We're proposing changes to our Dog Control Policy and Bylaw. All Councils must have a policy on dogs and a bylaw to enforce it. Legislation requires bylaws to be reviewed at least once every 10 years, and for a dog control policy to be reviewed at the same time. Our dog control bylaw was last reviewed in 2016.

The policy and bylaw work together to regulate locally, including to specify public places where dogs are not allowed (prohibited) and where dogs must be on a leash.

The bylaw and policy apply across the whole of the district, which includes Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.

These changes affect everyone – whether you own a dog, don’t own a dog, like dogs or don’t like dogs, we want to hear from you.

Below are the key changes we think will be of most interest to people. All proposed changes can be found in full in the Statement of Proposal. Details for the leashed and prohibited areas, are in schedule 1 in the policy.

We're proposing to require dogs to be on a short leash on footpaths, shared paths and tracks in greenspace areas where dogs are allowed (this includes parks, reserves and stormwater assets that function as parks) so that they are safer for everyone – dogs would still be allowed off leash and under effective control in areas off any paths and tracks, unless otherwise specified in the policy. The current rule is leashing on roads and footpaths alongside roads, and in car parking areas. There is a related proposal to require leashing on shared paths and pedestrian areas on or near roads. For more information, see section 6.2 of the policy (General leashed areas) and clause 9 of the bylaw (General leashed dog control areas).

We're proposing to regulate the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor (former residential red zone) by prohibiting dogs in key areas to protect wildlife (river, wetland and planted areas), while continuing to allow dogs off leash and under effective control in over 200 hectares of mowed grass (noting that pathways would come under the general leashed rule). See Schedule 1 of the policy for related wetland and waterway areas, with similar proposed rules.

We're proposing to prohibit dogs from Te Ihutai Avon Heathcote Estuary to protect wildlife (including threatened and at-risk migratory birds). This would apply from the landward boundary inwards – people could continue to walk dogs on land nearby, such as along the grassed western edge of Southshore Spit, or on paths like Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway. Dogs would not be allowed along the shoreline where birds nest, or in tidal areas where they feed. See
Schedule 1 of the policy for other coastal wetland and mudflat areas, with related proposed wildlife protection rules.

We're proposing to regulate stormwater basins, such as Te Kuru Wetland, by prohibiting dogs in some areas to protect wildlife (wetland and planted areas), while continuing to allow dogs to be off leash and under effective control in mowed grass areas (noting that pathways would come under the general leashed rule). See Schedule 1 of the policy for related wetland and waterway areas, with similar proposed rules.

We're proposing to limit the number of dogs one person can be in control of in a public place (to two when off-leash and four when leashed), with an exemption process for people with appropriate skills to apply to control a greater number of dogs. See section 3.1.2 of the policy (Limit on the number of dogs a person can be in charge of) and clause 5 of the bylaw (Control of dogs in all public places and at all times, subclause 4) and clause 13 of the bylaw (Dog limit exemption).

The information outlined above is a summary of the key proposed changes. All proposed changes can be found in the Dog Control Bylaw and Policy.

The Dog Control Policy is the main document, and the Dog Control Bylaw enables enforcement of the policy. Areas where dogs are prohibited or where they must be leashed are listed tables in Schedule 1 to the policy, arranged into geographical groups. You can see the name of the park or area, what the dog control status is, and why. Areas where changes are proposed and the reason for the changes are shown in different colours throughout the policy.

The Dog Control Bylaw sets out the enforceable rules, including general leashed and prohibited rules, as well as other rules, such as what under effective control means and when it applies. Clauses where changes are proposed and the reason for the changes are shown in different colours throughout the bylaw.