Public Space Protection Order (dog control)

Dog fouling

It is an offence if anyone in charge of a dog do not remove their pet faeces straightaway from land within Tower Hamlets that is open to the air and accessible to land.

  • public roads, footpaths, cycle paths and verges adjacent to these roads 

  • parks and recreational spaces, cemeteries and cCouncil-owned allotments 

  • school playing fields, playgrounds and any land surrounding schools and colleges 

  • council-owned housing estates 

Dog exclusion order

This enables us to stop dogs from entering certain areas including: 

  • Gated children’s playgrounds 

  • Gated sports area such as sports courts, multi-use games areas, tennis courts 

These are spaces within a parks, open spaces or housing estates that are is fully or substantially enclosed and set apart for the use by children as a playground or other area for play or for sporting activities. This restriction includes the entrance points, including gates or other openings within the enclosure. 

Dogs on leads order

This requires people to keep their dogs on a lead on: 

  • roads 

  • pavements 

  • car parks 

  • estate roads and communal areas on estates 

Dogs on leads by direction order

This gives authorised council officers such as the Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers (THEOs) and Animal Wardens the power to request that dogs are put on leads where they are not under the appropriate control of their owner, or where they are causing nuisance or damage or acting aggressively.

Dog limit 

The Public Space Protection Order (Dog Control) prohibits any one person having more than four dogs under their control at any given time. 

However, dog walkers will be able to walk up to SIX dogs with a professional dog walkers licence issued by London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Links and associated pages

Animal warden service 

Dogs in our parks 

You, your dog and the law  

Report a lost pet or stray animal 

Report it   

Report a street cleaning problem including animal fouling

You, your dog and the law 

Responsible dog ownership