---
title: Valemount dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Valemount, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Valemount, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/valemount
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Valemount
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Valemount dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Valemount, a dog may not run at large, meaning off the owner's property and not on a leash or under the control of a responsible person. The Village dog park on Dogwood Street is the off-leash area. Owners must pick up feces. A first at-large offence is a $100 bylaw notice.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Valemount, https://valemount.ca)  
**Cost:** Dog at large: $100 bylaw notice for a first offence ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 if paid late). Repeat offences within 60 days: $200, $300, $400, then $500. Leaving feces: $50.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 735 Cranberry Lake Road, Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0 (Monday to Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., closed statutory holidays)
- Phone: Village Office (Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control), 250.566.4435
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@valemount.ca

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** Owners must not let a dog run at large. "Running at large" means not on the owner's property and not on a leash and/or under the control of a person responsible. A dog need not be leashed in a designated off-leash area, but must obey verbal commands.
  - Source: [Animal Bylaw No. 700, 2013, s. 6.1, 6.2, 6.7, Schedule A](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/88487/)
  - Official wording: "An owner shall ensure his or her animal does not "run at large" within the municipality." … "a dog is not required to be on a leash while in a designated off-leash area" … "Keep the dog under control by verbal command at all times" … ""Running at Large" means an animal that is not on the property of the owner and not on a leash and/or under the control of a person responsible."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Maximum leash length:** None set. Valemount's Animal Bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs.
- **Off-leash areas:** The Village dog park on Dogwood Street near Osadchuk Park, with separate areas for large and small dogs. In an off-leash area: current vaccinations, no puppies under 4 months, no dogs with a transmissible illness, and the owner must stay inside the area with a leash ready.
  - Source: [Valemount Dog Park Now Open, Village of Valemount (news post, August 27, 2024), News post, Aug 27, 2024](https://valemount.ca/valemount-dog-park-now-open/)
  - Official wording: "The new playground for pups is located on Dogwood Street near Osadchuk Park." … "There are separate areas for large and small dogs to run free."
  - Source: [Animal Bylaw No. 700, 2013, s. 10.1 to 10.4 (Bylaw No. 900)](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/88487/)
  - Official wording: "Puppies under the age of 4 months are not permitted within an off-leash area" … "Owners must be within the off-leash area with their dog(s) at all times and must have a leash readily available."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** None set. Valemount's bylaw lists no places where dogs are banned.
- **Cleaning up:** The owner must remove the animal's feces immediately, on public property or on the owner's own property.
  - Source: [Animal Bylaw No. 700, 2013, s. 6.3](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/88487/)
  - Official wording: "an animal defecates on any public property or private property of its owner, the owner shall remove such defecate immediately."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Bylaw notice, dog at large: 1st offence $100 ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 late). Repeat offences within 60 days: 2nd $200, 3rd $300, 4th $400, 5th $500.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 698 (consolidated June 4, 2026), Schedule A, Animal Bylaw No. 700, s. 6.1](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/96801/)
  - Official wording: "Running at Large 6.1 Yes $100.00 $80.00 $120.00 50%" … "Running at large 6.1 No $200.00 $160.00 $240.00 n/a" … "Running at large 6.1 No $300.00 $240.00 $360.00 n/a" … "Running at large 6.1 No $400.00 $320.00 $480.00 n/a" … "Running at large 6.1 No $500.00 $400.00 $500.00 n/a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Valemount Animal Bylaw No. 700, 2013
  - Source: [Animal Bylaw No. 700, 2013, s. 1.1](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/88487/)
  - Official wording: "the "Village of Valemount Animal Bylaw No. 700, 2013.""
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Animal Bylaw No. 700](<https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/88487/>) says an owner must not let a dog run at large in Valemount. "Running at large" means not on the owner's property and not on a leash or under the control of a responsible person. The bylaw sets no maximum leash length for ordinary dogs. A dangerous dog away from its owner's property must be on a leash no longer than one metre.

## Steps

1. Keep your dog on your property, on a leash, or under the control of a responsible person.
2. Use the Village dog park on Dogwood Street near Osadchuk Park if you want off-leash time. It has separate areas for large and small dogs.
3. Pick up your dog's feces right away, on public property or on your own.
4. To report a dog at large, call the Village Office at 250.566.4435 or email bylaw@valemount.ca.

## Good to know

- In an off-leash area a dog need not be leashed but must obey verbal commands. The owner must stay inside the area with a leash ready.
- Off-leash area rules: current vaccinations, no puppies under 4 months, no dogs with a transmissible illness.
- Dangerous dogs are not allowed in any off-leash area.
- The bylaw lists no places where dogs are banned. The dog park location comes from a 2024 Village news post, and no other off-leash areas were found. Ask the Village Office.
- Dog at large is a $100 bylaw notice for a first offence ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 if paid late). Repeat offences within 60 days are $200, $300, $400 and $500.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Bylaw No. 700, 2013 (PDF), Village of Valemount](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/88487/)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 698 (consolidated June 4, 2026) (PDF), Village of Valemount](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/96801/)
- [Valemount Dog Park Now Open, Village of Valemount (news post, August 27, 2024)](https://valemount.ca/valemount-dog-park-now-open/)
- [Animal Control, Village of Valemount](https://valemount.ca/village-office/bylaws/animal-control/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [McBride](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Bylaw No. 700, 2013 (PDF), Village of Valemount](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/88487/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 698 (consolidated June 4, 2026) (PDF), Village of Valemount](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/96801/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Valemount Dog Park Now Open, Village of Valemount (news post, August 27, 2024)](https://valemount.ca/valemount-dog-park-now-open/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control, Village of Valemount](https://valemount.ca/village-office/bylaws/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Valemount. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/dog-leash-rules/_