West Kelowna dog leash rules and off-leash areas

Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?

West Kelowna, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In West Kelowna, a dog must be on a secure leash held by its owner, 2 metres or less, on any street or public place, unless it is in a designated off-leash park or area. The City sets park rules; the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) runs dog control.

Key facts

Leash rule	A dog must not be at large and must be on a secure leash held by its owner on any street, public place or other private property, unless the area is a designated off-leash park or area. In City parks, dogs may not be at large except in a designated Dog Off-Leash Park.RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), ss. 25, 6 (At Large); West Kelowna Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 0184 (consolidated), s. 3.2 b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Owner shall cause or permit his or her dog to be At Large. Dogs must be kept on a At Large means any dog on a highway or public place or on private property other than Except where a Park or Public Space or a portion of a Park or Public Space has been designated as a ‘Dog Off-Leash Park’, no person may allow a dog in his care to be at
Maximum leash length	2 metres or less, fixed length. City parks: a leash no longer than two metres where dogs are allowed.RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), s. 6 (Leash); West Kelowna Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 0184 (consolidated), s. 3.2 d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Leash means a leash with a fixed total length of 2 meters or less. they must be harnessed with a leash no longer than two metres in length.
Off-leash areas	Only in designated off-leash parks or areas, where the dog wears a collar or harness with a valid tag, the owner carries a leash, keeps sight and voice control, and follows posted signs. The RDCO has an online dog park map.RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), s. 28; Dog licences and control, RDCO, RDCO dogs page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording An Owner may cause or permit his or her dog to be At Large in a designated off-leash The Owner maintains visual sight and verbal control of his or her dog at all times; The Owner follows all posted rules and regulations on signs in the park or public View an online map of dog friendly areas within the Regional District boundaries.
Places dogs are not allowed	Dogs are banned in a City park unless the park (or part of it) is designated as allowing dogs, and from beaches and swim areas unless designated. Under the regional bylaw: parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and public beaches where dogs are prohibited.West Kelowna Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 0184 (consolidated), s. 3.2 c), f); RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), s. 26 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Except where a Park, or portion thereof, has been designated as a Park which allows No person being the owner of a pet or domestic animal may allow such animal to enter No Owner shall cause or permit his or her dog to be within a public area to include: park, playground, sports field, school ground, swimming area or public beach where
Cleaning up	Owners must immediately remove dog feces and dispose of them sanitarily on public land and on other people's property. City parks: same rule, immediately.RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), s. 30; West Kelowna Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 0184 (consolidated), s. 3.2 e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording unless the Owner immediately removes the excrement and disposes of it in a sanitary manner. An owner must immediately remove and dispose of, in a sanitary manner, feces left by
Fine, dog at large or off leash	Dog at large or not leashed (RDCO bylaw): $150 first offence, $200 second, $300 third and later; early payment discount $25, late penalty $25. Dog at large in a City park or public space (City bylaw): $100.RDCO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated), Bylaw 1538, Schedule A, Appendix 1; RDCO Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated), Bylaw 1537, Schedule B, Appendix 1; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 0093 (consolidated), Schedule 4, Bylaw 0093, Schedule 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Dog at large/Fail to leash – 25 150.00 25.00 25.00 Y Dog at large /Fail to leash – 25 300.00 25.00 25.00 Y Dog at large / Fail to Leash 25 $150.00 $200.00 $300.00 Permit dog at large in park or public space 3.2 b) $ 100.00
Bylaw	Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (dogs generally); City of West Kelowna Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 0184, 2015 (City parks).RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), s. 2; West Kelowna Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 0184 (consolidated), Part 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 City of West Kelowna Parks and Public Spaces

How it works

Two bylaws apply in West Kelowna. The City's Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 0184 covers City parks. The RDCO's Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 covers dogs generally. A dog must not be at large. Outside a designated off-leash park or area it must be on a secure leash held by its owner, 2 metres or less and fixed length.

Steps

Keep your dog on a leash of 2 metres or less on streets, in public places and in City parks, unless you are in a designated off-leash park or area.
Check the RDCO dog park map (linked from rdco.com/dogs) for off-leash areas. The Parks bylaw does not list them.
Follow posted signs.

Good to know

In an off-leash area your dog must wear a collar or harness with a valid tag, you must carry a leash, keep your dog in sight and under voice control, and follow the signs.
Dogs are banned in a City park unless the park (or part of it) is designated for dogs, and from beaches and swim areas unless designated. The RDCO bylaw also bans dogs from parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds, swimming areas and public beaches where they are prohibited.
Pick up your dog's feces immediately and dispose of them sanitarily, on public land and on other people's property.
Fines: a dog at large or not leashed under the RDCO bylaw is $150 first offence, $200 second and $300 third and later (early-payment discount $25, late penalty $25). A dog at large in a City park or public space is $100 under the City bylaw.
Report loose dogs to RDCO Dog Control at 250-469-6284.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Peachland · Kelowna · Lake Country · Summerland · Penticton · Vernon

Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

West Kelowna Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 0184 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Dog licences and control, RDCO (read 2026-11-05)
RDCO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
RDCO Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Compliance, City of West Kelowna (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 0093 (consolidated), Schedule 4 (read 2026-11-05)

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