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.

Planning

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.

Building

OLA development will usually involve two engagement phases.

  1. Discuss potential locations, even if there is only one option
  2. Evaluate design options

Improving

Any improvements or major changes to an OLA will be communicated to residents by on-site signage, project webpages and other engagement opportunities.

Maintaining

Local OLA volunteer groups, such as the existing dog owners’ associations, may participate in minor maintenance to support the City’s regular maintenance.

Strategy Implementation

A Citywide OLA Stakeholder Reference Group will support the Strategy’s implementation.

The City has identified areas that need OLAs based on:

  • current population
  • expected population within 10 to 15 years
  • the location and size of nearby OLAs

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:

  • during new park development and redevelopment projects, whether City or developer-led
  • through the use of growth funding tools
  • in public spaces outside of City-owned parkland

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.

Location

Size and Shape

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

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:

  • playgrounds
  • splash pads
  • toboggan hills
  • swimming beaches
  • natural areas, like identified Environmentally Significant Areas or ravines

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.

Mandatory Design Features

New OLAs must have:

  • Good drainage
  • Grass, engineered wood chips and/or K-9 turf surface, depending on site size and characteristics
  • A fence that is a minimum of 1.5 m and completely encloses the OLA
  • At least two double-gated pedestrian entrances
  • At least one maintenance gate
  • Signs at all entrances/exits and elsewhere in the OLA and park as needed
  • At least one bench for every 500 m2
  • Shade, either from a shade structure inside the OLA or from trees
  • Waste bins, including Green Bins, outside of OLA at every entrance and exit
  • An accessible pathway, at least 2.1 m wide, to OLA entrance gate and within OLA to the seating area

Optional Design Features

Optional design features are subject to budget, site conditions and community perspectives.

  • Water fountain, either inside or outside of the OLA
  • Lighting
  • Trees or shrubs for decoration, noise barrier or shade
  • Area for small dogs, which should be at least 600 m2 or 30 per cent of a larger OLA
  • Play elements like boulders, logs or agility equipment
  • Fetching lane, which should be less than 10 per cent of a larger OLA

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.

Overall Condition

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:

  • every seven to 10 days from spring to fall
  • in response to weather conditions during winter
  • to respond to service requests

Staff will identify and remove hazards and litter.

Dog owners are responsible for removing dog waste.

Ground Surfaces

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.

Turf/Sod

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.

Granular Surfacing

For OLAs with granular surfacing, like pea gravel, crushed granite or choker sand, staff rake as needed.

Engineered Wood Fibre/Chips

For OLAs with engineered wood fibre or chips, staff rake the surface six times per year, or as needed, and top up annually.

Synthetic K-9 Turf

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.

Signage

The City will ensure that all required signs are present and secured.

Staff check signage every seven to 10 days for:

  • Graffiti
  • Damage
  • Fading
  • Crowding
  • Clarity

Staff replace damaged signs or add new issue-specific signs, as needed.

Fencing and Gates

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.

Waste Bin Removal

The City will ensure all OLA waste bins – green, blue and black – are less than 60 per cent full.

Staff:

  • Collect bins at most parks two times per week
  • Collect bins at heavily used parks three times per week
  • Inspect bins at least twice per week.

Some bins have sensors that alert City staff when the bins are over 40 per cent full.

Water Feature

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.

Lighting

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:

  • Critical repairs
  • Accessibility upgrades
  • Reducing environmental impacts
  • Fencing

Unfenced sites will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If appropriate and feasible, the City will install fencing or other barrier options.

Improvement Timeline

The timeline for planned work is being finalized. Scheduling depends on:

  • Results of detailed site assessments
  • Available funding
  • Coordination with other park projects
  • Overall prioritization of OLAs across the city

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:

  • The off-leash area is not being used regularly
  • Extensive damage to the park and/or the natural environment is occurring
  • The park is no longer suitable for an off-leash area
  • There is ongoing non-compliance with the posted Rules of the Run and the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapters

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:

  • OLAs over 1,000 m2 will allow Commercial Dog Walkers
  • OLAs 1,000 m2 and under will not allow Commercial Dog Walkers

Where there is an identified issue, Commercial Dog Walker access will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by:

  • Using 311 data and Commercial Dog Walker usage patterns
  • Working with the local councillor
  • Consulting with the community and Commercial Dog Walkers

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.