All dogs must be on a leash in the City of Victoria except in designated leash-optional areas or within enclosed spaces on private property.
Leash-Optional Areas
There are 15 leash-optional dog parks in Victoria. Responsible dog owners can exercise their dogs off-leash in these areas during designated times. Each area has a trash bin and a dispenser stocked with biodegradable dog bags.
Please follow these rules to help protect the people and wildlife in our parks:
- Have control of your dog at all times
- Pick up after your dog
- Stop your dog from running into or jumping up on people
- Keep your dog on leash outside designated leash-optional areas
Click here for a list version of the dog parks highlighted on the map below.
Area-specific Regulations
No-Dog Areas
Only certified assistance dogs are allowed in the following areas; all other dogs are prohibited.
- Near the Beacon Hill Park heron rookery, located south of Goodacre Lake
- Ross Bay Cemetery
- Pioneer Square
- Gonzales Beach from June 1 to August 31
- Playgrounds with sand, rubber or wood chips
Spear Grass
Spear grass is a wild plant that thrives in the summer. Its pointed seeds can become tangled in animals as they walk through the grass. To help your four-legged friend avoid spear grass, keep them out of tall, dry grassy areas. After a romp outside, brush their paws, ears and eyes.