NCC Animal Regulations

Background and Summary of New Regulations

Background

In 1964, the NCC created the National Capital Commission Traffic and Property Regulations. One of the things that these regulations covered was the presence of pets on NCC lands. While reviewing its body of regulations in the 1990s, the NCC updated the 1964 regulations affecting pets. It launched public consultations to gather comments from residents, and discussions with interest groups lasted for close to two years. The NCC is confident that its animal regulations take into account the comments made by members of the public, while at the same time staying true to the following initial objectives of the regulations:

ensuring that NCC lands are clean, safe and pleasant for users
protecting the environment
protecting and preserving NCC property

Summary of New Regulations

Areas Where Leashed Pets Are Allowed
You and your leashed pets are welcome on most NCC lands, including urban parks, recreational pathways, parkway corridor lands, some Gatineau Park trails and most Greenbelt trails.

In these areas, your pet must be restrained with a leash or harness held firmly by a person or attached securely to something the animal cannot move. The length of the leash or harness cannot exceed 2 metres.

Areas Where Pets Are Allowed Off Leash
You can let your pet run free on more than 88 hectares of designated land in the following areas:

Bruce Pit Area (pdf – 846 Kb)
Conroy Pit Area (pdf – 478 Kb)
Rockcliffe–Hillsdale Area (pdf – 1.65 Mb)
Pine Hill Area (pdf – 2.16 Mb)
Stanley Avenue Park (pdf – 1.73 Mb)

View the Map of all leash-free areas (pdf – 788 Kb)

You must have your pet under control at all times. A pet that is under control will follow a voice command or hand signal from the person in charge of it.

Areas Where No Pets Are Allowed
With the exception of service dogs, pets are not allowed at the following NCC sites:

environmentally sensitive areas
some Gatineau Park trails (indicated by signs)
beaches and surrounding areas
some Greenbelt trails (indicated by signs)
the Rideau Canal Skateway
campgrounds
food concession areas and outdoor restaurants
picnic areas
play-structure areas
cross-country ski trails
areas where organized events are being held

Your Clean-up Responsibilities

You are responsible for picking up after your pet. We ask you not to dispose of your animal’s waste in the on-site garbage bins, but to take it away with you. Since proper environmental practices recommend that animal waste be processed at a sewage treatment plant, we suggest that you bring it home and flush it.

Your Pet and Water

Pets are not allowed to

drink from, get on or get into fountains (ornamental or drinking)
drink from or get into any permanent body of water surrounded by NCC land
be within 3 metres of any shoreline on NCC land

Additional Rules

You are allowed to have up to two pets on NCC land at any one time.
Do not let your pet damage property.
Take measures to ensure that your pet does not bite, attack, chase or injure any person or animal.
Do not leave your pet unattended in a vehicle when the weather is very hot or cold.
Do not ski, in-line skate or ride a bicycle when you are in charge of your pet.

Fines

The National Capital Commission Animal Regulations went into effect in May 2002. Signs have been installed on NCC lands to inform the public of the provisions of the regulations.

Persons who breach the regulations are liable to fines of up to $500 when the offence is prosecuted in court. In addition, set fine tickets may be issued for breaches of the regulations. Three set fine amounts are associated with offences under the regulations: $100, $150 and $300.

For more information, please contact us.

In Case of Emergency

Call the 24-hour emergency number: (613) 239-5353.

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