Dog control

As a responsible dog owner, you must:

clean up immediately after your dog in all streets and open spaces
not allow your dog to enter specified areas
keep your dog on a lead in specified areas
put and keep your dog on a lead when told to do so by an authorised officer
not exceed the maximum number of dogs in specified areas
keep your dog on a lead in areas with seasonal restrictions between 1 March and 31 July

A Public Spaces Protection Order governs dog control in Cambridge. Failure to comply with its requirements can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and prosecution.

We have designated some parts of the city as ‘dog exclusion areas’, ‘dogs on leads areas’, ‘maximum number of dog areas’ and ‘seasonal dogs on leads areas’. These are shown on our dog control map, below.

The restrictions relating to dog control below do not apply to assistance dogs. There are no restrictions for people with assistance dogs.

Dog exclusion areas – Dogs are excluded from some children’s play areas, bowling greens, tennis courts, outdoor paddling pools and some green spaces.
Dogs on leads areas – You must keep your dog on a lead in Newmarket Road Cemetery, parts of Cherry Hinton Hall and Histon Road Cemetery, Hanover and Princess Court green areas and Tenby Close play area.
Maximum number of dogs areas – You are not permitted to take more than four dogs on Byron’s Pool local nature reserve, Hobson’s Park or Coldham’s Common sports pitches at any time.
Seasonal dogs on leads areas – you must keep your dog on a lead at all times between 1 March and 31 July at local nature reserves and Mill Road cemetery.

Except for the above restrictions, you can allow your dog to roam without a lead on all open spaces in Cambridge. You must keep your dog under control at all times – if we believe you cannot do this, we will ask you to put it on a lead. We might do this:

where the public, particularly children or vulnerable adults, are at threat or feel threatened
where you dog poses a risk to the safety of pedestrians, cyclists or motorists
when your dog causes damage to public property, including trees and plants
where wildlife is, or could be, threatened
during emergency situations

Use the form below to report an issue with dog control including:

a dog regularly straying into the street, council land or other people’s gardens
a dog being walked without a lead in an on-lead or seasonal lead area or in an exclusion area
a dog being walked and not under control
dog fouling not being cleared up where the owner or handler is known or where you were a witness

Report a dog control issue