Burnaby rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?
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.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | 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.Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (No. 9609), consolidated, s. 2(1) "vicious dog"; s. 9(4); Dog Licences, Dog Licences page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording“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 **A vicious or dangerous dog is: |
|---|---|
| Rules for owners | 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.Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (No. 9609), consolidated, s. 5(2), 7; Dog Off-leash Areas, Legal responsibilities · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingEvery 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 Pit bulls must wear a muzzle at all times–even when they're on a leash. |
| Licence fee | Annual licence: spayed or neutered vicious dog $132; unaltered vicious dog $200 (the same whether paid before or after March 1).Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule A1; Dog Licences, Licensing fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSpayed or neutered vicious o If paid by March 1 $132.00 Unaltered vicious dog o If paid by March 1 $200.00 **Vicious dog-spayed/neutered | $132 | $132 |
| How to report | 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.Animal Control and Burnaby SPCA, Animal control services · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingminor 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 |
| Fine | 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).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording5(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 |
| Bylaw | Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (Bylaw No. 9609).Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (No. 9609), consolidated, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBURNABY ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW 1991 |
How it works
In the Animal Control Bylaw, 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.
Rules for owners
- 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.
- 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.
- Pay the vicious dog licence fee: $132 spayed or neutered, $200 not, whether paid before or after March 1.
Good to know
- The pound keeper may impound a vicious dog and keep it up to 21 days to assess whether it is a threat.
- Impoundment of a vicious dog costs $264 the first time and $528 each time after.
- 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.
- To report a bite or attack, call the Animal Control Office at 604-294-7944 or use the City's online form.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
New Westminster · Richmond · Port Moody · Belcarra · Vancouver · Coquitlam
Sources
- Burnaby Animal Control Bylaw 1991 (No. 9609), consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licences, City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule A1 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Off-leash Areas, City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control and Burnaby SPCA, City of Burnaby (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. How answers are checked.