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                    Walking your dog

                    Man with dog talking to an official person pointing to a sign at Alexandra Gardens
                    City of Melbourne requires dogs to be leashed in all public areas, unless you are in a designated off-leash area in a park.

                    ​​

                    Cleaning up after your dog

                    The Activities Local Law 2019 ​requires owners to collect and dispose of their dog’s waste responsibly and to always carry an appropriate container such as a plastic bag or pooper scooper.

                    Dog waste carries many diseases, so please pick up after your dog and keep our streets, parks and waterways clean.

                    Leash requirements

                    ​All of the City of Melbourne is by default, an on-leash area.

                    A dog may be exercised off a chain, cord or leash in a Designated Reserve and during the permitted off-leash hours​ (if applicable) provided the owner

                    • carries a chain, cord or leash not exceeding 3 metres in length, sufficient to bring the dog under effective control if the dog behaves in a manner which threatens any person or animal
                    • remains in effective voice or hand control of the dog and within constant sight of the dog so as to be able to promptly place the dog on a chain, cord or leash not exceeding 3 metres in length if that becomes necessary
                    • does not allow the dog to worry, threaten or attack any person or animal. Dogs must be put on a leash when within five metres of a shared path (for use by both pedestrians and bike riders).

                    The owner must put their dog on a leash if the dog is within 20 metres of:​: 

                    • a children’s play equipment area or outdoor fitness equipment area 
                    • a permanent barbecue or picnic area 
                    • a sports field or recreation facility during organised sporting activity (including training) 
                    • the principal location of an organised public event or meeting 
                    • a river, creek or waterbody.


                    Dog off-leash and dog prohibited areas

                    There are many designated off-leash areas to exercise dogs in the City of Melbourne. Some parks have designated off-leash areas for dogs available at all times, while others parks provide for off leash access and use for specific times of the day.

                    There are also designated areas within Royal Park, JJ Holland Park and Fawkner Park where dogs are prohibited at all times.

                    Click on park names below to view a map and the areas with designations. ​

                    Effective voice or hand control

                    When a dog is being exercised off-leash, you must carry a chain, cord or leash to be able to bring a dog under control. Dogs must be under effective voice or hand control, which means you are able to promptly place the dog on a chain, cord or leash not exceeding three metres in length if that becomes necessary.

                    Dogs must not be allowed to worry or threaten a person or animal. Dogs must be within constant sight when in off-leash areas.​​

                    Canning and Neill Street Reserve – Carlton

                    2–​20 Neill Street, Carlton 3053

                    Map showing Canning and Neill Street Reserve, which is roughly triangular in share and bordered by Princes Street to the north, Neil Street to the south east and CanningStreet to the west. The dog off leash area is indicated by orange shaded lines and applies to almost the full area of the reserve. 

                    Clayton Reserve – North Melbourne

                    Map of Clayton Reserve. The dog off-leash area indicated by diagional line pattern, is the full triangular region of the reserve bordered by Boundary Road, Gracie Street and Macaulay Road

                    Eades Park – West Melbourne

                    Eades Park is roughly triangular in shape, bordered by Chetwynd Street to the east, King Street to the west, and Stanley Street to the north. The off-leash area, indicated by the orange line pattern, is the narrow triangular area on the western edge, between King Street and the foothpath that runs through the park.

                    Fawkner Park – South Yarra

                    Map of Fawkner Park. The park is within the region bounded by Toorak Road to the north, Punt Road to the east, Commercial Road to the south and St Kilda Road to the west. The dog off-leash area shown shaded with orange lines, runs along the south and western edges and does not include Cordner Oval. There's a small dog prohibited area (shaded in red) in the north-east corner of the park.

                    Gosch's Paddock – Melbourne

                    Map of Gosch's Paddock. The park is within the region bounded by Swan Street to the north, Punt Road to the east, Batman Avenue to the south and AAMI Park to the west. The dog off-leash area indicated by a diagonal line pattern, covers all of the park except for the two ovals.

                    JJ Holland Park – Kensington

                    Map of JJ Holland Park. The park is within the region bounded by Kensington Road to the north-west, Altona Street to the north-east and Childers Street to the south. The dog off-leash areas shown shaded in yellow, include two areas in the southern half of the park. The two dog-prohibited areas (shaded in red) are the playground along Altona Street and the central synthetic sports field

                    Kings Way and Moray Street Reserve – Southbank

                    ​​Map of Kings way and Morat St reserve dog park. The dog off leash area is shaded in orange and is between Kings way and Moray Street.

                    Manningham Reserve – Parkville

                    Map showing off-leash areas of Manningham Reserve

                    North Melbourne Recreation Reserve – North Melbourne

                    Map of North Melbourne Recreation Reserve area which is bounded by Macaulay Road, Fogarty Street and Arden Street; and next to the North Melbourne Pool and Gardiner Reserve. The dog off-leash area indicated by a diagonal-line pattern, includes the edges of the reserve outside of a central sports oval and excludes the area surrounding the recreation centre.

                    Point Park (timed off-leash) – Docklands

                    Map showing off-leash areas of Point Park

                    Off-leash area times:

                    • 1 November to 31 March: 6pm to 8am 
                    • 1 April to 31 October: 5pm to 9am

                    Princes Park – Carlton North

                    Map of Princes Park. The park is within the region bounded by Park Street to the north; Bowen Crescent, Garton Street and Princes Park Drive to the east; and Royal Parade to the west. The two dog off-leash areas, indicated by the diagional line pattern, include an area near the park's northern edge and an area surrounding Crawford Oval, in the park's southern end.

                    Riverside Park (timed off-leash) – Kensington

                    Map showing off-leash areas of Riverside Park

                    Off-leash area times:

                    • 1 November to 31 March: 6pm to 8am
                    • 1 April to 31 October: 5pm to 9am​

                    Ron Barassi Senior Park – Docklands

                    Map showing off-leash areas of Ron Barassi Senior Park

                    Royal Park – Parkville

                    Map showing off-leash and dog prohibited areas of Royal Park

                    Stawell Park – West Melbourne

                    Map showing off-leash areas at Stawell Park​​

                    Wellington Park (timed off-leash) – East Melbourne

                    Map showing off-leash areas of Wellington Park

                    Off-leash area:

                    • 1 November to 31 March: 6pm to 8am 
                    • 1 April to 31 October: 5pm to 9am

                    Yarra Park – East Melbourne

                    Map of Yarra Park. The park is within the region bounded by Wellington Parade to the north; Punt Road to the east; Brunton Avenue to the south and Jolimont Street to the west. The dog off-leash area (shaded with orange lines) is in the south-eastern corner of the park between the MCC and Richmond Cricket Ground.

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                    Dog off-leash areas
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                    Consider other people and their dogs

                    Off-leash areas are for all to enjoy, not just dog owners. Not everyone likes dogs and some people are fearful. ​

                    When your dog is off-leash, do not let it jump up on people or 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’s okay to allow your dog to approach. 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.

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

                    Report an issue

                    You can report to us incidents of dogs off-leash in on-leash areas, and issues with dog waste in public spaces.

                    If there is any danger to the public or public space, please call us immediately on 03 9658 9658.
                    Track the progress of an existing reported issue.
                    Enter report reference number:
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