nz-news
QLDC Opens Consultation on Proposed 2027 Dog Control Bylaw
12 October 2026
Queenstown Lakes District Council has opened public consultation on a draft Dog Control Bylaw and Policy, with new leash rules proposed for busy reserves, tracks, sports and play areas and wildlife areas.
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has opened formal public consultation on a draft Dog Control Bylaw and a draft Dog Control Policy, which will replace the council's current dog rules.
The consultation page says formal consultation is open from 12 October to 9 November 2026. The key dates list on the same page shows the consultation period as 12 October to 19 November 2026, so check the page for the confirmed closing date before you submit.
Why the rules are being reviewed
QLDC says all councils in Aotearoa New Zealand are required to regularly review their dog control bylaws, and its current bylaw, adopted in June 2020, is now due for review.
What stays and what is proposed
The current bylaw limits ownership to two dogs per property unless licensed, and requires female dogs to be confined while in season.
The draft proposes:
- new on-leash requirements for busy urban reserves;
- new on-leash requirements on busy recreational tracks;
- new leash rules for sports and play areas;
- new dog control rules in areas with protected wildlife;
- clearer requirements for what is meant by "effective control".
The council's consultation page links to a map showing the proposed access rules for specific places. Dog owners who walk their dogs in reserves, on tracks or near sports and play areas in the district may want to check the map for the places they use.
Key dates and how to have your say
Hearings are scheduled for December 2026, and the council plans to adopt the new policy and bylaw in February 2027.
Submissions can be made through the online form on the consultation page, by email to letstalk@qldc.govt.nz with the subject line "Dog Control Bylaw", by post to Queenstown Lakes District Council, Private Bag 50071, Queenstown 9348 (Freepost 191078), or by dropping a submission into the nearest council office.
For general owner responsibilities, see our guide to New Zealand pet laws and rules.
Sources
- https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/dog-control-bylaw
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