Fredericton Dog Bylaws: Leash, Licence & Fines

The short answer

Fredericton's By-law No. S-11 requires a leash of 2 metres or less anywhere off your property, an annual dog licence ($10 fixed, $25 intact) with proof of rabies vaccination, and cleanup everywhere your dog goes. Households are capped at two dogs unless you hold a kennel licence. Off-leash time is legal in exactly three places: Cityview Dog Park, Knowledge Park Drive Dog Park, and the Killarney Lake trails from May 1 to November 30.

Every city writes its dog rules a little differently, and Fredericton's version lives in By-law No. S-11, A By-Law Respecting Animal Control. It is short by bylaw standards, but it hides a few rules that catch new owners off guard: the two-dog household cap, the rabies-proof requirement baked into licensing, and the City's power to ban dogs from specific parks by signage alone.

This guide covers the version of the rules posted by the City as of July 2026. Bylaws get amended, so treat the City's own text as the final word and this page as the plain-language map. If you are still choosing a dog, our adoption costs guide covers what the rules mean for your first-year budget.

The 2-Metre Leash Rule

Animals are not allowed to run at large in Fredericton. Off your own property, a dog must be secured by a leash no more than 2 metres long and be under your control. Both halves matter: a 2-metre leash on a dog you cannot control still fails the test.

The 2-metre spec has one practical consequence people miss. A retractable leash extended past 2 metres does not comply, even with your thumb on the brake. On the Green, on downtown sidewalks, and on the Odell Park trails, a standard fixed lead keeps you inside the rule without thinking about it.

The bylaw also lets the City designate any municipal park as a no-dog area by signage. Where a park entrance sign prohibits dogs, the ban is absolute, leashed or not. Read the sign before you commit to the walk.

The Two-Dog Household Limit

This is the rule that surprises people. Under S-11, no person shall have, keep, or possess more than two dogs in a household unless the household complies with Section 6, the kennel provisions. A kennel licence runs $100 per year. Plenty of Canadian cities have no cap at all, so families moving to Fredericton with three dogs discover the limit the hard way.

If you already have two dogs and want to foster or adopt a third, call the City's bylaw enforcement line at 506-460-2020 and ask about the kennel route before the third dog moves in. It is a far better conversation to have proactively than after a complaint.

Licensing in Brief

Every Fredericton dog must be registered with the City, with the licence fee paid on or before December 31 each year and the tag worn on the collar. The City requires proof of up-to-date rabies vaccination before selling the tag, which matters for adopters because the Fredericton SPCA does not routinely vaccinate against rabies. Budget one vet visit between adoption day and licence day.

The fee spread is the City's nudge toward sterilisation: $10 a year for a spayed or neutered dog, $25 for an intact one. Our full licensing guide covers the process step by step, and our spay and neuter guide covers how to land on the cheaper rate.

The Fee Table

Item	Posted Fee
Annual licence, spayed or neutered dog	$10
Annual licence, intact dog	$25
Annual licence, dangerous dog	$200
Kennel licence (per year)	$100
Replacement dog tag	$2
Impound fee	$60
Fine (per offence)	$50 and up

Fees as posted in the City of Fredericton's responsible pet ownership material. Amounts change over time; confirm the current figure with the City (506-460-2020) before paying.

Where Dogs Can Legally Run Off Leash

Cityview Dog Park (north side)

Fredericton's first off-leash park: about three-quarters of an acre, fully fenced, with a separate area for small, disabled, or senior dogs. Benches, garbage cans, a sun shelter, seasonal water, and dusk-to-dawn lighting. It sits on the north side off Main Street, which makes it the default for Nashwaaksis and Devon dog owners.

Knowledge Park Drive Dog Park (south side)

Two fully fenced acres next to the Grant-Harvey Centre, with separate areas for open access and for small, disabled, or senior dogs, plus benches, garbage cans, a sun shelter, and a water tap. The bigger footprint makes it the better pick for dogs that need real running room.

Killarney Lake Park trails (seasonal)

Off-leash use is permitted on designated Killarney Lake Park trails from May 1 to November 30 inclusive. The rules are specific: maximum two dogs per handler, dogs must be registered with the City and wearing a collar with valid ID and tags, handlers must carry a leash and keep dogs in view and under effective control, dangerous dogs and females in heat are prohibited, and pinch or spiked collars are not permitted. Outside the season, dogs stay leashed throughout the park.

Everywhere else, including Odell Park, the Green, and Carleton Park across the river, the 2-metre leash rule applies. Odell's old-growth trails are still one of the best leashed walks in Atlantic Canada, so the leash is not much of a sacrifice.

Impoundment, Fines, and Dangerous Dogs

Impoundment: An Animal Control Officer may impound any animal running at large or apparently abandoned. Impounded animals are housed at the Fredericton SPCA at 165 Hilton Road. Release requires proof of ownership, the $60 impound fee, and any fines. An unlicensed dog also needs a licence purchased before release.

Fines: Bylaw offences run $50 and up per offence. At-large dogs, ignored cleanup, and nuisance barking are the usual triggers, and enforcement is largely complaint-driven.

Dangerous dogs: A dog that has attacked a person or killed, bitten, or injured another animal may be deemed dangerous by the Animal Control Officer. Owners then face the Section 4 requirements plus a $200 annual licence. If your dog has had a serious incident, get ahead of it with your vet and a qualified trainer before a declaration forces stricter conditions.

Who to call: Animal Control at 506-363-3320 for at-large animals, complaints, and lost pets; Bylaw Enforcement at 506-460-2020 for licensing and kennel questions; the Fredericton SPCA at 506-459-1555 if your dog may have been picked up.

Browse adoptable Fredericton dogs

Every rescue dog in our Fredericton listings arrives spayed or neutered and microchipped, which puts you straight onto the $10 licence rate.

See Available Fredericton Dogs →

Frequently Asked Questions

What bylaw covers dogs in Fredericton?▾

By-law No. S-11, A By-Law Respecting Animal Control. It defines an “animal” as a domestic animal including both cats and dogs, and it covers licensing, the leash rule, running at large, waste pickup, dangerous dogs, and the kennel rules. Animal Control enforcement is reachable at 506-363-3320, and the City's bylaw enforcement line is 506-460-2020. The full bilingual text is posted on the City of Fredericton website.

What is the leash law in Fredericton?▾

Off your own property, your dog must be secured by a leash no more than 2 metres long and be under your control. Anything else counts as running at large under S-11, which can bring a fine and impoundment. The 2-metre spec matters in practice: a fully extended retractable leash does not comply. The exceptions are the designated off-leash areas, which are the Cityview and Knowledge Park Drive dog parks plus the seasonal Killarney Lake Park trails.

How many dogs can you own in Fredericton?▾

Two. By-law S-11 says no person shall have, keep, or possess more than two dogs in a household unless they comply with Section 6, the kennel provisions, which involve a $100-per-year kennel licence. This is one of the stricter household limits in Atlantic Canada and it genuinely surprises people moving from cities with no cap. If you foster or plan a third dog, talk to the City about the kennel route before the third dog moves in.

Do I have to license my dog in Fredericton?▾

Yes. Dog owners must register with the City and pay the licence fee on or before December 31 each year, and the dog must wear its tag. The posted fees are $10 for a spayed or neutered dog and $25 for an intact dog, and the City requires proof of up-to-date rabies vaccination before selling the tag. Our Fredericton licensing guide walks through the whole process.

Do cats need a licence in Fredericton?▾

No licence, but cats are not exempt from the bylaw. S-11 defines “animal” to include cats, so the running-at-large rules and the cleanup rules apply to them too. The posted fee schedule only lists dog licences, which makes Fredericton simpler than cities like Saskatoon where cats are licensed as well. If a roaming cat is picked up by Animal Control, it is housed at the SPCA on Hilton Road like any other impounded animal.

What is the fine for a dog running at large in Fredericton?▾

Fines under the bylaw start at $50 per offence and go up from there, and an at-large dog can also be impounded. Getting the dog back means proof of ownership plus the $60 impound fee and any fines owing. If the dog was unlicensed, you also have to buy the licence before the SPCA releases the dog. A quiet gate-check habit is cheaper than the paperwork.

Do I have to pick up after my dog in Fredericton?▾

Yes. Owners must not allow their animals to defecate on any property other than their own, and if it happens, you scoop it. Sections 2.09 and 2.10 of S-11 cover this, and it applies to cats as well as dogs. The trails along the Green and the Killarney Lake loops are heavily used, so this is also the fastest way to stay welcome as a dog owner in this city.

Where can my dog go off leash in Fredericton?▾

Three places, legally. The Cityview Dog Park on the north side is a fenced three-quarter-acre park with a separate area for small, disabled, or senior dogs. The Knowledge Park Drive Dog Park next to the Grant-Harvey Centre is two fenced acres with the same split. And Killarney Lake Park allows off-leash use on designated trails from May 1 to November 30, maximum two dogs per handler, with dogs registered with the City and wearing ID. Everywhere else, the 2-metre leash rule applies.

Can I take my dog to Odell Park?▾

On leash, yes. Odell Park's 400 acres of old-growth trails are one of the best leashed walks in the city, but the park is not a designated off-leash area, so the 2-metre leash rule applies throughout. Also note that S-11 lets the City designate parks or areas as dog-prohibited by signage, so read the signs at any park entrance. Where a sign says no dogs, the ban is absolute.

What happens if my dog is impounded in Fredericton?▾

Animal Control may impound any animal found running at large or that appears abandoned, and impounded animals are housed at the Fredericton SPCA at 165 Hilton Road. To get your dog back you show proof of ownership and pay the applicable fees: the $60 impound fee, any fines, and, if the dog was unlicensed, the cost of a licence before release. Call the SPCA at 506-459-1555 first if your dog goes missing.

What counts as a dangerous dog in Fredericton?▾

A dog may be deemed dangerous by the Animal Control Officer if it has attacked a person or has killed, bitten, or injured another animal. The owner of a dangerous dog must comply with the special requirements in Section 4 of the bylaw, and the annual licence for a dangerous dog is $200 instead of $10 or $25. Separately, owners must not permit a dog to bite, act aggressively, or approach people in an apparent attitude of attack anywhere off their own property.

Who do I call about a barking dog in Fredericton?▾

Animal Control at 506-363-3320. The bylaw is explicit that owners must not permit their dogs to cause a public nuisance by barking or howling, and must prevent dogs from running at and barking at pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles. Complaints are handled by the City's enforcement side, so a persistent problem next door is a bylaw matter, not just a neighbourly one.