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

# Smithers dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Smithers, a dog in a public place, including a park or school ground, must be on a leash held by a responsible person, and the leash may not be longer than 183 cm (6 feet). Dogs may run free only in designated off-leash areas, such as the small dog areas at Dogwood Park.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Smithers, https://www.smithers.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice for a dog at large: $150. Unleashed dog not confined: $100. Off-leash dog in a park: $150.  
**How long:** Rules apply at all times.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Town Hall (bylaw enforcement), 250-847-1600 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog on a highway or other public place, including a school ground or park, must be secured on a leash held by a responsible person. Off its owner's property it must be under that person's immediate control. Owners must not let a dog run at large.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 2.1 "At Large"](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "a dog located upon a highway or other public place, including a school ground" … "or park, that is not secured on a leash to a responsible and competent person"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 5.1(a)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "to run at large or to trespass in or upon any private lands or premises"
  - Source: [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, s. 3.8(d)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/284671/)
  - Official wording: "Allow any dog or other animal to run at large with the exception of areas"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** A leash may not be longer than 183 cm (6 feet). A dangerous dog's leash may not exceed 1.2 m.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 2.1 "Leash"](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "which does not exceed 183 centimetres (6 feet) in length"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 4.6(b)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "ensure the dog is on a leash which does not exceed one point two (1.2)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Dogs may run free only in areas the Director designates as off-leash areas. The Town's parks page says Dogwood Park (Dan Hamhuis Way, off Toronto St.) has two small dog park areas.
  - Source: [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, s. 3.8(d)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/284671/)
  - Official wording: "Allow any dog or other animal to run at large with the exception of areas" … "designated as an off-leash area by the Director."
  - Source: [Parks, Fields & Trails, Dogwood Park](https://www.smithers.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-fields-trails)
  - Official wording: "two small dog park areas"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Cleaning up:** Anyone whose dog leaves excrement anywhere other than on the owner's property must immediately remove it and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. The same duty applies in parks.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 5.9](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall suffer or permit any dog to leave or deposit excrement any place" … "remove such excrement and to dispose of same in a sanitary manner."
  - Source: [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, s. 3.8(c)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/284671/)
  - Official wording: "Leave any animal waste deposited by any animal belonging to them or under"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice: dog at large (s. 5.1(a)) $150; unleashed dog not confined (s. 5.10) $100; off-leash dog in a park (Parks bylaw s. 3.8(d)) $150. The schedule also shows lower early amounts ($75, $50) and higher late ones ($250, $200), but s. 8.1 describes the columns differently; confirm with the Town. (Sources differ: Amounts are from the Schedule A table of Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011 (adopted Aug. 25, 2026). The table headings read Penalty / Early Payment (within 14 days) / Late Payment (after 28 days), but s. 8.1 of the same bylaw says the Column 3 amount is payable within 14 days, Column 4 between 14 and 28 days and Column 5 after 28 days, so which figure is the 'full' amount is unclear; confirm with the Town. No Municipal Ticket Information bylaw was found in the bylaw library. Older fees for dogs at large (first offence $25 licensed, $50 unlicensed, up to $200) are in Schedule B of Bylaw 1780 (consolidated 2020); the 2026 notice schedule is later.)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Bylaw 1780 table](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large 5.1 (a) 150.00 75.00 250.00 NO" … "Fail to confine unleashed dog 5.10 100.00 50.00 200.00 NO" … "Off leash animal or dog 3.8.d 150.00 75.00 250.00 NO" … "amount set out in Column 3 of "Schedule A"; or"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Bylaw 2007 table](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/)
  - Official wording: "Off leash animal or dog 3.8.d 150.00 75.00 250.00 NO"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw No. 1780 - Animal Control and Licensing; Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007 (parks).
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 1.1](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as" … "Animal Control and Licensing"
  - Source: [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, Title](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/284671/)
  - Official wording: "PARKS AND OPEN SPACES BYLAW"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23](<https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/>), owners must not let a dog run at large. On a highway or any other public place, including a school ground or park, a dog must be secured on a leash held by a responsible person. Off its owner's property it must be under that person's immediate control. The [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007](<https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/284671/>) also applies in parks.

## Good to know

- Leash length: no longer than 183 cm (6 feet). A dangerous dog's leash may not exceed 1.2 m.
- Off-leash areas: dogs may run free only in areas the Director designates. The Town's parks page says Dogwood Park (Dan Hamhuis Way, off Toronto Street) has two small dog park areas.
- Clean-up: if your dog leaves excrement anywhere other than your own property, remove it immediately and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. The same duty applies in parks.
- Fines (bylaw notices): dog at large $150; unleashed dog not confined $100; off-leash dog in a park $150. The early and late amounts and their timing should be confirmed with the Town.
- To report a problem, call the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-847-1600.

## Official forms and pages

- [Parks, Fields & Trails](https://www.smithers.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-fields-trails)
- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/284671/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Parks, Fields & Trails, Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-fields-trails) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Smithers. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dog-leash-rules/_