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Public places are for the enjoyment of everyone, and when you take your dog into a public place you must make sure that it does not interfere with the safety or enjoyment of other people.
The Companion Animals Act includes a range of provisions to make sure that exercising your dog is safe and hygienic.
When your dog is out in public, whether walking to the shops or visiting a park, it must be under the effective control of a competent person at all times. This means that it must be on a lead and under the control of someone who is capable of restraining the dog. Small children, for instance, may not be able to control large dogs and under these circumstances an adult should walk the dog.
It is recognised that dogs benefit greatly from the chance to run freely, and for this reason the Companion Animals Act requires councils to provide “off-leash” areas for the exercise of dogs.
These areas may only be available for limited hours, but at any time there must be at least one place in each council area where dogs can be exercised without a lead. 
For locations and information about leash free areas click here.
If your dog defecates in a public place or on someone else’s property, it is your responsibility to remove the faeces immediately and dispose of them properly.
Councils have a duty to provide bins for the disposal of dog faeces in places where dogs are often exercised, and you should look for these bins in your area.
For further information including responsibilities and penalties, please refer to the Information for Dog Owners in NSW brochure.
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