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

# Bowen Island rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Bowen Island, a dangerous dog is one that has killed or seriously injured a person or a companion or domestic animal, or that an animal control officer believes is likely to. Off its owner's property it must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than 2 metres, and it must be housed in a secure enclosure.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Bowen Island Municipality, https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca)  
**Cost:** No dangerous-dog licence or fee. Impoundment of a dangerous dog is $250 (first), $500 (second) and $1,000 (third and later) within a year. Bylaw notices start at $50.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-947-4255 ext. 2 (Municipal offices: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Email: Bylaw Services email, bylaw@bimbc.ca
- Phone: Animal Control Officer (on duty 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week except statutory holidays), 604-328-5499
- Phone: RCMP Bowen Island Detachment (non-emergency), 604-947-0516

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** A dangerous dog is one that has killed or seriously injured a person, that an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to do so, or that has killed or seriously injured a companion or domestic animal while in a public place or on private property other than the owner's or person responsible's. Dangerous dogs are dealt with by the animal control officer under Section 49 of the Community Charter.
  - Source: [Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022), Bowen Island Municipality, s. 1, s. 4.1(a)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/34266/)
  - Official wording: "has killed or seriously injured a person," … "an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill" … "Dangerous dogs shall be dealt with by the animal control officer pursuant to" … "Section 49 of the Community Charter."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Rules for owners:** Off the owner's property a dangerous dog must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than two metres, controlled by a responsible person over 18. It must be housed in an enclosure that prevents its escape and prevents unauthorized entry by any person.
  - Source: [Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022), Bowen Island Municipality, s. 4.1(b)-(d)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/34266/)
  - Official wording: "a dangerous dog shall be muzzled;" … "on a leash not longer than two metres and under the control of a responsible person over the" … "A dangerous dog is to be housed in an enclosure that prevents its escape and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Licence fee:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **How to report:** Bylaw Services acts as Animal Control Officer. Call 604-328-5499 (officer on duty 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week except statutory holidays), or 604-947-4255 ext 2, or email bylaw@bimbc.ca. For urgent matters call the RCMP non-emergency line at 604-947-0516.
  - Source: [Bylaw Services, Bowen Island Municipality, Service Profile](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/our-government/departments/bylaw-services/)
  - Official wording: "Responding to animal-related concerns and acting as Animal Control Officer and Pound Keeper"
  - Source: [Parking Tickets and Violation Notices - Bowen Island Municipality, Questions?](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/parking-tickets-and-violation-notices/)
  - Official wording: "Please contact Bylaw Services by calling 604-947-4255 ext 2 or emailing bylaw@bimbc.ca"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement - Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "please call the RCMP non-emergency number at 604-947-0516."
  - Source: [Dog Control, Bowen Island Municipality, Barking dogs / During business hours](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/dog-control/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Services now have an officer on duty from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, seven days a week (except statutory holidays)." … "call Bowen Bylaw Services at 604-328-5499."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: dangerous dog not muzzled or not leashed, $50 first, $100 second, $200 further; not properly housed, $100 first, $200 second, $500 further. Early-payment amounts are $25/$75/$175 and $75/$175/$475; late amounts are $75/$125/$225 and $125/$225/$500.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026), Bowen Island Municipality, Schedule AC](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/339717/)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog not muzzled – first" … "Dangerous dog not leashed – further" … "Dangerous dog not properly housed – first" … "4.1d 100.00 75.00 125.00 YES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Bowen Island Municipality Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022)
  - Source: [Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022), Bowen Island Municipality, title](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/34266/)
  - Official wording: "Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001" … "CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE – JULY 2022"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/34266/) says a dangerous dog is one that has killed or seriously injured a person, that an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to do so, or that has killed or seriously injured a companion or domestic animal while in a public place or on private property other than the owner's. The animal control officer deals with dangerous dogs under Section 49 of the Community Charter.

## Good to know

- Off the owner's property a dangerous dog must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than 2 metres, controlled by a responsible person over 18.
- It must be kept in an enclosure that prevents its escape and prevents unauthorized entry by anyone.
- Bylaw notices for a dangerous dog not muzzled or not leashed: $50 first, $100 second, $200 further. Not properly housed: $100 first, $200 second, $500 further. Paid within 14 days: $25, $75 and $175 for the first group and $75, $175 and $475 for the second.
- Impoundment fees for a dangerous dog are $250, $500 and $1,000 for the first, second and third and later times within a year.
- To report a dog, call the Animal Control Officer at 604-328-5499 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week except statutory holidays), or Bylaw Services at 604-947-4255 ext. 2, or email bylaw@bimbc.ca. For urgent matters call the RCMP non-emergency line at 604-947-0516. In an emergency call 911.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/34266/)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/339717/)
- [Dog Control, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/dog-control/)

## Related questions

- [Bowen Island dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Bowen Island dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dog-licence.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/how-many-pets.md)
- [Bowen Island bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Dog Control Bylaw No. 30, 2001 (consolidated July 2022) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/34266/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/339717/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Dog Control, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/dog-control/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Services, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/our-government/departments/bylaw-services/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Parking Tickets and Violation Notices - Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/parking-tickets-and-violation-notices/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement - Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/) (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 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Bowen Island Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dangerous-dogs/_