Updated Animal Bylaw 2023

Saanich, British Columbia

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 72624e0be0b5 · verified 2026-06-08 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SAANICH BYLAW NO. 9924 TO AMEND BYLAW NO. 8556 BEING THE "ANIMALS BYLAW, 2004" The Municipal Council of The Corporation of the District of Saanich enacts as follows: 1. The Animals Bylaw, 2004, is hereby amended as follows: (a) By adding the following definition in section 1, immediately after "COLLECTOR": "COMMUNITY GARDEN" means a portion of a park or other public land operated by volunteers for the production of produce for personal use by the members; (b) By adding the following definition in section 1, immediately after "DIRECTOR OF FINANCE": "DIRECTOR OF PARKS" means the Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services of the Corporation of the District of Saanich or anyone designated to act on behalf of the Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services; (c) By adding the following definitions to section 1, immediately after "HIGHWAY": "LEASH" means a rope, chain, cord, leather strip or other physical tether which is used to restrain an animal and is a non-extendable leash; "MIGRATORY BIRD SANCTUARY BEACH" means all public beaches within the Victoria Migratory Bird Sanctuary as shown on the map attached hereto as Schedule "B"; (d) By deleting the definition of "NON-EXTENDABLE LEASH" in section 1 and replacing it with the following: "NON-EXTENDABLE LEASH" means a fixed, non-extendable leash not more than 2.4 meters in length; (e) By adding the following definition to section 1, immediately after "ORNAMENTAL BIRD" "PARK" means all those lands in the District of Saanich reserved or dedicated as park by bylaw, dedicated as park by the deposit of a subdivision or reference plan, conveyed in trust to the District of Saanich for the purpose of park or used as park; (f) By adding the following definition to section 1, immediately after "PIGEON" Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ "PLAYGROUND" means the playground equipment including the wood chips, rubber, sand or similar material surface area surrounding the playground equipment; (g) By deleting the definition of "PUBLIC BEACH" in section 1 and replacing it with the following: "PUBLIC BEACH" means the public land located within 15 meters of any lake or between the low water mark and 15 meters beyond the high water mark of any body of salt water within the boundaries of the District of Saanich but does not include any private lands or lands included in any highway. (h) By deleting the definition of "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE" in section 1 and replacing it with the following: SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE means the RS-1, RS-1GH, RS-2, RS-2CR, RS-4, RS-6, RS-6A, RS-8, RS-8A, RS-10, RS-10A, RS-10B, RS-10VC, RS-11, RS-12, RS-12A, RS-12B, RS12-SR, RS-13, RS-13B, RS-14, RS14A, RS-15, RS-16, RS-18, RS-CH1, RS- CH2, RS-CR, RS-EL, RS-MF, RS-F, and RS-CA zones established by the Zoning Bylaw 2003 or any successor bylaw; (i) By adding the following definition in section 1, immediately after "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE": "UNDER CONTROL" means in direct and continuous charge and within a clear line of sight of a person who has control over the dog and immediate return of the dog to the person upon recall or signal; (j) By deleting section 10 and replacing it with the following: Subject to Articles 11, 12 and 13, no person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to run at large or be on any public place unless the dog is accompanied by and under control of a person. (k) By deleting Section 12 and replacing it with the following: 12.1 Subject to Sections 12.2, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6 and 13.8, dogs shall be permitted in any of the following outdoor places provided the dog is confined by a leash held by a person who has the dog under control: a) highways; b) school grounds; c) college grounds; d) the Royal Oak Burial Park; e) parks, public beaches, public trails or other public or District of Saanich owned property; f) any lands within any C Zone, or Zones M-3B/D, M-4, M-5, MFI-CH, MFC-CH, P30-R and CD. Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 12.2 Subject to Sections 13.4, 13.5, 13.6 and 13.8, the following areas are leash optional provided the dog is under control of a person: a) the parks listed in Schedule "C" attached hereto between the hours of 6:00 am - 9:00 am, except for any area marked with signage as an on leash area; b) the parks listed in Schedule "D" attached hereto except for any area marked with signage as an on leash area; c) the following parks within the fenced areas, as marked with signage: i. Hyacinth Park; ii. Lambrick Park; and iii. Rudd Park; d) any public beach that is not a Migratory Bird Sanctuary Beach; e) the area within Cuthbert Holmes Park identified by the shaded area as shown on the map attached hereto as Schedule "E"; f) the approximately 2.2 km trail in PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) identified by the dashed line as shown on the map attached hereto as Schedule "F". 12.3 Notwithstanding section 12.2, no person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to be off leash in the following areas: a) within any community garden; b) subject to 13.6, within a 10 meter radius of any playground equipment. 12.4 All persons attending a location listed in Sections 12.1, with any domestic animal other than a dog must have said domestic animal under control and on a leash or otherwise restrained and ensure that the domestic animal does not impact the safety of others. 12.5 All persons with a dog within an area listed in Section 12.2 must carry a leash for the dog and cause the dog to wear a collar. (l) By deleting sections 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7 and 13.8 and replacing it with the following: 13.1 No person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to be on lands known as Quick's Bottom lands, as shown outlined in heavy dark lines on the map attached hereto as Schedule "G", at any time. 13.2 No person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to be on lands which are zoned P-5 except the perimeter trail of the lands known as Rithet's Bog marked with a heavy dotted line on the map attached hereto as Schedule "H" provided the dog is confined by a leash. 13.3 No person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to be within the portion of lands known as Cedar Hill Park lands marked "CEDAR HILL GOLF COURSE" and "DOGS ON LEASH ON TRAIL ONLY" on the map Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ attached hereto as Schedule "I" except for the portion of the lands that is a marked trail. 13.4 No person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to be in any of the following areas during the months of May to August, inclusive: a) Whitehead Park; b) Cordova Bay Beach area lying between the southerly boundary of Cordova Bay Park and the northerly boundary of the Walema Avenue right-of-way as shown on the map attached hereto as Schedule "J", EXCEPT before 9:00 am on any day; c) PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) Beach and that part of PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) bounded by Cordova Bay Road, Ash Road, Douglas Creek, the natural boundary of the ocean and the northwesterly boundary of the park, EXCEPT the asphalt road surface lying to the northwest of the picnic area between the two gates as shown on the map attached hereto as Schedule "F". 13.5 No person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to be on artificial turf fields and all hard surface sports courts including but not limited to tennis, pickleball, lacrosse, skateboard, hockey, and basketball courts. 13.6 No person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to be on any playground. 13.7 No person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, harboured or in one's charge to: a) Capture, kill, take, injure or harass; b) Destroy, take or disturb an egg of; c) Damage, destroy, remove or disturb a nest or shelter of, any bird or animal in any park, trail or public beach. 13.8 The Director of Parks may close any area to use by dogs, or restrict any area to on leash only, in the event that there is non-compliance with this bylaw that causes harm to the area or persons using such areas including harm to birds, animals or natural areas or harm because of a failure to remove feces, and in the event of such closures, a sign will be posted and no person shall be in such area with a dog or other domestic animal contrary to the posted signage. (m) By deleting Section 14.1 and 14.2 and replacing it with the following: 14.1 It shall be an offence under this bylaw for any person having control of a dog to allow or suffer the dog to defecate: a) on a highway, public beach, park or other public property, or Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ b) on any private property other than the property of the dog owner or the person having control of the dog, unless the person immediately removes and disposes of the excrement in a garbage bin. 14.2 Section 14.1 shall not apply to persons who are incapable of complying because of physical disability. (n) Reference to the Minister of Transportation in section 41.2 is replaced with "Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure". (o) Sections 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72.4, 72.5, 73.6, 73.7, and 73.8 are deleted and replaced with the following: 72.1 Subject to section 72.2, any person who contravenes this bylaw is guilty of an offence and is liable, on summary conviction: a) to a minimum fine of $100.00; b) to a maximum fine of $50,000.00. 72.2 Any person who contravenes any of the following provisions of this bylaw is guilty of an offence and is liable, on summary conviction: a) for an offence under Section 10, Article 12 and Article 13: i. the minimum fine for any first offence shall be $100; ii. the minimum fine for any second or subsequent offence shall be $200. b) for an offence under Sections 11.1 or 11.3, where the contravention results in a person or farm animal being injured or killed, the minimum fine shall be $1,000.00. c) for an offence under Section 11.1, where no person or farm animal is injured or killed, the minimum fine shall be $500.00. d) for an offence under Section 11.3, 11.4, or 11.5, where no person or farm animal is killed or injured, the minimum fine shall be $200.00. 72.3 A separate offence shall be deemed to be committed during each day in which any contravention continues. (p) By deleting Schedule "B", Schedule "C", Schedule "D", Schedule "E", Schedule "F" and Schedule "G" and replacing them with the following Schedules: i. Schedule "A" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "B". ii. Schedule "B" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "C". iii. Schedule "C" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "D". Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ iv. Schedule "D" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "E". v. Schedule "E" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "F". vi. Schedule "F" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "G". vii. Schedule "G" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "H". viii. Schedule "H" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "I". ix. Schedule "I" attached hereto shall be inserted as Schedule "J". 2. This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "ANIMALS BYLAW, 2004, AMENDMENT BYLAW, 2023, NO. 9924". Read a first time this 30th day of October, 2023. Read a second time, as amended, this 30th day of October, 2023. Read a third time this 30th day of October, 2023. Adopted by Council, signed by the Mayor and Corporate Officer and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation on the day of , 2023. Corporate Officer Mayor Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "A" Schedule "B" - Migratory Bird Map Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "B" Schedule "C" Leash Optional Park between 6:00 am and 9:00 am Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "C" Schedule "D" Leash Optional Parks Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "D" Schedule "E" Map of Cuthbert Homes Park Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "E" Schedule "F" Map of PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "F" Schedule "G" Quick's Bottom Park Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "G" Schedule "H" Rithet's Bog Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "H" Schedule "I" Cedar Hill Park Animals Bylaw, 2004, Amendment Bylaw, 2023, No. 9924 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Schedule "I" Schedule "J" Cordova Bay Seasonal Restrictions