This guide provides key resources related sections 428 – 447.1(3) of the Criminal Code, as well as related provincial and municipal offences. This encompasses the willful damage or destruction of property and acts that interfere with the use, safety, or operability of property. Also included are resources related to animal cruelty and other offences against animals. Topics in this area include but are not limited to:
- Arson, including arson for the purpose of committing insurance fraud
- Mischief, including acts against religious property, war memorials, and cultural property
- Destroying or altering computer data
- Interfering with property and boundary lines
- Creating unauthorized recordings of movies
- False fire alarms
- Unlawful use of explosives
- Injuring, killing, or endangering animals
- Animal cruelty
This guide does not address public mischief, which includes acts such as making false accusations or falsely reporting crimes.
For information on sentencing also see our research guide: Criminal Law – Sentencing.
Texts
- Alberta Provincial Offences
- Animals as crime victims, edited by Lacey Levitt, David B. Rosengard, Jessica Rubin. Table of Contents
- Canadian animal law (available online), by V. Victoria Shroff. Table of Contents
- Commercial crime in Canada (available online), by Michael Henderson. Table of Contents
- Common Canadian Criminal Code offences and procedures 2020-2021, by Henry Waldock. Table of Contents
- Contemporary Canadian insurance law (available online), by Michael Thomas & Nigel Trevethan. Table of Contents
- Criminal law (available online), 8th ed. by Kent Roach. Table of Contents
- Criminal law in Canada: cases, questions, and the code, 8th ed. by David MacAlister & Simon Verdun-Jones. Table of Contents
- Criminal pleadings and practice in Canada (available online), 3rd ed, by Eugene G. Ewaschuk. Table of Contents
- Manning, Mewett & Sankoff : criminal law (available online), 5th ed. by Morris Manning & Peter Sankoff. Table of Contents
- Professor Sankoff’s guide to Canadian animal protection law, by Peter Sankoff. Table of Contents
- Professor Sankoff’s guide to criminal defences, by Peter Sankoff. Table of Contents
- Sookman, computer, internet, electronic commerce and artificial intelligence law (available online), by Barry B Sookman. Table of Contents
- Working manual of criminal law (available online), by Susan J. Brown & John M. Gordon.
- Tremeear’s Criminal Code: and the following related statutes, Canada Evidence Act, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Food and Drugs Act, Narcotic Control Act, Young Offenders Act (available online) by David Watt & Michelle K. Fuerst Table of Contents.
- Crankshaw’s Criminal Code of Canada: R.S.C. 1985 (available online), by Gary P. Rodrigues.
- Martin’s annual Criminal Code (available online), by J.C. Martin Table of Contents.
- Practitioner’s Criminal Code by Alan D. Gold Table of Contents.
- Snow’s annotated Criminal Code (available online), by Rod Heather
Last revised June 11, 2026
Case Law
- CanLII
- ICLR
- Lexis+™ Canada
- vLex Justis
- Westlaw Edge Canada
- The National Centre for the Prosecution of Animal Cruelty (NCPAC) Case Law Database
For more information on finding cases see our research guide: Finding and Researching Cases
The Canadian Abridgment available on: Westlaw Edge Canada
All Canadian Summaries, Canadian Case Summaries and Canada Digest are available on: Lexis+ Canada
Last revised June 11, 2026
Legislation
Criminal Code
- Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46
- Sections 428-443: “Wilful and Forbidden Acts in Respect of Certain Property”
Related Federal Acts
- Canada Wildlife Act, RSC, 1985, c W-9
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, SC 1999, c 33
- Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, SC 2000, c 24
- Cultural Property Export and Import Act, RSC 1985, c C-51
- This act defines “cultural property”
- Health of Animals Act, SC 1990, c 21
- Justice for Animals in Service Act (Quanto’s Law), SC 2015, c 34
- National Defence Act, RSC 1985, c N-5
- Species at Risk Act, SC 2002, c 29
- Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, SC 1992, c 52
Federal Acts and Regulations can be found electronically at:
Statutes and Regulations
Destruction or damage to property, or causing distress to animals, do not always result in a criminal charge under the Criminal Code. Depending on the nature and severity of the act, it may result in a civil lawsuit, a ban on animal ownership, fines or other consequences.
- Municipal Government Act, RSA 2000, c M-26
- Provincial Offences Procedure Act, RSA 2000, c P-34
- Procedures Regulation, Alta Reg 63/2017
The Municipal Government Act enables municipalities to create bylaws related to responsible pet ownership, nuisances, graffiti, dangerous property conditions, open air fires, fireworks, and other activities that may result in property damage or harm to animals. The Provincial Offences Procedure Act enables the issuing of tickets and summons, and the Procedures Regulation describes how the Provincial Offences Procedure Act may be carried out.
Search municipal bylaws in Alberta here: Finding Municipal Bylaws
Bylaws enacted by First Nations can be found here: First Nations Gazette
Related Provincial Legislation
- Animal Health Act, SA 2007, c A-40.2
- Animal Protection Act, RSA 2000, c A-41
- Dangerous Dogs Act, RSA 2000, c D-3
- Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, RSA 2000, c E-12
- Fisheries (Alberta) Act, RSA 2000, c F-16
- Forest and Prairie Protection Act, RSA 2000, c F-19
- Insurance Act, RSA 2000, c I-3
- Livestock Industry Diversification Act, RSA 2000, c L-17
- Meat Inspection Act, RSA 2000, c M-9
- Occupiers’ Liability Act, RSA 2000, c O-4
- Petty Trespass Act, RSA 2000, c P-1
- Property Rights Statutes Amendment Act, 2022, SA 2022, c 23
- The Property Rights Statutes Amendment Act abolished adverse possession claims (also known as “squatter’s rights”) by amending the Land Titles Act, RSA 2000, c L-4, the Law of Property Act, RSA 2000, c L-7, and the Limitations Act, RSA 2000, c L-12.
- Public Lands Act, RSA 2000, c P-40
- Provincial Parks Act, RSA 2000, c P-35
- Residential Tenancies Act, SA 2004, c R-17.1
- Stray Animals Act, RSA 2000, c S-20
- Trespass to Premises Act, RSA 2000, c T-7
- Wildlife Act, RSA 2000, c W-10
To access or purchase the official versions of provincial legislation, go to: Alberta King’s Printer
Last revised June 11, 2026
Websites
- Animal Enforcement & Protection: From livestock to Companion Animals (Alberta SPCA)
- Canadian Legal FAQs – Criminal Code (Centre for Public Legal Education)
- Legal Aid Alberta – Adult Criminal Law
- Mischief, Graffiti, & Vandalism (Student Legal Services of Edmonton)
- People Without a Lawyer (Alberta Court of Justice)
- Wildfire Compliance and Enforcement (Government of Alberta)
- Victim Restitution and Recovery (Government of Alberta)
- What You Need to Know if You Have Been Charged with a Crime (Alberta Court of Justice)
- Canadian Council on Animal Care – Guidelines and Policies
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Animal Health (The Government of Canada)
- Codes of Practice – Kennel Operations, Care of Domestic Cats, and Care and Handling of Farm Animals (Canadian Veterinary Medical Association)
- Criminal Law Handbook (Canadian Judicial Council)
- Graffiti (RCMP)
- Hate Crimes and Incidents (RCMP)
- The National Centre for the Prosecution of Animal Cruelty (NCPAC) – Resources
- Navigating The Canadian Criminal Justice System: A Guide for Victims (Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crimes)
Last revised June 11, 2026
Encyclopedias
Canadian Encyclopedic Digest (C.E.D.) (available online), 4th ed. Sections related to the wilful destruction or damage of property include:
- Animals
- Criminal Law – Defences
- Criminal law – Offences
- Environmental Law
- Fires (Western)
- Insurance – General
- Internet Law
The CED provides discussion of these areas of law with annotations to legislation and case law. Additional information may be found by searching the indexes or database using the keywords “wilful and forbidden acts in respect of certain property,” “damage to property,” “destructive acts,” “wilful damage,” “occupant injuring building,” “arson,” “mischief,” “interference with property,” “cruelty to animals,” “illegal animal sports,” “injuring or endangering,” “causing unnecessary suffering,” “protection of animals” etc.
Also available electronically through: Westlaw Edge Canada
Halsbury’s laws of Canada is a multi-volume set which includes coverage of Federal, Provincial & Territorial legislation.
Also available electronically through: Lexis+ Canada
Titles related to wilful destruction or damage of property include:
Titles related to offences against animals include:
Additional information may be found under other topical headings.
Last revised June 11, 2026
Journals
Journals
- Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice (available online)
- Criminal Law Quarterly (available online)
- For the Defence (available online) – Criminal Lawyers’ Association Newsletter
Indexes
- Index to Canadian legal literature (ICLL) (available online)
- Current index to legal periodicals (CILP) (available online)
Additional full-text articles are available electronically through:
- CanLII – commentary – contains books, articles and reports.
- HeinOnline – provides full-text access to Canadian and international law reviews and legal journals.
- Lexis+™ Canada
- vLex Justis
- Westlaw Edge Canada – contains a collection of Canadian journals and law reviews, as well as all articles and case comments appearing in Carswell law reports.
For more information on looking for journal articles see our research guide Finding journal articles, conference materials & theses
Last revised June 11, 2026
Disclaimer: As law librarians, we are pleased to provide you this resource for information and research purposes only – It is not a substitute for professional legal advice. We strive to bring you quality and current information in this resource, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, accessibility, adequacy, or completeness of the information presented here. The sources featured are selected based on professional assessment and opinion, and do not constitute an endorsement, editorial, review, or guarantee.