Smithers dog leash rules and off-leash areas
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.
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.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 2.1 "At Large"; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 5.1(a); Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, s. 3.8(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga 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 to run at large or to trespass in or upon any private lands or premises Allow any dog or other animal to run at large with the exception of areas |
|---|---|
| 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.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 2.1 "Leash"; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 4.6(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingwhich does not exceed 183 centimetres (6 feet) in length ensure the dog is on a leash which does not exceed one point two (1.2) |
| 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.Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, s. 3.8(d); Parks, Fields & Trails, Dogwood Park · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAllow any dog or other animal to run at large with the exception of areas designated as an off-leash area by the Director. two small dog park areas |
| 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.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 5.9; Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, s. 3.8(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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. Leave any animal waste deposited by any animal belonging to them or under |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Bylaw 1780 table; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Bylaw 2007 table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog 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 Off leash animal or dog 3.8.d 150.00 75.00 250.00 NO |
| Bylaw | Bylaw No. 1780 - Animal Control and Licensing; Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007 (parks).Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 1.1; Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as Animal Control and Licensing PARKS AND OPEN SPACES BYLAW |
How it works
Under the Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 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 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
The same question in other places
Telkwa · Houston · New Hazelton · Granisle · Terrace · Kitimat
Sources
- Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
- Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 2007, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
- Parks, Fields & Trails, Town of Smithers (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. How answers are checked.