{"title":"White Rock dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/white-rock","name":"White Rock","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of White Rock","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca"},"short_answer":"In White Rock a dog in a public place must be on a leash and under a competent person's control. The leash may be up to 3 metres. The City's only off-leash area is the fenced dog park in Ruth Johnson Park, 14600 North Bluff Road. Dogs are not allowed on the pier.","aliases":["dogs on promenade white rock","off leash dog park white rock","dogs on white rock beach"],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Off-leash dog park, Ruth Johnson Park","value":"14600 North Bluff Road, White Rock"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"604-541-2146"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"bylaw@whiterockcity.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Dogs in White Rock","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock"},{"title":"Off-Leash Dog Park","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/1106/Off-Leash-Dog-Park"},{"title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 1959 (PDF)","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"White Rock dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"White Rock rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dangerous-dogs/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley","name":"Langley City","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/delta","name":"Delta","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dog-leash-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules/"},"facts":{"leash_rule":{"label":"Leash rule","value":"In a public place a dog must be on a leash and under the immediate control of a competent person. A dog must not run at large, trespass, or be on private land unless contained by a fence and gate, tether, enclosure or similar, or under a competent person's immediate control.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 23(1)-(4)","quotes":["Be running at large;","Be in a public place unless the dog is kept on a leash not exceeding three metres","in length and is under the immediate control of a competent person"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock","title":"Dogs in White Rock, City of White Rock","section":"Dogs Pet-iquette","quotes":["Dogs in White Rock must be leashed and licenced"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"3 metres in a public place. On the Promenade the leash must not exceed 2 metres, with one person controlling no more than three dogs.","short":"3 m (2 m on Promenade)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 23(4), (6), (7)","quotes":["Be in a public place unless the dog is kept on a leash not exceeding three metres","kept on a leash not exceeding two metres in length and is under the immediate","control of a competent person who is controlling a maximum of three dogs"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"The fenced off-leash dog park at Ruth Johnson Park, 14600 North Bluff Road.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/1106/Off-Leash-Dog-Park","title":"Off-Leash Dog Park, City of White Rock","section":"Off-Leash Dog Park","quotes":["Bring your dog to the off-leash dog park at the Ruth Johnson Park located at 14600 North Bluff Road."]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock","title":"Dogs in White Rock, City of White Rock","section":"Dogs Pet-iquette","quotes":["Dogs can go off-leash in the off-leash dog park located in Ruth Johnson Park"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":"Pier: not allowed, except guide and service dogs (Parks Regulation Bylaw). Centennial Park Oval track: not allowed. Promenade, April 1 to September 30: only 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., leashed. Beach: the Animal Control bylaw text bans dogs, but the City's Dogs page says leashed dogs are allowed. Also schools, playgrounds, sports fields and posted areas (per City guide).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 23(5)-(6)","quotes":["Be on the pier at any time (Bylaw 2307);","Be on the Promenade between April 1st to September 30th except between the","hours of 5:30am to 9:00am"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12898","title":"2026 Good Neighbour Guide, City of White Rock (PDF)","section":"Being a Responsible Pet Owner","quotes":["Dogs are not permitted on:","School grounds","Playgrounds","Sports fields","Running tracks","Areas posted with \"No Dogs\" signage"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock","title":"Dogs in White Rock, City of White Rock","section":"Dogs at the Waterfront","quotes":["Dogs are not allowed on the White Rock Pier at anytime"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2071/Consolidated---Parks-Regulation-Bylaw-1977-No-675-PDF","title":"Parks Regulation Bylaw 1977, No. 675 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 7.1(a), s. 7.4","quotes":["the Pier, except for a guide or service dog or dog-in-training under the Guide","track at Centennial Park Oval, as shown outlined on Schedule B, except for a guide or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Beach: the Dogs in White Rock page says dogs are permitted on the beach on a leash under two metres (the beach is provincial land under the Wildlife Act), but the consolidated bylaw text still reads \"Be on the beach area at any time\" with a carve-out west of Bay Street, and it is unclear which wording is current. Beach left out of the value. The Promenade rules were changed by Bylaw 2538 (April 2025)."},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"Anyone with a dog must carry a suitable means of removing excrement, and must immediately remove it and dispose of it in a sanitary manner when the dog defecates in a public place or on private property without the owner's consent.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025) (PDF)","section":"ss. 37, 38","quotes":["shall have in their","possession a suitable means of facilitating removal of the excrement.","shall immediately","remove the excrement and dispose of it in a sanitary manner."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Dog running at large: $150 first offence, $250 second, $500 third and later. Dog off leash in a public place: $200.","short":"$150 first, $250 second, $500 third","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF","title":"Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 2011, No. 1929 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Schedule B3","quotes":["Dog running at large","$150.00 1st","$250.00 2nd","Dog off leash in a public place","$200.00"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/376/Animal-Control","title":"Animal Control, City of White Rock","section":"Animal Control page","quotes":["Animal Control Officers make every reasonable effort to return licensed dogs to their rightful owners prior to impounding. Once the dog is impounded, the owner could be assessed the following charges: - Dog running at large fine: - First offense: $150 - Second offense: $250","- Dog running at large fine: - First offense: $150 - Second offense: $250 - Third & subsequent: $500"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/381/Dog-Licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of White Rock","section":"Dog Licences page","quotes":["Dog at large fine - $100"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The Dog Licences page still says \"Dog at large fine - $100\", which differs from the ticketing schedule ($150/$250/$500) that the Animal Control page repeats. Dog on the pier $200 and dog on the Promenade between April 1 and September 30 $200 are also in the schedule."},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as \"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, 2012, No. 1959.\""]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 1959](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF), a dog in a public place in White Rock must be on a leash and under the immediate control of a competent person. A dog may not run at large, and may not be on private land unless it is contained by a fence and gate, tether or enclosure, or under a competent person's immediate control. The leash may be up to 3 metres. Anyone with a dog must carry a way to remove its waste and remove it immediately, in public or on private property without the owner's consent.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Off leash: only the fenced off-leash dog park in Ruth Johnson Park, 14600 North Bluff Road.\n- Pier: dogs are not allowed, except guide and service dogs (Parks Regulation Bylaw). The Centennial Park Oval track is also off limits, and the City's guide lists schools, playgrounds, sports fields and posted areas.\n- Promenade, April 1 to September 30: leashed dogs only from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. On the Promenade the leash may not exceed 2 metres, and one person may control no more than three dogs.\n- Beach: the sources disagree. The bylaw text bans dogs on the beach, with a carve-out west of Bay Street, while the City's Dogs in White Rock page says leashed dogs under two metres are allowed (the beach is provincial land). Confirm with Bylaw Enforcement before you go.\n- Fines: dog running at large $150, then $250, then $500; dog off leash in a public place $200; dog on the pier $200; dog on the Promenade from April 1 to September 30 outside the allowed hours $200. The Dog Licences page still says $100 for at large.\n- Report a loose dog to Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock","title":"Dogs in White Rock, City of White Rock","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/1106/Off-Leash-Dog-Park","title":"Off-Leash Dog Park, City of White Rock","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2071/Consolidated---Parks-Regulation-Bylaw-1977-No-675-PDF","title":"Parks Regulation Bylaw 1977, No. 675 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12898","title":"2026 Good Neighbour Guide, City of White Rock (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/376/Animal-Control","title":"Animal Control, City of White Rock","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF","title":"Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 2011, No. 1929 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/381/Dog-Licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of White Rock","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dog-leash-rules.json"}}