unless accompanied by and under the effective control of a competent person by means of a leash unless the Park is designated as an off leash park as per Section 4.6. Dogs must remain on leash in all public places in Sidney, except for the off-leash dog park, Peter Grant Park. |
|---|---|
| Maximum leash length | A leash may not be longer than 6 feet (1.83 m).Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 2.0 definition of Leash · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga line, chain, harness, or rope that does not exceed a length of 6 feet (1.83 meters) |
| Off-leash areas | Peter Grant Park, and any area or enclosure signed for off-leash use as designated by the Director of Engineering.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.6; Dogs, intro · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOff leash dog areas include: (a) Peter Grant Park Any area or enclosure signed for off-leash use as designated by the Director of Engineering. except for the off-leash dog park, Peter Grant Park. |
| Places dogs are not allowed | No dog may be in any public park area used as a picnic area, hard-surfaced sports court, exercise area or playground, whether or not the area is in use.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.1(k) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall allow, suffer, or permit any dog to be present on or within any public park area utilized as a picnic area, hard-surfaced sports court, exercise area, or playground, whether or not the area is then in use. |
| Cleaning up | The owner must not let the dog leave excrement on any street, lane, park, school ground or other public place, or on private property other than the owner's, unless the excrement is removed immediately.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.1(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe owner of a dog shall not cause or allow any dog to defecate on any street, lane, park, public school ground or any other public place unless the person shall immediately remove the excrement. |
| Fine, dog at large or off leash | Bylaw notice (dog at large without leash): $130 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $160 after 28 days); same amounts for a dog off leash in a public park. Municipal ticket: $130 ($100 if paid within 30 days).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239, Schedule C, Animal Licence & Control Bylaw, ss. 4.1(a), 4.1(e); Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180, Schedule 2, ss. 4.1(a), 4.1(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog At Large Without Part IV, Section $130.00 $100.00 $160.00 Dog At Large Without Part IV, Section 4.1 (a) $130.00 $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 1.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010 |
How it works
The Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965 says a dog must not be at large unless it is accompanied by, and under the effective control of, a competent person by means of a leash. A leash may not be longer than 6 feet (1.83 m). In a Town park the dog must be under that control unless the park is designated off leash. The Town's Dogs page says dogs must be on leash in all public places except Peter Grant Park.
Good to know
- Off-leash areas: Peter Grant Park, and any area or enclosure signed for off-leash use by the Director of Engineering. No map or list of other signed areas was found.
- No dog may be in a public park area used as a picnic area, hard-surfaced sports court, exercise area or playground, whether or not it is in use.
- Pick up after your dog. Excrement must be removed immediately from any street, lane, park, school ground or other public place, or from private property that is not yours.
- Aggressive and dangerous dogs may not enter off-leash areas.
- The bylaw does not name a beach ban for leashed dogs, and no beach rule was found in the bylaws read. Ask the Town if you are unsure.
- Fines: a bylaw notice is $130 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $160 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $130 ($100 if paid within 30 days). The same amounts apply to a dog off leash in a public park.
- Report a dog problem to CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
North Saanich · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · View Royal · Langford
Sources
- Dogs, Town of Sidney (read 2026-11-06)
- Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Enforcement, Town of Sidney (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.