---
title: Williams Lake rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/williams-lake
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Williams Lake
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Williams Lake rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Williams Lake, https://www.williamslake.ca)  
**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).  
**Where:**
- Online: Bylaw Services complaint link (written complaint with your name and phone number), https://www.williamslake.ca/270/Bylaw-Services
- Phone: City Hall, 250-392-2311

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated), definitions, "aggressive dog"](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Full Multi - Community Charter, Community Charter s. 49(1)](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_00_multi)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated), s. 22](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated), s. 22(b)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated), s. 23](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $200 aggressive-dog licence.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated), Schedule A](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Services, page](https://www.williamslake.ca/270/Bylaw-Services)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 2102, 2009
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated), s. 1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as the Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 2102, 2009."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

A licensed dog that becomes aggressive needs a new aggressive-dog licence within 14 days.

## What the owner must do

1. 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.
2. Muzzle the dog in public places.
3. Post "aggressive dog on the premises" signs.
4. Permanently identify the dog (a tattoo or similar).
5. Licence it: $200.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The City's copy of the bylaw is dated 2019; later changes, if any, were not seen.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2196 (consolidated, PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839)
- [Community Charter, s. 49 (BC Laws)](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/0302)

## Related questions

- [Williams Lake dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Williams Lake dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lillooet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2102, 2009 (consolidated)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39375) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/270/Bylaw-Services) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Community Charter, s. 49 (BC Laws)](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/0302) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Full Multi - Community Charter](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_00_multi) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Williams Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dangerous-dogs/_