{"title":"Mackenzie dog leash rules and off-leash areas","question":"Where can dogs be off leash in Mackenzie, and what are the leash rules?","slug":"dog-leash-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Mackenzie","url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca"},"short_answer":"In Mackenzie, a dog must be leashed in any public place unless it is an off-leash area. These are Second Beach on Morfee Lake, the Dog Park behind the Recreation Centre, and local trails where trailhead signs do not say to leash. A walking leash is at most 183 cm (6 feet).","aliases":["dog off leash mackenzie","mackenzie dog park","dogs at large mackenzie","pick up dog poop mackenzie"],"cost":"Municipal ticket: $100 for a dog off leash in a public place that is not an off-leash area; $80 for a dog at large.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Animal Control & Bylaw Services","value":"250-997-3882","note":"If the officer is on patrol: 250-997-7617"},{"type":"phone","label":"District Main Office","value":"250-997-3221"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354 (consolidated PDF)","url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf"},{"title":"Animal Licences & Control page","url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Mackenzie dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"dangerous-dogs","title":"Mackenzie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Mackenzie bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/chetwynd","name":"Chetwynd","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-james","name":"Fort St James","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vanderhoof","name":"Vanderhoof","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-leash-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-john","name":"Fort St. John","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules/"},"facts":{"leash_rule":{"label":"Leash rule","value":"Every owner must keep a dog leashed in a public place unless that place is designated an Off-Leash Area. A dog must not be at large: it must be under the owner's direct and continuous control.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 3(h)","quotes":["Every owner shall keep their Dogs Leashed when the Dog is in a Public Place unless that place has been designated an Off-Leash Area."]},{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/","title":"Animal Licences & Control, District of Mackenzie","section":"Pet Owner Responsibilities","quotes":["Dogs must be on a leash and under your control at all times on municipal property and parks"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"leash_length":{"label":"Maximum leash length","value":"Not more than 183 cm (6 feet) for walking; a tether line may be up to 762 cm (25 feet).","short":"183 cm","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 2(y)","quotes":["does not exceed 183 centimeters (6 feet) for the purpose of walking","does not exceed 762 centimeters (25 feet) for the purpose of tethering"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"off_leash_areas":{"label":"Off-leash areas","value":"Second Beach on Morfee Lake, the Dog Park behind the Mackenzie Recreation Centre, and local trails (only where trailhead signage does not say dogs must be leashed).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/","title":"Animal Licences & Control, District of Mackenzie","section":"Pet Owner Responsibilities","quotes":["Second Beach on Morfee Lake","Dog Park behind the Mackenzie Recreation Center","Local Trails (only where trailhead signage does not indicate otherwise)"]},{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 2(hh)","quotes":["an area that dogs may be off leash – Second Beach, Dog"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"dogs_not_allowed":{"label":"Places dogs are not allowed","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"No list of places where dogs are banned was found.","sources":[]},"clean_up":{"label":"Cleaning up","value":"The owner must immediately remove and dispose of the dog's droppings from a public place or another person's property, in a garbage bin. The District also asks owners to pick up on their own property.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 5(k)","quotes":["An Owner of an Animal that defecates in a Public Place or on another person’s property shall forthwith remove and dispose of the defecated matter in a garbage bin."]},{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/","title":"Animal Licences & Control, District of Mackenzie","section":"Pet Owner Responsibilities","quotes":["Clean up any droppings left by your pet on public or private property (including your own property)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine_at_large":{"label":"Fine, dog at large or off leash","value":"Municipal ticket: $80 for a dog at large (s. 5(c)); $100 for failing to keep a dog leashed in a public place that is not an off-leash area (s. 3(h)).","short":"Ticket $80 at large; $100 not leashed","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bylaw-No.-1465-1488-1502-Municipal-Ticket-Information.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, 2022, amended by Nos. 1488 and 1502 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 2","quotes":["10. Dog at large. 5.(c) $80","3. Failure to keep dogs leashed in a public place that has not been 3.(h) $100"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016 (amended by Nos. 1377, 1473, 1491, 1501).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated (PDF)","section":"cover","quotes":["Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 2016 No. 1354"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder 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), every owner must keep a dog leashed in a public place unless that place is designated an Off-Leash Area. A dog must not be at large: it must be under its owner's direct and continuous control. A \"public place\" is a highway or any place owned or controlled by the District or another public body and open to the public.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Off-leash areas: Second Beach on Morfee Lake, the Dog Park behind the Mackenzie Recreation Centre, and local trails, except trails whose trailhead signs or maps say dogs must be leashed. We found no separate map.\n- A leash is not more than 183 cm (6 feet) for walking. A tether line may be up to 762 cm (25 feet).\n- Owners must immediately remove their dog's droppings from a public place or another person's property and put them in a garbage bin. The District's page says failing to do so may bring a fine of up to $500.\n- Tickets: $100 for not leashing a dog in a public place that is not an off-leash area, and $80 for a dog at large.\n- The bylaw bars animals from public places where animals are prohibited but does not list any. Ask Animal Control & Bylaw Services at 250-997-3882.","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/","title":"Animal Licences & Control, District of Mackenzie","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bylaw-No.-1465-1488-1502-Municipal-Ticket-Information.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, 2022, amended by Nos. 1488 and 1502 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules.json"}}