{"title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Mackenzie","question":"How many dogs or cats can I keep in Mackenzie?","slug":"how-many-pets","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, you may keep no more than 2 dogs and no more than 2 cats on a property without a permit. A District permit can allow up to 4 dogs or cats, or a mix of the two up to 4.","aliases":["pet limit mackenzie","how many dogs mackenzie bc","how many cats mackenzie","animal permit mackenzie"],"cost":"Permit to keep up to 4 dogs or cats: $58 (renewal $58). Ticket for keeping animals without a permit: $150.","how_long":"A permit lasts up to 1 year.","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":"backyard-chickens","title":"Mackenzie backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-chickens/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Mackenzie dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dog-leash-rules/"},{"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/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-james","name":"Fort St James","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vanderhoof","name":"Vanderhoof","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-john","name":"Fort St. John","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/how-many-pets/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets/"},"facts":{"dog_limit":{"label":"Dogs allowed","value":"No more than 2 dogs per property without a permit or kennel permit. A permit can allow up to 4 dogs or cats (or a combination up to 4).","short":"Max 2 dogs without a permit (up to 4 with permit)","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(e)","quotes":["No Owner shall Keep more than two (2) Dogs and two (2) Cats on the Owner’s Premises"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"cat_limit":{"label":"Cats allowed","value":"No more than 2 cats per property without a permit or kennel permit.","short":"Max 2 cats without a permit","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(e)","quotes":["No Owner shall Keep more than two (2) Dogs and two (2) Cats on the Owner’s Premises"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_limits":{"label":"Other animal limits","value":"Livestock (domestic use, penned) on RR1, RRB1 and RRC1 land: 5 horses, donkeys, llamas or hinnies; 2 cows, goats, sheep or pigs; 15 rabbits; or 25 chickens, turkeys, geese or ducks. RR2 has lower limits (s. 11(b)). None on a parcel under 0.4 ha. No exotic animals. One litter under 4 months at a time.","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. 11(a), (c); s. 5(a), (g)","quotes":["5 horses; or","25 chickens, turkeys, geese or ducks.","No Livestock are permitted on a Land Parcel that is smaller than .4 hectares (1 acre).","No person shall Keep an Exotic animal anywhere within the District of Mackenzie.","Only one litter of Animals under the age of four (4) months may be present on any Land Parcel at any one time","An Owner is permitted to Keep Livestock on the Owner’s Premises located within the Rural Residential 2 Zone (RR2), subject to the following:","20 chicken or turkeys or geese or ducks or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exceptions":{"label":"Exceptions","value":"A permit (s. 9) lets an owner keep up to 4 dogs or 4 cats, or a combination not over 4, aged 4 months or more, for up to 1 year; it needs adjacent neighbours' written consent for any period over 6 months, and a tenant needs the landlord's written authorization. A Kennel Permit allows more for a kennel in a zone where kennels are allowed.","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. 9(a), s. 10","quotes":["An Owner may obtain a Permit for a period of up to one(1) year to Keep up to four (4) Dogs or four (4) Cats","written consent of any property owners or tenants who live adjacent to the Owner’s Premises has been obtained","No person shall operate a Kennel on any Land Parcel that is a Zone in which a Kennel is not a lawful use under the Zoning Bylaw."]},{"url":"https://districtofmackenzie.ca/public-services/animal-control-bylaw-services/animal-licences-control/","title":"Animal Licences & Control, District of Mackenzie","section":"Annual Licence Fees","quotes":["| Dog Licence replacement tag | $7.50 | $7.50 | Permit | $58.00 | $58.00 | Permit renewal | $58.00 | $58.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Municipal ticket $150 for harbouring animals without a permit (s. 5(e)).","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":["12. Harbouring animals without a permit. 5.(e) $150"]}],"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":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe 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) sets the same limit across its premises: no more than 2 dogs and no more than 2 cats per property without a permit or kennel permit. The bylaw gives no separate rule by zone.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. For more than 2 dogs or 2 cats, ask Animal Control & Bylaw Services (250-997-3882) for a permit. It covers up to 4 dogs or 4 cats, or a mix up to 4, aged 4 months or more, for up to 1 year.\n2. Get written consent from your adjacent neighbours if the permit is for more than 6 months. A tenant needs the landlord's written authorization.\n3. Pay the $58 fee ($58 to renew).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A Kennel Permit allows more animals for a kennel in a zone where kennels are allowed. The kennel licence is $28.50.\n- The District may revoke a permit without notice if the bylaw is broken.\n- Also under the bylaw: no exotic animals, and one litter under 4 months at a time.\n- Livestock and hens have their own rules, by zone: see the backyard chickens answer.\n- A municipal ticket for keeping animals without a permit is $150.","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 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/how-many-pets/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/how-many-pets.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/how-many-pets.json"}}