---
title: Mackenzie dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash in Mackenzie, and what are the leash rules?"
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/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Mackenzie dog leash rules and off-leash areas

**Question:** Where can dogs be off leash in Mackenzie, and what are the leash rules?

**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).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Mackenzie, https://districtofmackenzie.ca)  
**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.  
**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

- **Leash rule:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 3(h)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Animal Licences & Control, Pet Owner Responsibilities](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/)
  - Official wording: "Dogs must be on a leash and under your control at all times on municipal property and parks"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Maximum leash length:** Not more than 183 cm (6 feet) for walking; a tether line may be up to 762 cm (25 feet).
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 2(y)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Off-leash areas:** 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).
  - Source: [Animal Licences & Control, Pet Owner Responsibilities](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/)
  - Official wording: "Second Beach on Morfee Lake" … "Dog Park behind the Mackenzie Recreation Center" … "Local Trails (only where trailhead signage does not indicate otherwise)"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 2(hh)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an area that dogs may be off leash – Second Beach, Dog"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Not confirmed. No list of places where dogs are banned was found.
- **Cleaning up:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 5(k)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Animal Licences & Control, Pet Owner Responsibilities](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/)
  - Official wording: "Clean up any droppings left by your pet on public or private property (including your own property)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** 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)).
  - 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: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016 (amended by Nos. 1377, 1473, 1491, 1501).
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, cover](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bylaw.1354-Consolidated-Animal-Control-and-Licencing-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 2016 No. 1354"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- A leash is not more than 183 cm (6 feet) for walking. A tether line may be up to 762 cm (25 feet).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

## 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)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/how-many-pets.md)
- [Mackenzie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Mackenzie bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules.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)
- [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 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. 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/dog-leash-rules/_