Off-lead dog areas in Zurich: Where your dog can roam freely

If you are looking for an off-lead dog area in Zurich, you should refer to the official information provided by the city. Different rules apply depending on the park or green space in Zurich. The city maintains a regularly updated dog zone dataset that distinguishes between dog bans, lead requirements and off-lead dog areas. The official dataset was last updated on 14 July 2026. Source: Stadt Zürich

Off-lead dog areas in Zurich: The official source

The most important reference is the dog zone dataset from Open Data Zürich. According to the city, it includes locations where legally binding regulations have been issued. The categories listed by the city include lead requirements, dog bans and off-lead dog areas. The areas are signposted accordingly at key entrances. Source: Stadt Zürich

This is important because older articles or personal recommendations online do not necessarily reflect the current situation. You should therefore check the official dataset and the signs on site before your visit.

The city also provides the dataset as a downloadable GeoJSON file. It gives 14 July 2026 as the date of the geodata. Source: Stadt Zürich

Which off-lead dog areas are there in Zurich?

The official dog zone dataset currently lists seven off-lead dog areas (as at 14 July 2026):

• Winkelwiese
• Neufrankengasse
• St. Moritzanlage
• Merkuranlage
• Casino Zürichhorn
• Bachwiesen
• Aubrugg

Source: Stadt Zürich

The city provided specific information about two of these when they were introduced:

• Merkuranlage: When the new dog zones were introduced, Stadt Zürich explicitly designated Merkuranlage in Kreis 7 as an off-lead dog area. Source: Stadt Zürich
• Wiese Casino Zürichhorn: The city officially designated an off-lead dog area there. Source: Stadt Zürich

This list follows the official dataset. As it is continuously updated, you should consult it before your visit to check the current situation across all areas.

What general rules apply in Zurich?

Stadt Zürich points out that the cantonal Hundegesetz (Dog Act) continues to apply. Dogs must be kept on a lead in publicly accessible buildings, on busy roads, on public transport, and at railway stations and stops, among other places. Lead requirements also apply in locations where signs indicate this. Source: Stadt Zürich

According to the overview published by the city, dogs are prohibited in cemeteries, public bathing facilities, school grounds, and play and sports fields. You should also pay attention to the signs on site. Source: Stadt Zürich

Additional municipal regulations apply to green spaces. The city explicitly states that lead requirements apply in most places, at least during the day, and that the relevant signs must be observed. Source: Stadt Zürich

Breeding and nesting season in Zurich

From 1 April to 31 July, dogs in the canton of Zürich must be kept on a lead in forests and within 50 metres of the forest edge. Stadt Zürich explicitly mentions this rule on its dog information page. Source: Stadt Zürich

This means that a municipal off-lead rule in a green space cannot simply be assumed to apply to any forest path. What matters is always which rule applies to the specific location.

You can find more information about the cantonal situation in Breeding and nesting season: When your dog must be kept on a lead and Lead requirements in Switzerland: Rules by canton.

What should you bear in mind in a public off-lead area?

An off-lead dog area does not mean that your dog should automatically interact with every other dog there. Off-lead exercise still requires control and consideration for others.

Before letting your dog off the lead, look around:

• What signs are displayed at the entrance?
• Are there already other dogs in the area?
• Can your dog be reliably recalled?
• Does your dog actually want to interact?
• Are there people, children, bicycles or other activities nearby?
• Can you call your dog back to you early if a situation starts to deteriorate?

Even in an off-lead area, not every dog wants to play. A dog on a lead is not an invitation to greet it. If another person wants to keep their distance, respect that distance.

If your dog's recall is not yet reliable, you can find a step-by-step training approach in Training your dog's recall: How to make coming back rewarding. You can find an alternative between a short lead and being completely off-lead in Long line or dog field: Which is suitable and when?.

Public off-lead area or private space?

Both meet different needs. A public off-lead area can be a good option if your dog can cope with changing environments and you are looking for a publicly accessible place where your dog can move freely.

An exclusively booked space may make more sense if you want greater control over the environment.

This applies, for example, to dogs with a strong prey drive. If your dog quickly loses focus on you when it picks up the scent of wildlife, a fenced area can provide greater safety during training. Find out more in Dogs with a strong prey drive: How off-lead exercise can become possible.

For a reactive or insecure dog, an area without unfamiliar dogs can also be more relaxing. This means you do not have to rely on other dogs keeping enough distance. Find out more in Reactive dogs: Off-lead exercise with less stress from encounters.

If you have a female dog in season, you should plan contact with other dogs particularly carefully. A private area may be an option, provided the rules of the individual provider permit its use. Find out more in Female dogs in season: Planning walks and off-lead exercise.

For training, exclusive use has another advantage: you can control the level of distraction. Recall, focus exercises, scent games or simply relaxed sniffing can all take place without the risk of an unfamiliar dog interrupting your exercise at any moment.

Always check the latest information before your outing

Stadt Zürich updates its dog zones as needed. You should therefore not rely indefinitely on a saved list. Check the official information before your visit and pay attention to the signs on site. You can find the official source here: Stadt Zürich

If a public area is not suitable for your dog or you deliberately want to train alone, you can search for fenced areas at dogoasis.ch/suche and filter by fence height, among other criteria. Whether an area has a double gate is stated on its page.

As at: September 2026