Dogs Off-Leash Areas (OLAs) are an important part of Toronto’s park system where dogs can exercise, play and socialize off-leash with other dogs. The Dogs Off-Leash Strategy serves as a framework and decision-making tool to guide the lifecycle of OLA development and to promote responsible dog ownership through community engagement, positive education and bylaw enforcement.
The following is a summary of the Dogs Off-Leash Strategy.
The Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan manages long-term planning of the OLA network. Visit Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan for more information.
Residents can also send suggestions for new OLAs to parks@toronto.ca. These are reviewed along with other park planning suggestions during the annual budgeting process or where there are opportunities for OLA development outside of the Facilities Plan.
OLA development will usually involve two engagement phases.
Any improvements or major changes to an OLA will be communicated to residents by on-site signage, project webpages and other engagement opportunities.
Local OLA volunteer groups, such as the existing dog owners’ associations, may participate in minor maintenance to support the City’s regular maintenance.
A Citywide OLA Stakeholder Reference Group will support the Strategy’s implementation.
The City has identified areas that need OLAs based on:
Through the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and its implementation strategy, resources for new OLAs are considered for incorporation into future capital budgets.
New OLAs can also be developed:
Applications from a local dog owners’ association are no longer required for new OLAs. Email parks@toronto.ca to suggest a new OLA location. Staff will consider this feedback to help inform future planning.
When it is decided that a new OLA is needed for an area, the exact location and its features are determined using a set of recommended criteria.
The City will avoid building new sites with seasonal or time-of-use restrictions.
OLAs should be as large as possible while considering space limitations and cost to build and maintain them. OLAs should be a minimum of 200 m2 and irregularly shaped where possible. Smaller OLAs may require more robust materials.
Nearby amenities, including roads, parking, children’s play areas, pathways, trees and vegetation, should be considered when creating a new OLA.
OLAs cannot be located in certain areas, such as:
The location of existing services like water, hydro, storm and sanitary must be considered.
New trees should be outside the OLA and at least three metres from the fence while still providing shade. Existing healthy and mature trees within an OLA cannot be moved and must be protected by fencing.
New OLAs must have:
Optional design features are subject to budget, site conditions and community perspectives.
OLAs are maintained to citywide maintenance service standards. This work includes litter-picking, raking and/or mowing, emptying waste bins and ensuring fences and gates are properly functioning.
Pet owners must dispose of dog waste and fill in holes dug by their pets.
All OLAs receive the same base maintenance, with heavily used sites typically requiring more frequent servicing. Maintenance schedules are reviewed and updated regularly.
The City will ensure that each OLA is clean and tidy, with no litter, debris, glass, graffiti or hazards present.
Staff will visit each park:
Staff will identify and remove hazards and litter.
Dog owners are responsible for removing dog waste.
The City will ensure that OLAs have enough ground cover and drainage, and dog waste is not present or visible.
Maintenance service standards vary depending on surface type.
For OLAs with turf or sod, staff mow the grass every seven to 10 days, weather dependent. Staff reseed and remediate the surface as required to restore turf.
For OLAs with granular surfacing, like pea gravel, crushed granite or choker sand, staff rake as needed.
For OLAs with engineered wood fibre or chips, staff rake the surface six times per year, or as needed, and top up annually.
For OLAs with synthetic K-9 turf, staff clean and brush the surface every seven to 10 days from spring to fall and manually remove debris. Staff ensure the automatic irrigation system is working.
The City will ensure that all required signs are present and secured.
Staff check signage every seven to 10 days for:
Staff replace damaged signs or add new issue-specific signs, as needed.
The City will ensure that OLAs are secure with fencing that is upright and intact, and with gates that close properly.
Staff check fences and gates every seven to 10 days and repair or adjust as required.
The City will ensure all OLA waste bins – green, blue and black – are less than 60 per cent full.
Staff:
Some bins have sensors that alert City staff when the bins are over 40 per cent full.
The City will ensure water features at OLAs are functional.
Staff check the function and condition of the water feature every seven to 10 days and make repairs as needed.
Not all OLAs have water features.
The City will ensure lighting at OLAs is functional.
Staff repair damaged or non-functioning lighting as identified through 311 service requests.
Not all OLAs have lighting.
State-of-good-repair upgrades at OLAs are based on regular site assessments and in response to community feedback. Planned improvements prioritize:
Unfenced sites will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If appropriate and feasible, the City will install fencing or other barrier options.
The timeline for planned work is being finalized. Scheduling depends on:
Once the timeline is confirmed, residents will be notified in advance through on-site signage and direct communication where possible. There will also be an opportunity for the community to provide input during the engagement phase.
If an OLA’s designation or boundaries need to be reviewed, the City of Toronto will engage the ward councillor, OLA users, the local community and relevant stakeholders to review options, mitigation approaches, and solutions.
A review of an OLA’s designation may occur if:
Commercial Dog Walkers are individuals with four to six dogs under their control and have a permit issued by the City. Individuals with three or fewer dogs can access any OLA.
OLAs built before the adoption of the Dogs Off-Leash Strategy will maintain current access for Commercial Dog Walkers. For OLAs built after the Strategy adoption:
Where there is an identified issue, Commercial Dog Walker access will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by:
The City promotes responsible dog ownership, dog safety, and public awareness of relevant bylaws concerning dogs through partnerships and public education campaigns.
At the entrance to each OLA, signage includes a list of the most important rules. Other signs may be installed or removed as issues are identified.
OLAs built before the Strategy adoption will maintain their current hours of operation.
OLAs built after the Strategy will have the same hours of operation as the park – 5:30 a.m. to midnight. Hours of operation, including seasonal and time-of-use restrictions, may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.