---
title: White Rock dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?"
place: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/white-rock
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of White Rock
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# White Rock dog leash rules and off-leash areas

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of White Rock, https://www.whiterockcity.ca)  
**Where:**
- In person: Off-leash dog park, Ruth Johnson Park, 14600 North Bluff Road, White Rock
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 604-541-2146
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@whiterockcity.ca

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 23(1)-(4)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Dogs in White Rock, Dogs Pet-iquette](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock)
  - Official wording: "Dogs in White Rock must be leashed and licenced"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 23(4), (6), (7)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** The fenced off-leash dog park at Ruth Johnson Park, 14600 North Bluff Road.
  - Source: [Off-Leash Dog Park](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/1106/Off-Leash-Dog-Park)
  - Official wording: "Bring your dog to the off-leash dog park at the Ruth Johnson Park located at 14600 North Bluff Road."
  - Source: [Dogs in White Rock, Dogs Pet-iquette](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock)
  - Official wording: "Dogs can go off-leash in the off-leash dog park located in Ruth Johnson Park"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** 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). (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).)
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 23(5)-(6)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [2026 Good Neighbour Guide, Being a Responsible Pet Owner](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12898)
  - Official wording: "Dogs are not permitted on:" … "School grounds" … "Playgrounds" … "Sports fields" … "Running tracks" … "Areas posted with "No Dogs" signage"
  - Source: [Dogs in White Rock, Dogs at the Waterfront](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock)
  - Official wording: "Dogs are not allowed on the White Rock Pier at anytime"
  - Source: [Parks Regulation Bylaw 1977, No. 675 (consolidated), s. 7.1(a), s. 7.4](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2071/Consolidated---Parks-Regulation-Bylaw-1977-No-675-PDF)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), ss. 37, 38](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Dog running at large: $150 first offence, $250 second, $500 third and later. Dog off leash in a public place: $200. (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.)
  - Source: [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 2011, No. 1929 (consolidated), Schedule B3](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF)
  - Official wording: "Dog running at large" … "$150.00 1st" … "$250.00 2nd" … "Dog off leash in a public place" … "$200.00"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Animal Control page](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/376/Animal-Control)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog Licences page](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/381/Dog-Licences)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large fine - $100"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025)
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 1](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as "Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, 2012, No. 1959.""
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

## Good to know

- Off leash: only the fenced off-leash dog park in Ruth Johnson Park, 14600 North Bluff Road.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Report a loose dog to Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dogs in White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock)
- [Off-Leash Dog Park](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/1106/Off-Leash-Dog-Park)
- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 1959 (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF)

## Related questions

- [White Rock dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dog-licence.md)
- [White Rock rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Dogs in White Rock, City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/799/Dogs-in-White-Rock) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Off-Leash Dog Park, City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/1106/Off-Leash-Dog-Park) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025) (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/271/Consolidated---Animal-Control-and-Licensing-Bylaw-2012-Number-1959-PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks Regulation Bylaw 1977, No. 675 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2071/Consolidated---Parks-Regulation-Bylaw-1977-No-675-PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- [2026 Good Neighbour Guide, City of White Rock (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12898) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/376/Animal-Control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 2011, No. 1929 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licences, City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/381/Dog-Licences) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of White Rock. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dog-leash-rules/_