---
title: Belcarra rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Belcarra?"
place: Belcarra, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/belcarra
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Belcarra
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Belcarra rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Belcarra an aggressive dog must be kept indoors or in a secure enclosure and muzzled off the owner's property, and it must never run at large. The bylaw notice is $200, or $150 if paid within 14 days. Report a problem dog to the Village Office, 604-937-4100.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Belcarra, https://belcarra.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice for aggressive dogs: $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days, $250 if paid more than 28 days after receiving the notice). No aggressive dog fee is set.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed statutory holidays).)
- Phone: Village Office, 604-937-4100
- Email: Village Office, belcarra@belcarra.ca

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** The bylaw defines an "aggressive dog", for example one that has attacked, bitten or injured a person (with or without provocation) or shown a tendency to, or one found dangerous or aggressive by a Provincial Court, another local government or a regional district. "Dangerous dog" has the Community Charter meaning.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 431, 2010 (PDF, consolidated), s. 2 definitions](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/01/Bylaw-431-2010-Village-of-Belcarra-Animal-Control-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a dog that has attacked, bitten or caused injury, with or without provocation, to a person or has demonstrated a propensity, tendency or disposition to do so" … "a dog that has been found to be dangerous or aggressive by a Provincial Court by a previous bylaw, by another local government, or by a regional district" … ""dangerous dog" has the same meaning as defined in the Community Charter"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Rules for owners:** An aggressive dog must be confined indoors or in an enclosure (at least 1.8 m high, solid floor, wire or steel mesh sides and roof). Off the owner's property it must be muzzled, and it must never run at large.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 431, 2010 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 2, 8-11](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/01/Bylaw-431-2010-Village-of-Belcarra-Animal-Control-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall own or keep an aggressive dog unless it is confined indoors, or confined in an enclosure designed to prevent the dog from escaping from the enclosure" … "a structure at least 1.8 metres (6 feet) in height, having a solid floor, and wire or steel mesh sides and roof" … "unless the dog is muzzled to prevent it from biting other domestic animals, dogs or humans" … "No person shall allow an aggressive dog to run at large within the boundaries of the municipality."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Licence fee:** None set. Belcarra does not license dogs, so there is no dangerous-dog fee.
- **How to report:** Use the Village's Dog Complaint Form (on the Documents & Forms page) and contact the Village Office at 604-937-4100. On a specific complaint the Poundkeeper or Officer acts under the bylaw.
  - Source: [Dog Complaint Form](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Dog-Complaint-Form-fillable.pdf)
  - Official wording: "DOG COMPLAINT FORM" … "Were there any injuries?"
  - Source: [Contact Us, Contact Us page](https://belcarra.ca/contact-us/)
  - Official wording: "4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8 Email: belcarra@belcarra.ca Phone: (604) 937-4100 Fax: (604) 939-5034 Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (Aggressive Dogs, ss. 8-11): $200, or $150 if paid within 14 days, or $250 if paid more than 28 days after receiving the notice.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 520, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw No. 431](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/09/Bylaw-520-2018-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dogs $200.00 $150.00 $250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Belcarra Animal Control Bylaw No. 431, 2010
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 431, 2010 (PDF, consolidated), title, s. 1](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/01/Bylaw-431-2010-Village-of-Belcarra-Animal-Control-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Village of Belcarra Animal Control Bylaw No. 431, 2010"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 431, 2010](<https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/01/Bylaw-431-2010-Village-of-Belcarra-Animal-Control-Consolidated.pdf>) defines an "aggressive dog", for example a dog that has attacked, bitten or caused injury to a person (with or without provocation) or has shown a tendency to, or a dog found dangerous or aggressive by a Provincial Court, another local government or a regional district. "Dangerous dog" has the meaning given in the Community Charter. The bylaw names no one who declares a dog aggressive; it is a definition.

## Steps

1. Owners: keep an aggressive dog confined indoors, or in an enclosure at least 1.8 m (6 feet) high with a solid floor and wire or steel mesh sides and roof.
2. Muzzle the dog whenever it is off your property.
3. Never let it run at large.
4. To report a problem dog, fill in the [Dog Complaint Form](<https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Dog-Complaint-Form-fillable.pdf>) and contact the Village Office at 604-937-4100. The form does not say where to send it, so ask when you call.

## Good to know

- The bylaw notice for aggressive dogs is $200; it drops to $150 if paid within 14 days and rises to $250 if paid more than 28 days after receiving the notice.
- On conviction in court the bylaw sets a fine of $2,500 to $10,000.
- A dangerous dog can also be the subject of an application to the Provincial Court for destruction.
- No special aggressive dog fee is set, because the Village does not state a dog licence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 431, 2010 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/01/Bylaw-431-2010-Village-of-Belcarra-Animal-Control-Consolidated.pdf)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 520, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/09/Bylaw-520-2018-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
- [Dog Complaint Form (PDF), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Dog-Complaint-Form-fillable.pdf)
- [Contact Us, Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/contact-us/)

## Related questions

- [Belcarra dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/how-many-pets.md)
- [Belcarra dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 431, 2010 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/01/Bylaw-431-2010-Village-of-Belcarra-Animal-Control-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 520, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/09/Bylaw-520-2018-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Dog Complaint Form (PDF), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Dog-Complaint-Form-fillable.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/contact-us/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Belcarra. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dangerous-dogs/_