{"title":"Williams Lake rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/williams-lake","name":"Williams Lake","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":"City of Williams Lake","url":"https://www.williamslake.ca"},"short_answer":"Williams Lake's Animal Control Bylaw requires an aggressive dog to be licensed ($200), kept indoors, in a locked enclosure or on a short leash held by a competent adult, and muzzled in public. Report one in writing to City Bylaw Services.","aliases":["aggressive dog williams lake","dog bite williams lake","dangerous dog bylaw","vicious dog williams lake"],"cost":"Aggressive-dog licence $200. Impound fee $200 first, $500 second, $1,000 third and later in a calendar year. Bylaw notice $200 for most offences ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"online","label":"Bylaw Services complaint link (written complaint with your name and phone number)","value":"https://www.williamslake.ca/270/Bylaw-Services"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-392-2311"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (PDF)","url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375"},{"title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2196 (consolidated, PDF)","url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839"},{"title":"Community Charter, s. 49 (BC Laws)","url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/0302"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Williams Lake dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Williams Lake dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dog-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/100-mile-house","name":"100 Mile House","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/quesnel","name":"Quesnel","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/clearwater","name":"Clearwater","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lillooet","name":"Lillooet","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/dangerous-dogs/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs/"},"facts":{"how_declared":{"label":"How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive","value":"Aggressive dog: one that has attacked, bitten or injured a person or domestic animal, pursued or harassed anyone, was trained for dog fighting, is a 'dangerous dog', or is judged dangerous or aggressive by the Animal Control Officer. Dangerous dog (Community Charter s. 49): has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or an officer believes it likely to.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"definitions, \"aggressive dog\"","quotes":["a dog that has attacked, bitten, or caused injury to a person","a dog that is considered by the Animal Control Officer to be dangerous or aggressive on","\"DANGEROUS DOG\" has the same meaning as defined in Section 49(1) of the Community Charter"]},{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_00_multi","title":"Full Multi - Community Charter","section":"Community Charter s. 49(1)","quotes":["has killed or seriously injured a person,","an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Keep the dog at all times either indoors, in a locked enclosure (min. 1.5 m x 3 m x 1.5 m high, 1 m from property line and 5 m from a neighbouring dwelling), or on a leash or tether of 1.5 m or less held by a competent adult; muzzle it in public places. Post 'aggressive dog on the premises' signs and permanently identify the dog (tattoo or similar). Licence it.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 22","quotes":["Every owner of an aggressive dog or other aggressive animal must at all times keep the","securely confined indoors such that the animal cannot escape","no more that 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) in length","muzzled while in a public place"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 22(b)","quotes":["minimum dimensions of one and one-half (1.5) metres by three (3) metres and be a minimum one and one-half (1.5) metres in height","the enclosure shall not be within one (1) metre of the property line or within five (5) metres of a neighbouring dwelling unit"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 23","quotes":["post warning signs which give clear notice of the dog's or animal's presence","ensure that an aggressive dog can be identified by way of a numeric or alphanumeric","must obtain an \"aggressive dog\" license for an aggressive dog"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"$200 aggressive-dog licence.","short":"$200 (aggressive dog)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Kennel license @ 4 or less dogs $50.00 Kennel license @ 5 or more dogs $100.00 Aggressive dog $200.00 BL2174 (24/9/13) Hen Keeping License Fee"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Make a written complaint to City Bylaw Services with your name and phone number and the address involved (complaint link on the Bylaw Services page, or complaint form at City Hall or the Fire Hall). Phone City Hall at 250-392-2311.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/270/Bylaw-Services","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Williams Lake","section":"page","quotes":["policy that complaints be received in writing","The name and phone number of the complainant must be provided","If you have an issue which requires more immediate attention, or you have a question, please contact us through the front desk at City Hall:","By phone at 250-392-2311"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $200 for an aggressive dog at large, not muzzled, not enclosed, or no warning signs ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late). $100 for not permanently identifying the aggressive dog.","short":"Notice $200 ($150 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-1","section":"Schedule A-1","quotes":["Aggressive Dog at Large","Aggressive Dog Not Muzzled","Failure to enclose aggressive dog","Failure to display warning signs for aggressive","$200.00","$150.00","$250.00","Failure to permanently identify aggressive"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 2102, 2009","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be cited as the Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 2102, 2009."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375) defines an \"aggressive dog\" as one that has attacked, bitten or injured a person or domestic animal, pursued or harassed anyone, was trained for dog fighting, is a \"dangerous dog\", or is judged dangerous or aggressive by the Animal Control Officer. A \"dangerous dog\" under section 49 of the provincial Community Charter is one that has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or that an officer believes is likely to.\n\nA licensed dog that becomes aggressive needs a new aggressive-dog licence within 14 days.\n\n## What the owner must do\n\n1. Keep the dog at all times either indoors, in a locked enclosure (at least 1.5 m by 3 m and 1.5 m high, 1 m from the property line and 5 m from a neighbouring dwelling), or on a leash or tether of 1.5 m or less held by a competent adult.\n2. Muzzle the dog in public places.\n3. Post \"aggressive dog on the premises\" signs.\n4. Permanently identify the dog (a tattoo or similar).\n5. Licence it: $200.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- To report an aggressive dog, make a written complaint to City Bylaw Services with your name, phone number and the address involved. Use the complaint link on the Bylaw Services page, or a complaint form at City Hall or the Fire Hall, or phone City Hall at 250-392-2311. Complaints are kept confidential. The City page does not mention emergencies or the RCMP.\n- Bylaw notices: $200 for an aggressive dog at large, not muzzled, not enclosed or without warning signs ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late). $100 for not permanently identifying the dog.\n- Impound fees for an aggressive dog are $200 the first time, $500 the second and $1,000 the third and later in a calendar year.\n- The City's copy of the bylaw is dated 2019; later changes, if any, were not seen.","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-1","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/270/Bylaw-Services","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Williams Lake","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/0302","title":"Community Charter, s. 49 (BC Laws)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_00_multi","title":"Full Multi - Community Charter","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/williams-lake/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dangerous-dogs.json"}}