Walking your dog

Leash requirements

Dogs and playgrounds

Dogs and water features

Dogs off-leash

Consideration to other park users

The City of Melbourne requires dogs to be leashed in all public areas of the municipality unless you are in a designated off-leash area in a park.

There are 38 acres of designated off-leash park land to exercise dogs. Dogs must be under effective voice or hand controls in off-leash areas.

You are required to carry a receptical to clean up and dispose of your dog's droppings and immediately clean up after your dog in all public areas. As a courtesy, poo bags and bins are installed in some parks and gardens in both on-leash and off-leash areas.

Leash requirements

Dogs must be kept under control by means of a chain, cord or leash, which is no more than three metres in length.

Dogs and playgrounds

Dogs must be on a leash if they are within 20 metres of a children's playground.

Dogs and water features

Dogs must remain on the leash near fountains, ponds and lakes and not enter any body of water. They are prohibited from the entire precinct of Trin Warren Tam-boore, the recycling wetland in Royal Park.

Dogs off-leash

The City of Melbourne recognises that off-leash areas are beneficial for the health and wellbeing of dogs. With this in mind, there are eight parks across the municipality that have designated off-leash areas for dogs tosocialise and exercise off-leash while still under the close supervision of the owner.

The following parks have designated off-leash areas:

Clayton Reserve
Fawkner Park
Gosch's Paddock
JJ Holland Park
North Melbourne Recreational Reserve
Princes Park
Royal Park
Yarra Park

View all off-leash areas at CoMMaps – City of Melbourne Interactive Map.

West Melbourne park extension

Community consultation will soon be invited on the expansion of open space at the reserves at Hawke and Adderley Street; and Railway Place and Miller Street, West Melbourne. This is based on the option of using adjoining road space to increase public open space and to provide for a dog off-leash area.

For further information, visit West Melbourne park extension consultation.

Consideration of other park users

Consider other park users. Off-leash areas are still public areas, which means they are open for all to enjoy, not just dog owners.

Consider other people and their dogs. Not all people like dogs and some people can be intimidated by even small dogs running up to them. Never let your dog jump up on people.

When your dog is off-leash, do not let it rush up to other dogs to play as other dogs may react with fear. Always ask other dog owners if their dog is sociable and if it is okay to allow your dog to approach. This is the polite and best way to meet and greet your fellow dog owners.

If your dog does not return to you when you call it or you have difficulty controlling your dog's behaviour around other dogs, you should never let your dog off its leash. Remember you must have effective control of your dog when it is off-leash.

Consider taking your dog to training so it can enjoy being off-leash.