Effective control
If you are in a public place with your dog, you must have effective control of the dog at all times. This includes both on-leash and off-leash. Effective control means a person can prevent the dog from approaching other animals or people by either restraining the dog (i.e. using a leash) or using commands. If you do not have effective control of your dog, you could be fined.
Dog droppings
All dog droppings in public places must be removed by the dog owner. It is an offence not to remove your dog's droppings in a public place and not to carry appropriate equipment to pick up your dog's droppings. You can receive a $150 fine for not picking up your dog’s droppings, and a $75 fine for not carrying appropriate equipment to collect your dog’s droppings.
For more information refer to Domestic Animal Services.
On-leash, off-leash and dog prohibited areas
You can view on-leash, off-leash, conditional off-leash and dog prohibited areas on ACTmapi’s dog exercise area map.
Coloured shading shows the off-leash, on-leash and dog prohibited status of an area, and no shading indicates the area is either on-leash or private land.
Alternatively you can view the whole-of-ACT map (PDF 2.4MB) and the ACT’s urban areas map (PDF 4.8MB).
They are also outlined below.
On-leash areas
On-leash areas
Dogs must be on-leash and under effective control at all times. The person holding the leash must be able to prevent the dog from approaching other animals and people. On-leash areas include all streets, verges, footpaths and cycle paths, including within 10 metres either side of the path. Lakes are dog on-leash areas unless otherwise signposted.
See ACTmapi for more information
Off-leash areas
Off-leash areas
Dogs in off-leash areas must be under effective control at all times. They should only be off-leash if they remain in sight and can respond to and follow your commands. You must be able to prevent the dog from approaching other animals or people.
Off-leash areas include dog parks, sportsgrounds (except during formal sporting events) and designated dog swimming beaches. Please note that dogs must be kept on-leash on all footpaths, regardless of whether they are in an off-leash area or not.
Dog parks
Dog parks
Fenced dog parks are available at the following locations:
- Belconnen (Diddams Close, Lake Ginninderra)
- Greenway (Mortimer Lewis Drive, Lake Tuggeranong)
- Yarralumla (Bank Street, Weston Park)
- Forde (Amy Ackman Drive)
- Casey (Springbank Rise)
- O'Connor (Fairfax Street)
- Duffy (Warragamba Avenue).
For more details visit the fenced dog parks page.
See ACTmapi for more information.
Dog swimming areas
Dog swimming areas
All lakes are on-leash areas unless otherwise signposted. Public swimming beaches are strictly dog prohibited.
Designated dog swimming beaches are available at the following locations:
- Point Hut Pond, Gordon
- Lake Tuggeranong, Greenway
- Orana Bay, Yarralumla
- Kurrajong Point Beach, Weston Park, Yarralumla
- Yerrabi Pond, Gungahlin
- Lake Ginninderra, Belconnen
- Diddams Close, Belconnen
- Uriarra Crossing East
- Uriarra Crossing West
- Swamp Creek
- Western riverbank of Point Hut Crossing recreational area (please note dogs must remain on-leash on the eastern riverbank)
See ACTmapi for more information.
Dog prohibited areas
Dog prohibited areas
Dogs are not allowed in the following areas without a permit, unless they are an assistance animal:
- child-care centres, preschools and primary schools
- high schools and secondary colleges during school hours (or when school sports or training is being conducted, including after hours training)
- fields, ovals and playing areas when formal sport is being played
- within 10 metres of a public play space (if children are playing on it)
- within 10 metres of a public barbecue when in use
- Gibraltar Forest Regeneration Area formerly known as Gibraltar Pines, Black Mountain Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat sanctuary, Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Callum Brae Nature Reserve, Gungahlin Hill Nature Reserve, Rob Roy Nature Reserve and Dunlop, Gungaderra, Mullanggari, Jerrabomberra grasslands, and Crace grasslands.
The fine for taking dogs into prohibited areas is $150, or $350 for taking them onto the grounds of a child-care centre, preschool or primary school.
Dogs and horses
A large number of horses use Canberra's equestrian trails through public open spaces, some shared paths and underpasses. Horses can be startled by unrestrained or aggressive dogs, especially in confined spaces. They have a significant reach with their hind legs when they feel threatened. For everyone's safety, please keep your dog on a leash around horses even in off-leash areas.
