New dog rules shaped by community feedback

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CouncilEnvironment & Sustainability

Published: 1 August 2025

Changes to the city’s Dog Control Policy and Bylaw will make our parks, pathways, and public spaces safer and more enjoyable for us and our four-legged friends.

The changes follow two rounds of community consultation earlier this year and last year with Council adopting many suggestions from the feedback.

Environment and Sustainability Director Alison Geddes says the refreshed rules balance responsible dog ownership with the needs of the wider community.

“There are over 10,000 registered dogs in Lower Hutt and we want them and their owners to enjoy the city but there must be clear, effective rules in place, so everybody feels safe to go about their business. With great feedback from the community, we think we’ve struck a nice balance to achieve this.”

What's changing?

From 1 August 2025:

  • A licence will be required for commercial dog walkers (if you're a commercial dog walker, please contact animals@huttcity.govt.nz).
  • There will be a limit of four dogsunder one person’s  control in public spaces (excluding commercial dog walkers with demonstrated experience).
  • Seasonal beach restrictions are now aligned – instead of referring to ‘daylights savings’, which can cause confusion, we will always refer to specific dates (i.e. 1 December to 31 March).

We’re improving off-lead dog access in the following areas (view map):

  • York Park.
  • Richard Prouse Park (Eastern section, when not in use for sports).
  • Drainage reserve between Konini and Parkway.
  • Bell Park (outside the turf area).
  • Waddington Canal, Naenae.
  • Western Hutt riverbank north of Owen St, Belmont.
  • Eastern Hutt riverbank between Ava Railway Bridge and Croft Grove.

We’re making sure prohibition and on-lead areas work for our community:

  • Dogs are now prohibited from one section of Sunset Point in Seaview (see maps).
  • Dogs must be on-lead at Honiana Te Puni Reserve, including in Korokoro Stream.
  • Wainuiomata prohibition areas have been removed.
  • No change: we proposed prohibiting dogs from Avalon Park, but heard this wasn’t a good option, so dogs will continue to have on-lead access to specific paths (see maps).

To keep our dogs, people, and nature safe, please remember:

  • Dogs must be on-lead in all public places unless they are specified as a Dog Exercise Areas.
  • Dogs are required to be on lead and under control on all shared paths such as the river stopbanks, Te Ara Tupua (path from Petone to Melling), and Tupua Horo Nuku (Eastern Bays shared path).
  • Dogs are prohibited from marked sports fields at all times.

You can read the policy and bylaw and view an updated map of dog-friendly areas here.