Bylaws and Off Leash Areas

Although pets can be a delight to their owners, they can also be a cause of conflict among neighbors. In order to ensure that pet owners respect other residents, the rules for caring and keeping animals are very clear.

Test

Animals in Markham must be provided with a clean, sanitary environment and adequate care that meets the physical and behavioural needs of the animal, such as food, water, shelter, warmth, physical exercise, attention and veterinary care.

Pets are not allowed to run about and create a nuisance, disturb neighbours or cause damage to property.

If your dog or cat is found running freely, it will be returned to your home if it’s wearing an identification tag, or taken to the shelter if it is not.

For animals kept on a tether (a chain, rope or other restraint), the length must meet the needs of the animal, provide unrestricted movement and cannot cause injuries. A dog’s tether must be a minimum of 3 metres (10 foots), provided this length does not permit the dog to go beyond the boundaries of the property.

The City can place a pet in temporary protective care for up to five days when the owner cannot, or will not, care for it. During this time, its owner may claim the animal after paying the costs for its stay in protective care; if not claimed, the animal will go to the OSPCA shelter.

The shelter assumes total responsibility for such animals, provides veterinary care if necessary, and has the right to put the animal to death if it’s not claimed or is too ill or injured to survive. It will be kept for at least five days (not including federal or provincial holidays). The owner must pay all costs incurred at the Pound before the pet can be taken home.

Within 30 days of becoming the owner of a dog or cat, you must register your pet, pay an annual licensing and tag fee, and provide a certificate that proves it has been vaccinated for rabies. In exchange, you will receive an identification tag that must always be displayed on the animal’s collar (this includes animals that have a microchip identification implant). This tag cannot be transferred to another animal.

The number of mature dogs (16 weeks and older) and cats (over 3 months old) that can be kept in each home is four, in any combination of:

• two dogs and two cats; or
  
• one dog and three cats; or
  
• four cats.

If you owned more than this number before June 2005, the date this by-law came into effect—you are automatically allowed to keep the pets for the rest of their life.

See also Dog Owners' Liability Act Information Frequently Asked Questions

Ontario’s Dog Owners’ Liability Act clearly outlines your responsibilities as the owner of a dog. Our City’s rules are based on this Act.

Dogs must be kept on a leash of 2 metres length (6 foots 6 inches) or less when off your property. You must always ‘Stoop and Scoop’ (clean up any feces it may leave) while walking your pet off your property.

You can take your dog off its leash where signs clearly show it is a leash-free area, or if someone you are visiting permits it on their private property. You are expected to keep your dog under control at all times, or restrain it, to prevent aggressive behavior and biting. No dogs are permitted within 5 metres (16 foots 4 inches) of a children’s playground or water-play area.

If your dog bites, and pierces the skin, you will be served with a formal warning (in person or by mail). This may include a ‘Notice to Muzzle’, which means:

• you must tether or keep your pet in a fenced area while on your property,
  
• only someone 16 years or older can take the dog off your property, and
  
• it must wear a muzzle (a device that restricts the animal’s mouth) and be kept on a leash at all times.

A second offence will automatically result in this notice, and you may also be prosecuted.

Your pet will be kept in your home (or at a private facility at your expense) for 10 days in quarantine, if it:

• bites a person; or
  
• is suspected of being exposed to rabies.

If your pet is placed under a 10 day quarantine, it must be released with permission of the York Region's Medical Officer of Health, or designate.

Livestock, such as cows, pigs and sheep, cannot be kept in residential areas. You may not keep or trap wild animals within City boundaries unless you are permitted to do so by law. Contact the By-law Enforcement and Licensing Department at 905.479.7782 to find out if you qualify.

‘Prohibited animals’ cannot be kept within City boundaries unless you have permission to do so. These include protected or endangered species. The list is long; it includes all wild dogs, cats and birds, venomous and poisonous animals, and certain reptiles and insects.

Prohibited Animals (Exotic) list

Prohibited Pets List:

No person shall keep any of the following animals, whether it be on a temporary or permanent basis:

1. All squirrels
   
2. Reptiles
   
3. Birds (predatory)
   
4. Arachnida and Chilopod
   
5. All venomous spiders
   
6. All large rodents
   
7. All even-toed ungulates (goats, cattle, deer, sheep)
   
8. All odd-toed ungulates (horses)
   
9. All marsupials
   
10. Sea mammals
    
11. All elephants
    
12. All hyrax (shrew mice)
    
13. All pangolin (anteater)
    
14. All sloth and armadillo
    
15. All insectivorous mammals
    
16. Gliding lemur
    
17. All other venomous or poisonous animals
    

A member of a recognized pigeon club (one that is part of a national club) can keep up to 30 domestic pigeons or doves (not wild ones), as long as their ‘loft,’ or cage is separate from the home and has at least 1 square metre (10.78 square foot) of space for every 10 birds. Each bird must wear a leg band that identifies its owner; they cannot stray onto any other property; and you must contact the Manager, By-law Enforcement and Licensing, if you intend to release the birds for planned activities.

Up to three mature rabbits (seven weeks or older) can be kept on any one property, but only as pets. An outside cage must be designed to keep them warm and prevent escape.

To keep doves and pigeons, or rabbits outdoors, your property must be large enough that their cage is at least 3 metres (10 foot) from your property boundary and at least 7 metres (23 foot) from any other home, shop or apartment building.

The City of Markham requires all dogs to be leashed at all times on public property or within City parks unless in a designated Off-Leash Dog Park. The City currently provides and maintains four off-leash dog park areas and every person accessing the off-leash dog park area with their dog shall ensure they comply with the Animal Protection and Services By-Law 2018-91, the Dog Owners Liability Act and the Code of Conduct found below.

Off-Leash Dog Park Locations

Off-Leash Dog Park Code of Conduct

• Every dog must be under the supervision and full control of an adult.
• All dogs are subject to health and tag inspections.
  
• All dogs have up to date vaccinations against rabies.
• All dog parks are use at own risk.
• Children under the age of 12 must be supervised by an adult at all times.
• Dogs exhibiting aggressive/bullying like behaviours are not permitted.
• Dogs must be accompanied by a person at least 16 years of age or older.
• Dogs must be leashed when entering and exiting the off leash areas.
• Handlers must be inside the fenced area with their dogs at all times.
• Handlers must “stoop and scoop” and dispose of excrements in the containers provided.
• Handlers shall not be in control of more than 3 dogs at any time.
• No dog treats permitted in the park.
• No glass containers or food permitted in the off leash areas.
• Small dog area is reserved for dogs 20lbs or less, with a maximum height of 12 inches at the shoulder.

Dogs that are muzzled under Municipal or Provincial legislation, 6 months of age or younger, or are unlicenced are not permitted in any City of Markham Off-Leash Dog Park.

• Animal Protection and Services By-law 2018-91 [PDF]
  

Contact Us

For more information, please call Animal Care Services at 905.415.7531 or email customerservice@markham.ca.