{"title":"Burnaby rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","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 Burnaby","url":"https://www.burnaby.ca"},"short_answer":"Burnaby's Animal Control Bylaw has one category, \"vicious dog\": a dog that has bitten or injured a person or domestic animal without provocation, or a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier or pit bull type dog. Vicious dogs must be muzzled in public and securely confined at home.","aliases":["vicious dog burnaby","pit bull rules burnaby","dog bite burnaby","muzzle dog burnaby"],"cost":"Licence: $132 spayed or neutered, $200 not. A bylaw notice is $500 ($400 if paid within 15 days) for an unmuzzled or unconfined vicious dog, or a dog that attacks.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Animal Control Office","value":"604-294-7944","note":"7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outside those hours call Burnaby RCMP non-emergency, 604-646-9999. Call 911 for immediate risk."},{"type":"online","label":"Report an animal control incident","value":"https://www.burnaby.ca/form/animal-control"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw 9609 (consolidated PDF)","url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/9609CC.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Burnaby dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Burnaby dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/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":"The bylaw calls these 'vicious dogs': a dog that without provocation has bitten or caused injury to a person or a domestic animal (not a trespasser), or a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier or any dog generally recognized as a pit bull or pit bull terrier, including mixed breeds with predominant pit bull characteristics. The pound keeper may impound a vicious dog and keep it up to 21 days to assess whether it is a threat.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/9609CC.pdf","title":"Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (No. 9609), consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 2(1) \"vicious dog\"; s. 9(4)","quotes":["“vicious dog” means","a dog that without provocation has bitten or caused injury to a","a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, an American Pit Bull Terrier and any","twenty-one days after it has been seized and impounded in order to determine whether the animal is"]},{"url":"https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/pets-and-animals/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Burnaby","section":"Dog Licences page","quotes":["**A vicious or dangerous dog is:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Muzzle the dog whenever it is on a highway, park or other public place. While on your premises, keep it securely confined indoors, or in a fenced yard enclosure that keeps out children, prevents escape, and has a vicious-dog sign at each point of entry. The City says pit bulls must wear a muzzle at all times, even on a leash.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/9609CC.pdf","title":"Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (No. 9609), consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 5(2), 7","quotes":["Every owner of a vicious dog shall keep it muzzled while on a highway,","Every owner of a vicious dog shall, while the dog is on the owner's premises,","posted with a sign at each point of entry advising that a vicious"]},{"url":"https://www.burnaby.ca/explore-outdoors/dog-off-leash-areas","title":"Dog Off-leash Areas, City of Burnaby","section":"Legal responsibilities","quotes":["Pit bulls must wear a muzzle at all times–even when they're on a leash."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"Annual licence: spayed or neutered vicious dog $132; unaltered vicious dog $200 (the same whether paid before or after March 1).","short":"$132 a year ($200 if not spayed or neutered)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/14485CC.pdf","title":"Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule A1 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A1","quotes":["Spayed or neutered vicious o If paid by March 1 $132.00","Unaltered vicious dog o If paid by March 1 $200.00"]},{"url":"https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/pets-and-animals/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Burnaby","section":"Licensing fees","quotes":["**Vicious dog-spayed/neutered | $132 | $132"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Animal control office: 604-294-7944 (7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or the City's online animal control incident form, for dog bites and attacks. Outside office hours call Burnaby RCMP non-emergency 604-646-9999. Call 911 if there is an immediate risk to public safety.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/pets-and-animals/animal-control-and-burnaby-spca","title":"Animal Control and Burnaby SPCA, City of Burnaby","section":"Animal control services","quotes":["minor animal welfare concerns, barking dogs, dog bite and attacks","The animal control office is available to take your calls 7 days a week, from 9 am-5 pm.","Call 911 in the case of any situation where there is an immediate risk to public safety or another animal.","604-646-9999"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice, each $500 ($400 if paid within 15 days): vicious dog not muzzled (s. 5(2)); dog attacks a person or other animal (s. 5(2A)); unconfined vicious dog (s. 7).","short":"Notice $500 ($400 if paid within 15 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/12657CC.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw","quotes":["5(2) Vicious dog unmuzzled 500 400 NO","5(2A) Dog attacked person or other animal 500 400 NO","7 Unconfined vicious dog 500 400 NO"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (Bylaw No. 9609).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/9609CC.pdf","title":"Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (No. 9609), consolidated (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["BURNABY ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW 1991"]}],"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\nIn the [Animal Control Bylaw](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/9609CC.pdf), a \"vicious dog\" is a dog that, without provocation, has bitten or injured a person or a domestic animal (a trespasser does not count), or a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier or any dog generally recognized as a pit bull, including mixed breeds with mainly pit bull characteristics. The definition applies automatically; the bylaw describes no declaration process.\n\n## Rules for owners\n\n1. Muzzle the dog whenever it is on a highway, park or other public place. The City says pit bulls must wear a muzzle at all times, even on a leash.\n2. At home, keep it securely confined indoors, or in a fenced yard enclosure that keeps out children, prevents escape and has a vicious-dog sign at each point of entry.\n3. Pay the vicious dog licence fee: $132 spayed or neutered, $200 not, whether paid before or after March 1.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The pound keeper may impound a vicious dog and keep it up to 21 days to assess whether it is a threat.\n- Impoundment of a vicious dog costs $264 the first time and $528 each time after.\n- Bylaw notices, each $500 ($400 if paid within 15 days): vicious dog not muzzled; dog attacks a person or other animal; unconfined vicious dog. A court fine can reach $10,000.\n- To report a bite or attack, call the Animal Control Office at 604-294-7944 or use the City's online form.","sources":[{"url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/9609CC.pdf","title":"Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (No. 9609), consolidated (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/pets-and-animals/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Burnaby","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/12657CC.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/14485CC.pdf","title":"Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule A1 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.burnaby.ca/explore-outdoors/dog-off-leash-areas","title":"Dog Off-leash Areas, City of Burnaby","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/pets-and-animals/animal-control-and-burnaby-spca","title":"Animal Control and Burnaby SPCA, City of Burnaby","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/burnaby/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dangerous-dogs.json"}}