---
title: Mackenzie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Mackenzie?"
place: Mackenzie, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/mackenzie
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Mackenzie
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Mackenzie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

**Question:** What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Mackenzie?

**Short answer:** In Mackenzie, a dangerous dog must be kept indoors or in a locked, secure enclosure and muzzled off the owner's premises. The District's bylaw sets a licence fee of $258 for a spayed or neutered dangerous dog. Complaints go in writing to Animal Control & Bylaw Services.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Mackenzie, https://districtofmackenzie.ca)  
**Cost:** Dangerous dog licence: $258 spayed or neutered, $285 not (the bylaw). Repeat offender dog licence: $122. Tickets: $200 each for failing to secure, muzzle, or pay the licence fee.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control & Bylaw Services, 250-997-3882 (If the officer is on patrol: 250-997-7617)
- Phone: District Main Office, 250-997-3221

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** A "Dangerous Dog" is one defined as dangerous in section 49 of the Community Charter, and includes a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person, has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal (in a public place or on private property), or that a Bylaw Officer or peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 2(k)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Dangerous Dog” means a dangerous dog as defined by section 49 or the Community" … "has killed or seriously injured a person," … "a Bylaw Officer or Peace Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Rules for owners:** Keep the dog indoors or in a locked, secure enclosure (secure sides and top; if no secured bottom, sides buried at least one foot) that keeps children and others out. Off the owner's premises the dog must be muzzled. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer may require compliance. Owners of dangerous and repeat offender dogs also pay the Schedule A licence fee.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 4(a), (b), (d)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall Keep a Dangerous Dog unless it is confined indoors or confined in a securely enclosed and locked shelter" … "unless the Dog is Muzzled to prevent it form biting another Animal or person." … "An Owner of a Repeat Offender Dog and/or Dangerous Dog shall be required to pay the Licence fee detailed in Schedule A"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Licence fee:** Dangerous dog licence: $258 on the District's web page; the bylaw Schedule A shows $258 (spayed or neutered) and $285 (not). Repeat offender dog licence: $122. (Sources differ: The bylaw schedule and the web page differ for a dog that is not spayed or neutered ($285 vs $258); the $285 may be a typo, but the bylaw is the stated rule.)
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, Schedule A](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "9. Dangerous dog Licence $258.00 $285.00" … "Repeat Offender Dog Licence"
  - Source: [Animal Licences & Control, Annual Licence Fees for Dogs](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog licence | $258.00 | $258.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** Complaints to Animal Control & Bylaw Services must be in writing, with your name and phone number (no anonymous complaints) and as much detail as possible. Animal Control & Bylaw Services phone: 250-997-3882.
  - Source: [Animal Licences & Control, Report a Concern](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/)
  - Official wording: "Complaints must be made in writing." … "You must include your name and phone number, complaints cannot be made anonymously."
  - Source: [Animal Control & Bylaw Services](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control & Bylaw Services 1 Mackenzie Blvd Mackenzie, BC 250-997-3882"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $200 for failing to secure a dangerous dog (s. 4(a)), $200 for failing to muzzle (s. 4(b)), $200 for an owner of a repeat offender or dangerous dog not paying the licence fee (s. 4(d)).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, 2022, amended by Nos. 1488 and 1502, Schedule 2](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bylaw-No.-1465-1488-1502-Municipal-Ticket-Information.pdf)
  - Official wording: "5. Fail to secure a dangerous dog. 4.(a) $200" … "6. Fail to muzzle a dangerous dog. 4.(b) $200" … "7. Failure of owner of repeat dog offender and or dangerous dog 4.(d) $200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, Part IV (Dangerous Dogs and Repeat Offender Dogs).
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 4](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dogs and Repeat Offender Dogs"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Mackenzie's [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf) (Part IV) covers dangerous dogs and repeat offender dogs. A "Dangerous Dog" is one defined as dangerous in section 49 of the Community Charter. That includes a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal, or that a Bylaw Officer or peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. A "Repeat Offender Dog" is one impounded 3 times, or whose owner has had 3 at-large tickets, or a total of 3 of the two, within 24 months.

## Owner rules

- Keep the dog indoors or in a locked, secure enclosure that keeps children and others out. It needs secure sides and top; if there is no secured bottom, the sides must be buried at least one foot.
- Muzzle the dog when it is off the owner's premises.
- Pay the Schedule A licence fee for a dangerous or repeat offender dog.

## Good to know

- Municipal tickets are $200 each for failing to secure a dangerous dog, failing to muzzle it, or not paying the licence fee.
- The District's web page lists $258 for a dangerous dog licence, while the bylaw schedule shows $285 for a dog that is not spayed or neutered. Confirm the amount with the District.
- To report a dog, send a written complaint with your name and phone number (no anonymous complaints) and as much detail as possible. Phone 250-997-3882.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354 (consolidated PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Animal Licences & Control page](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/)

## Related questions

- [Mackenzie dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-licence.md)
- [Mackenzie dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/how-many-pets.md)
- [Mackenzie bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Licences & Control, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control & Bylaw Services, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, 2022, amended by Nos. 1488 and 1502 (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bylaw-No.-1465-1488-1502-Municipal-Ticket-Information.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Mackenzie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs/_