The City of Burlington is working towards opening leash-free dog areas and most City park parking lots by end of day on Friday, May 22, 2020. The City of Burlington is still encouraging everyone to follow public health directions and Provincial orders to physically distance themselves a minimum of six feet to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
All City-owned leash-free dog areas, parking lots and tennis courts are scheduled to be opened by end of day Friday, May 22 with the exceptions of:
Residents are encouraged to leave their cars at home when visiting a park. Walk, bike or roll to your neighbourhood park.
(North of the North Service Road)
The original leash free area was funded solely by private donations from individuals and local businesses. The recent improvements were made possible by a Canada 150 Federal Grant.
(North of the North Service Road)
(Northwest corner of Cornerstone Drive, West of Walmart)
Anyone interested in requesting a new leash-free area should review the leash-free criteria (below) as well as the application process before completing the online application form.
Apply to have a leash-free area
Process to Create New Leash-Free Areas |
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Criteria for Establishing a New Leash-Free Area |
Leash-Free areas must be on City of Burlington property or land leased by the City of Burlington. There are two size options to accommodate a variety of needs: • Destination Leash-Free Area – minimum 3,300m2 • Neighbourhood Leash-Free Area – minimum 500m2 (approximately half the size of Civic Square in downtown Burlington) All Leash-Free areas must be enclosed with permanent fencing Parking will be determined based on: • Overall park usage • Size of Leash-Free area • Walkability considerations Leash-Free Areas will be setback a minimum of 15 metres from: • Children's playgrounds • Splash pads • Sports fields • Waterfront • Cemeteries • Residential housing Where possible, a buffer of trees, hedges, or landforms is preferable in addition to the minimum setback. Leash-Free areas will have a minimum setback of 15 metres from: • School property line • Daycare property line Leash-Free Areas cannot be located at waterfront parks. Area must be accessible to the public for year-round use. |
Leash-Free Exclusion Areas |
Dogs must be leashed in the following areas:
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Dog Etiquette in Parks |
In addition to knowing when and where dogs are allowed off leash, there are some simple guidelines for dog owners to follow while at a leash-free area:
With the exception of designated leash-free parks and private property, all dogs must be on a leash and controlled by a competent person in the City of Burlington. When visiting leash-free parks, be aware there are unleashed dogs at play. You are entering the park at your own risk. |
Animal Control bylaw enforcement takes place at all parks. Dog owners who do not have proper control of their pet or who do not follow the off-leash rules can face a fine ranging from $100 to $5,000.
Failure to clean up after your dog may result in a $100 Provincial Offences ticket, or upon summary conviction, a possible fine of up to $5,000 (exclusive of costs).