Vancouver dog leash rules and off-leash areas

Where can dogs go off leash in Vancouver, and what are the leash rules?

Vancouver, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-09

Short answer

In Vancouver, keep your dog leashed in public except in designated off-leash areas. Even there, the dog must remain under control and have a valid licence.

Key facts

Leash rule	In Vancouver, keep your dog leashed in public except in designated off-leash areas.Responsible dog ownership, Leash laws in Vancouver · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording All dog owners in Vancouver must follow Animal Control By-law 9150. This means: * Your dog must have a valid licence * Your dog must be under control at all times * Dogs are not allowed to run free in public spaces, except in one of the our 39 designated off-leash areas Using a leash is a simple and powerful way to protect your dog, others, and the environment. It’s also the law.
Maximum leash length	The leash must be no longer than 2.5 m in a street or other public place where leashing is required.Animal Control By-law, PDF p. 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording Leashing dogs 4.2 A person who keeps a dog must not permit, suffer, or allow the dog to be on a street or other public place unless the dog is under the immediate charge and control of a competent person by means of a leash that is not more than 2.5 m long or another by-law allows the dog to be off-leash under certain circumstances.
Off-leash areas	Dogs may be off leash in designated areas, under control and with a valid licence.Responsible dog ownership, Leash laws in Vancouver · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording * Your dog must have a valid licence * Your dog must be under control at all times * Dogs are not allowed to run free in public spaces, except in one of the our 39 designated off-leash areas
Places dogs are not allowed	Not confirmed. Checked Responsible dog ownership, Animal Control By-law No. 9150; not found there.
Cleaning up	Pick up droppings immediately and put them in a suitable bin. Exceptions cover the handler’s own or exclusively occupied property, a service dog with a physically disabled handler and a guide dog with a blind handler.Animal Control By-law No. 9150, Sections 4.9–4.10, removing excrement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording Removing excrement 4.9 A person who keeps a dog, or a person who has care, custody or control of a dog, except for a service dog in the company of a handler who is physically disabled or a guide dog in the company of a handler who is blind, must immediately remove any excrement deposited by the dog, and deposit it in a suitable refuse container. Removing excrement from owner’s property 4.10 Section 4.9 does not apply to excrement deposited by a dog on property owned by or in the exclusive possession of a person who keeps, or who has care, custody or control, of the dog.
Fine, dog at large or off leash	Not confirmed. Checked Responsible dog ownership, Animal Control By-law No. 9150; not found there.
Bylaw	Animal Control By-law No. 9150.Responsible dog ownership, Leash laws in Vancouver · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording All dog owners in Vancouver must follow Animal Control By-law 9150. This means:

How it works

Plan the whole walk, including the path from the parking area to the off-leash space. A designation for one part of a park can leave the adjoining trail, beach or playing field subject to different rules. Dogs may be off leash in designated areas, under control and with a valid licence.

Steps

Check the park or area in Responsible dog ownership. Look up the specific park or trail you intend to use. Check the description against the signs where you enter.
Take a leash even if your destination has an off-leash area. Know where the designated section ends before letting your dog run.

Good to know

The leash must be no longer than 2.5 m in a street or other public place where leashing is required.
Pick up droppings immediately and put them in a suitable bin. Exceptions cover the handler’s own or exclusively occupied property, a service dog with a physically disabled handler and a guide dog with a blind handler.
In Vancouver, dogs over three months old, including service dogs, must be licensed annually.
Check the rules again when crossing a fence, leaving the park or joining a shared path. Carry bags and plan where to dispose of waste.
For a question about the boundary of the area where you plan to walk, call City Hall at 311.
Read the applicable provisions in Animal Control By-law (PDF) and Animal Control By-law No. 9150 (PDF).

The same question in other places

Richmond · Burnaby · North Vancouver · District of North Vancouver · New Westminster · Delta

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Responsible dog ownership (read 2026-11-09)
Animal Control By-law (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
Dog licences and tags (read 2026-11-09)
Animal Control By-law No. 9150 (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
Vancouver municipal office contact information (read 2026-11-09)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.