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

# Sooke dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sooke, https://sooke.ca)  
**Cost:** Fine for an animal at large: $100 (municipal ticket).  
**How long:** Not applicable  
**Where:**
- Phone: District of Sooke Bylaw Services, 250-642-1634 (Municipal Hall, 2205 Otter Point Road, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Online: Dogs in Parks, District of Sooke, https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/parks-trails/dogs-in-parks/

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, ss. 36, 37](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101, ss. 35, 36](https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 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.
  - Source: [Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101, s. 36](https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must restrain the dog with a leash no greater than 2 metres in length when required by a posted sign or"
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, s. 40](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "suitable device not exceeding two metres in length"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Carter Navarrete Dog Park, 2276 Church Road, within the Pond's Park Corridor: a fenced off-leash park.
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks, Off-leash park](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/parks-trails/dogs-in-parks/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101, s. 39](https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Dogs in Parks, Guidelines](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/parks-trails/dogs-in-parks/)
  - Official wording: "Avoid playgrounds, sports fields, and community gardens unless otherwise posted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, s. 44](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the person having care, custody, or control of the animal shall immediately remove the excrement"
  - Source: [Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101, s. 37](https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "carry the excrement out of the park if no waste disposal containers are"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** $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.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836, Schedule B1](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "37 Animal at large $100.00" … "36 Failure to contain dog $100.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836, Schedule B6](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 Uncontrolled animal $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009; in parks, Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101, 2002
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, title](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836, Schedule B6](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101, 2002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

In 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.

## Good to know

- Off-leash park: Carter Navarrete Dog Park, 2276 Church Road, within the Pond's Park Corridor. It is fenced.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Animal complaints go to CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
- [Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101 (PDF)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sooke dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-licence.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sooke rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Sooke bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Community Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 101 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/5tjdzu5h/community-parks-regulation-bylaw-no-101-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dogs in Parks, District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/parks-trails/dogs-in-parks/) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Sooke. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-leash-rules/_