Off-Leash Access

The Case for Space

Dogs have long been an important part of our society. They provide important benefits to people and families that cannot be measured in monetary terms. Research shows that dogs are more than just companions; they also promote the physical and emotional health of their owners. The importance of dogs in society has even helped spawn a new field of study, urban animal management, which aims to ensure that animals are taken care of in the urban environment. One of the ways to ensure that dogs are cared for in the urban environment is through the provision of off-leash recreational areas. These areas provide benefits to both people and dogs.

Greater Victoria has a wealth of recreational areas, beaches, and open spaces enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. With temperate weather year-round, families and individuals enjoy hiking in nature, exploring beaches, running, cycling, playing sports like soccer, baseball, tennis, golf, as well as playing and walking with their dogs. While some municipalities allow wide access by off-leash dogs to parks and greenspace, others do not. Saanich offers the most liberal off-leash access by allowing dogs that are under control of a competent person to be off leash in most green spaces. In Oak Bay and Esquimalt there are a number of designated off-leash areas for dogs. Victoria has twelve parks where dogs may be off-leash at certain times of the day.

Citizen Canine believes that it is the right of taxpaying, responsible, dog owning residents to have fair and reasonable access to parks to exercise their dogs off-leash. Approximately one third of households have a dog, yet there are relatively few areas where people can have their dogs off-leash. At the same time, many small parks and playing fields stand empty for much of the year. However, we are pleased that more and more municipalities are coming to recognize the legitimacy of dog owners’ requests for off-leash access.

Benefits of Off-Leash Areas

We believe that there needs to be more provision in our urban environment of places where people can play with their dogs off-leash. Off-leash areas provide space where people can train their dogs as well as socialize them with other dogs. Responsible dog owners know that dogs in urban environments must have daily off-leash exercise and opportunities to interact with other dogs and with new people. Dogs that experience this are healthier and show less aggressive and anti-social behavior towards humans and other dogs.

Off-leash areas are important not only to dog owners, but also to the community at large. Shared parks provide places where neighbours can meet and interact and develop a sense of community. Many people who are not able to keep a pet enjoy the opportunity to see dogs at play. Also, off-leash areas offer adults the opportunity to teach children how to safely interact with dogs. As well, there are obvious health and physical benefits for the dog owners who are being active in an outdoor environment.

The benefits are clearly not lost on the general public, with an 2001 Ipsos poll revealing the majority (75%) of BC residents supportive of off-leash parks.

It’s important for off-leash access to be available in a network of parks throughout the city to accommodate the needs of people-including the elderly and the disabled-who depend on the companionship of dogs but cannot easily travel long distances. There are a great many people with dogs who would feel safe and comfortable spending time with other dog owners in parks in their own neighbourhoods.

There’s another community benefit for opening up more parks to off-leash access, and that is increased use of parks. Very often the parks that are left vacant for most of the time become targets for vandals or other illicit activities. Dog owners are reliable users of public green space. They are there with their dogs every day, rain or shine, winter or summer. The presence of a responsible contingent of dog owners offers support and monitoring for parks in the region.

Here is a listing of the off-leash parks in Greater Victoria:

Off-leash Capital Regional District Parks:

Dogs can be off-leash in most CRD Regional Parks with the following exceptions:

Ayum Creek Regional Park Reserve in Sooke is the only regional park area where dogs are prohibited year-round.

Dogs must be on-leash in the following parks and trails:

Beaches and picnic areas in most CRD parks have seasonal restrictions on off-leash dogs.

Off-leash Central Saanich Parks:

Island View Beach Regional Park (CRD)

Centennial Park

Off-leash View Royal Parks:

Portage Park (has an off-leash dog area)

View Royal Park (has an off-leash dog area)

Off-leash Colwood Parks:

West End of Colberg Peninsula (off-leash dogs are not permitted in the Esquimalt Lagoon Bird Sanctuary)

Off-leash Esquimalt Parks:

Macauley Point Park

Saxe Point Park (west side only)

Highrock/Cairn Park

Captain Jacobson Park

Off-leash Highlands Parks:

Francis/King Regional Park (CRD)

Lone Tree Hill Regional Park (CRD)

Mount Work Regional Park (CRD)/Durrance Lake

Off-leash Langford Parks:

Mill Hill Regional Park (CRD)

Mount Wells Regional Park (CRD)

Off-leash Metchosin Parks:

Taylor Beach

Devonian Regional Park (CRD)

Matheson Lake Regional Park (CRD)

Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park (CRD)

Off-leash North Saanich Parks:

Coles Bay Regional Park (CRD)

Horth Hill Regional Park (CRD)

Off-leash Oak Bay Parks:

There are many parks in Oak Bay; some with no restrictions and some “No Dogs Allowed”.

Windsor Park – off leash seasonally

Loon Bay Park – no restrictions

Oakdowne Park – no restrictions

OB Municipal Hall Park – no restrictions

Hayes Park – no restrictions

Walbran Park – no restrictions

Anderson Hill Park – Jan-Dec: Leash Optional Sunrise to Sunset, but on-leash recommended during nesting season, April, May and June

Trafalgar Park – no restrictions

Uplands Park – on leash during nesting season, April-June

Windsor Park (between sunrise and 9 o’clock a.m. on any day from July 1 to August 31; and between sunrise and 11 o’clock a.m. on any day from September 1 to June 30. Dogs must be leashed when the park has been reserved for, and is being used by, an individual, group or organization as evidenced by a permit issued under the authority of the Oak Bay Parks and Recreation Commission.

Dogs are prohibited in the following areas:

(1) in the fenced Rose Garden in the easterly portion of Windsor Park

(2) in the Native Plant Park

(3) in the golf course and chip trail area of Henderson Park

(4) in the Turkey Head Walkway area of the Oak Bay Marina Lookout

(5) on McMicking Point;

(6) on Kitty Islet

(7) all beaches

Off-leash Saanich Parks:

Saanich leash laws

Bear Hill Regional Park (CRD)

Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park (CRD)

Francis/King Regional Park (except boardwalk) (CRD)

Mount Work Regional Park (CRD)

Mount Tolmie Park

Cuthbert Holmes Park

Parker Park Beach

Off-leash Sooke Parks:

East Sooke Park (CRD)

Whiffin Spit

Roche Cove Regional Park (CRD)

Off-leash City of Victoria Parks:

When Citizen Canine was founded, the City of Victoria had only one off-leash area (on Dallas Road). Today, the city has 12 off-leash areas for dogs. You can view a PDF map at the following link: http://www.victoria.ca/assets/Departments/Parks~Rec~Culture/Parks/Images/Off-Leash%20Parks%20in%20Victoria%202016.pdf

               Parks                                                   Off-Leash Times

Gonzales Hill Regional Park                     all times

Topaz Sports Field                                      Monday to Friday 6-10am & 4-10pm
Saturday & Sunday 6-8am & 5-10pm

Topaz Park alternate off-leash area        6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily

Oswald                                                           all days 6am to 10pm

Arbutus                                                           all days 6am to 10pm

Victoria West                                                  all days 6am to 10pm

Alexander                                                       all days 6-10am & 4-10pm

Banfield                                                          6-9 a.m. and 5-10 p.m. from April 1 to Sept. 30;

                                                                          6 a.m.-10 p.m. from Oct. 1 to March 31

Pemberton                                                     6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Songhees Hilltop                                          6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily

Redfern                                                          all days 6-10am & 4-10pm

Clover Point to Dallas Road at Douglas    all times

Clover Point Park                                           all times

Please remember: dogs are not allowed in Ross Bay Cemetery, Pioneer Square Park, and the “no dogs” area in Beacon Hill Park, near Douglas Street, south of Good Acre Lake.

For more information about Victoria city bylaws and other information relevant to dog owners, check out this document.

Basic rules to remember, when using off-leash areas:

  • Make sure your dog is wearing a current licence tag on their collar.
  • Pick up after your dog and dispose of waste in a garbage can.
  • Keep your dog outside of playground boundaries.
  • Do not allow your dog to dig holes in a park.
  • Do not let your dog jump up on people.
  • Ensure you have control of your dog at all times, whether on or off-leash.
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