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

# Whistler dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**Short answer:** In Whistler, a dog in a public place must be on a leash (2 metres at most) or under the direct care and control of a competent person. Off-leash is allowed only in designated areas: Alpha Lake Park (Arfa Park), Bayly Park, Rainbow Park (Barking Bay) and Lost Lake Park (Canine Cove).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Resort Municipality of Whistler, https://www.whistler.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice for a dog at large: $200 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250 (municipal ticket $250).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-935-8280 (Every day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; bylawservices@whistler.ca)
- Online: Dogs in Whistler (off-leash areas and rules), https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** A dog may not run at large. In a public place it must be on a leash or otherwise under the direct care and control of a competent person. Off-leash is allowed only in designated off-leash areas, where the owner carries a leash, keeps the dog in view and under control, and leashes it at once if it shows aggression.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, s. 2 "running at large"; ss. 40, 43](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a dog in a public place; that is not secured on a leash or otherwise under the direct care and control of a competent person" … "No owner shall allow or suffer their dog to be running at large in the RMOW." … "An owner of a dog may allow their dog to be off-leash in a designated off-leash provided that the owner:" … "immediately leashes the dog if it displays any aggressive behaviour."
  - Source: [Dogs in Whistler, Leash regulations](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/)
  - Official wording: "Dogs must be leashed in Whistler, except in designated off-leash parks and designated seasonal off-leash areas."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 2 metres at most. Aggressive and vicious dogs: leash of 1 metre at most when off the owner's property.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, s. 2 "leash"; ss. 21(a), 33(a)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no longer than 2 metres, attached to the collar or harness of a dog" … "a leash that is a maximum length of 1 metre when the dog is not on the owner’s property"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Designated off-leash areas: Alpha Lake Park (Arfa Park), Bayly Park, Rainbow Park (Barking Bay), Lost Lake Park (Canine Cove). Mixed-use: Spruce Grove Park and Meadow Park fields when the fields are not in use. In winter, some groomed Valley Trail sections also allow off-leash dogs. See the Dogs in Whistler page.
  - Source: [Dogs in Whistler, Designated off-leash areas](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/)
  - Official wording: "Whistler has four parks with designated off-leash areas:" … "Spruce Grove Park: Dogs are permitted off-leash when the ball fields are not in use." … "Meadow Park: Dogs off-leash are permitted inside the field areas when the fields are not in use." … "In the winter, the Valley Trail is groomed for multi-use activities as snow amounts allow in the following sections, with off-leash dogs permitted from:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** The City's Dogs in Whistler page says dogs are not allowed on public beaches, in playgrounds or water parks, or on Lost Lake beach. The Animal Responsibility Bylaw (s. 41) itself bans dogs only from park areas designated 'no dogs permitted'.
  - Source: [Dogs in Whistler, Leash regulations; Designated off-leash areas](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/)
  - Official wording: "Dogs are not permitted on public beaches for public health reasons and are not permitted in playgrounds and water parks for safety reasons." … "They are not permitted on Lost Lake beach."
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, s. 41](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No owner of a dog shall allow the dog to be within a park in a designated "no dogs permitted" area."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** Whenever a dog is off the owner's premises, the owner must immediately remove its feces and dispose of them in a sanitary manner. In off-leash areas, remove and dispose of feces immediately. Put waste in a garbage can. (Sources differ: The Dogs in Whistler page says the fine is $100, but the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw schedule sets $150 (within 14 days) or $200 for s. 45, and $150/$200 for s. 43(d) in an off-leash area. The bylaw schedule is followed.)
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, ss. 43(d), 45](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every owner shall, at all times when his or her dog is off the premises of the owner, immediately remove or cause to be removed any feces deposited by the dog and dispose of the feces in a sanitary manner." … "immediately removes feces and disposes of it appropriately; and"
  - Source: [Dogs in Whistler, Picking up after dogs](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/)
  - Official wording: "Failure to do so could result in a fine of $100."
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Responsibility](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fail to remove animal feces 45 $150 $200 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Dog at large, including a dog off leash in a public place (s. 40): bylaw notice $200 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250; municipal ticket $250. In an off-leash area: no leash carried (s. 43(a)) $75/$100, ticket $100; not leashing an aggressive dog (s. 43(e)) $150/$250, ticket $250.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Responsibility](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal at large 40 $200 $250 Yes" … "Fail to leash dog 43 (e) $150 $250 Yes" … "Failure to have leash 43 (a) $75 $100 Yes"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005, Schedule B2](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large 40 $250" … "Fail to leash dog 43 (e) $250"
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, ss. 2, 40, 43](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No owner shall allow or suffer their dog to be running at large in the RMOW." … "immediately leashes the dog if it displays any aggressive behaviour."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, Title](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2218, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf), a dog may not run at large in Whistler. In a public place it must be on a leash no longer than 2 metres, or otherwise under the direct care and control of a competent person. In an off-leash area you must carry a leash, keep the dog in view and under control, and leash it at once if it shows aggression.

## Steps

1. Keep your dog leashed everywhere except a designated off-leash area.
2. Off-leash areas are Alpha Lake Park (Arfa Park), Bayly Park, Rainbow Park (Barking Bay) and Lost Lake Park (Canine Cove).
3. Spruce Grove Park and the Meadow Park fields are mixed-use and allow off-leash dogs when the fields are not in use. In winter, some groomed Valley Trail sections also allow it; see the Dogs in Whistler page.
4. Pick up and dispose of your dog's feces immediately, off your own property and in off-leash areas. Put it in a garbage can.

## Good to know

- Aggressive and vicious dogs must be on a leash of 1 metre or less off the owner's property.
- The Municipality's Dogs in Whistler page says dogs are not allowed on public beaches, in playgrounds or water parks, or on Lost Lake beach. The bylaw itself bans dogs only from park areas designated "no dogs permitted", so confirm with Bylaw Services.
- Bylaw notice for a dog at large, including off leash in a public place: $200 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250. A municipal ticket is $250.
- In an off-leash area, not carrying a leash is $75 or $100 (ticket $100). Not leashing an aggressive dog is $150 or $250 (ticket $250).
- Not picking up feces: the web page says $100, but the bylaw notice schedule sets $150 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $200.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dogs in Whistler, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Pemberton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Squamish](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Dogs in Whistler, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf) (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 Resort Municipality of Whistler. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-leash-rules/_