Dogs in Seattle parks

Seattle off-leash areas and leash rules

I let my dog run only inside a fenced, official off-leash area. Everywhere else in Seattle the leash stays on, and the fines climb with each repeat.

The leash rule

Outside off-leash areas, dogs must be on a leash at all times. Inside one, you must carry a leash for each dog. (Seattle Parks)

The Seattle Animal Shelter lists a dog off leash at $54. (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)

Official off-leash areas

Seattle Parks lists 16 named off-leash areas: (Seattle Parks)

Blue Dog Pond, Denny Park, Dr. Jose Rizal Park, Genesee Park and Playfield
Georgetown Flume, Golden Gardens Park, I-5 Colonnade, Kinnear Park
Magnolia Manor Park, Warren G. Magnuson Park, Northacres Park, Plymouth Pillars Park
Regrade Park, South Park Playground, Westcrest Park, Woodland Park

Georgetown Flume and South Park Playground are the two newest. Seattle Parks set a grand opening for the Georgetown Flume area on June 27, 2026, and an opening celebration for the South Park site, with its new dog off-leash area, on May 9, 2026. (Seattle Parks)(Seattle Parks)

Georgetown Flume was run by Seattle City Light, and its park page will change once the land moves to Seattle Parks. (Seattle Parks)

Dogs are not allowed on organized athletic fields, beaches, or children's play areas. (Seattle Parks)

Park fines that climb

Letting a dog run at large in a park outside an off-leash area, or onto a beach, swim, wading or athletic area, costs more each time: (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)

First: $54. Second: $109. (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)
Third: $136. Fourth and later: $162. (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)

Inside an off-leash area, a dog without valid license tags is $54 the first time and $109 the second. (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)

Scooping

Not picking up feces on another's property: $54. (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)
No equipment to pick it up: $54. (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)
Letting feces pile up: $109. (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)

In parks, not carrying cleanup equipment follows the same $54 to $162 ladder. (Seattle Animal Shelter, read Oct 19, 2026)

What I bring to the park

A leash for each dog, even inside the off-leash area.
Bags, and a current license tag on the collar.
The name of the off-leash area, so I stay inside its fence.

License prices for Seattle and the rest of King County are on King County pet licenses.

Sources

We read each source on October 19, 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the linked page before you rely on a number.

Written by the Puget Sound Pets team. We list businesses; we do not employ, bond or insure them. Spot a mistake? Use the claim page to tell us.