{"title":"Sooke dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules in Sooke?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sooke","name":"Sooke","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 Sooke","url":"https://sooke.ca"},"short_answer":"In Sooke, a dog off its owner's property must be on a leash or other device, or under the immediate care and control of a competent person. In parks, dogs must be leashed or return immediately when called. The fenced Carter Navarrete Dog Park, 2276 Church Road, is the off-leash park.","aliases":["dog off leash sooke","sooke dog park","leash law sooke","dogs in parks sooke"],"cost":"Fine for an animal at large: $100 (municipal ticket).","how_long":"Not applicable","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"District of Sooke Bylaw Services","value":"250-642-1634","note":"Municipal Hall, 2205 Otter Point Road, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"online","label":"Dogs in Parks, District of Sooke","value":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/parks-trails/dogs-in-parks/"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf"},{"title":"Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Sooke dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Sooke","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Sooke rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dangerous-dogs/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Sooke bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/metchosin","name":"Metchosin","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/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":"Off the owner's property, a dog may not run at large unless it is on a leash, tether or other suitable device, or under the immediate care and control of a competent person. On the owner's property it must be kept securely contained. In parks, a dog must be leashed or must return immediately when called, and must be leashed when a sign requires it or an officer asks.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"ss. 36, 37","quotes":["No owner of a dog shall permit the dog to be running at large in the District unless the dog is kept on a leash, tether or other suitable device, or is under the immediate care and control of a competent person.","keep the dog securely contained so as to prevent the dog escaping from the owner’s property."]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf","title":"Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"ss. 35, 36","quotes":["by restraining it with a leash or lead, or by having the dog or other animal respond and return immediately","must restrain the dog with a leash no greater than 2 metres in length when required by a posted sign or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"No limit for ordinary dogs in the Animal Bylaw. In parks, where a sign requires a leash or an officer asks, the leash can be no longer than 2 metres. A dangerous dog's leash is also limited to 2 metres.","short":"No limit (2 m in parks)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf","title":"Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 36","quotes":["must restrain the dog with a leash no greater than 2 metres in length when required by a posted sign or"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 40","quotes":["suitable device not exceeding two metres in length"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"Carter Navarrete Dog Park, 2276 Church Road, within the Pond's Park Corridor: a fenced off-leash park.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/parks-trails/dogs-in-parks/","title":"Dogs in Parks, District of Sooke","section":"Off-leash park","quotes":["Sooke’s off-leash dog park, Carter Navarrete Dog Park, is located at 2276 Church Road within the Pond’s Park Corridor.","This fenced park provides a safe, welcoming space for dogs to run and play off-leash."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":"Dogs may not enter park areas signed as prohibited to dogs (except a guide animal held by a leash or harness). The District's page advises avoiding playgrounds, sports fields and community gardens unless otherwise posted.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf","title":"Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 39","quotes":["must not permit the animal to enter areas, signed as prohibited areas to dogs, horses","or other animals, except a person with a disability accompanied by a guide"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/parks-trails/dogs-in-parks/","title":"Dogs in Parks, District of Sooke","section":"Guidelines","quotes":["Avoid playgrounds, sports fields, and community gardens unless otherwise posted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"Remove the dog's excrement immediately on a highway, public place or another person's land and dispose of it sanitarily. In a park, put it in a waste container or carry it out.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 44","quotes":["the person having care, custody, or control of the animal shall immediately remove the excrement"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf","title":"Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 37","quotes":["carry the excrement out of the park if no waste disposal containers are"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"$100 (municipal ticket) for an animal at large (ss. 37 and 43) and $100 for failing to contain a dog (s. 36). In parks, an uncontrolled animal is $100.","short":"Ticket $100","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"Schedule B1","quotes":["37 Animal at large $100.00","36 Failure to contain dog $100.00"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"Schedule B6","quotes":["34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 Uncontrolled animal $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009; in parks, Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101, 2002","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"title","quotes":["Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"Schedule B6","quotes":["Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101, 2002"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf), off the owner's property a dog may not run at large unless it is on a leash, tether or other suitable device, or under the immediate care and control of a competent person. On your own property it must be kept securely contained. The bylaw sets no leash length for ordinary dogs.\n\nIn parks, the [Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101](https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf) says a dog must be leashed or must return immediately when called. It must be leashed when a sign requires it or an officer asks, and then the leash can be no longer than 2 metres.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Off-leash park: Carter Navarrete Dog Park, 2276 Church Road, within the Pond's Park Corridor. It is fenced.\n- Dogs may not enter park areas signed as prohibited to dogs (a guide animal held by a leash or harness is the exception). The District advises avoiding playgrounds, sports fields and community gardens unless posted otherwise.\n- Remove your dog's excrement immediately on a highway, public place or another person's land and dispose of it sanitarily. In a park, put it in a waste container or carry it out.\n- Tickets are $100 for an animal at large, for failing to contain a dog, for an uncontrolled animal in a park, and for excrement not removed.\n- Animal complaints go to CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf","title":"Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101 (PDF), District of Sooke","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/parks-trails/dogs-in-parks/","title":"Dogs in Parks, District of Sooke","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 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-leash-rules.json"}}