---
title: Castlegar rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/castlegar
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Castlegar rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** Castlegar's Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342 has three classes: aggressive, vicious and dangerous dogs, with annual licences of $100, $200 and $500. The detailed owner rules are in the bylaw, which is not readable online. Report a dog to the BC SPCA West Kootenay, 250-509-0297.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Annual licence: aggressive $100; vicious $200; dangerous $500.  
**Where:**
- Phone: BC SPCA West Kootenay (animal control), 250-509-0297
- In person: Castlegar City Hall, 460 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1G7

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Not confirmed. Castlegar's Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342 is a scan with no readable text.
- **Rules for owners:** Bylaw 1342 has rules for aggressive dogs (ss. 8.1-8.5), vicious dogs (ss. 9.1-9.2) and dangerous dogs (ss. 10.1-10.10), including a 'proper dangerous dog enclosure' (s. 12.1). The detailed rules (muzzle, leash, signs) could not be read.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "8.1-8.5 Aggressive dog $50 $100 $150" … "9.1-9.2 Vicious dog $50 $100 $150" … "10.1-10.10 Dangerous dog $50 $100 $150" … "Failure to provide proper" … "dangerous dog enclosure"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Annual licence: aggressive dog $100, vicious dog $200, dangerous dog $500.
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, Annual Fee Schedule](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "| $25 | Unspayed or Unneutered Dog | $75 | Aggressive Dog | $100 | Vicious Dog | $200" … "| $75 | Aggressive Dog | $100 | Vicious Dog | $200 | Dangerous Dog | $500" … "| $100 | Vicious Dog | $200 | Dangerous Dog | $500 | Kennel Licence | $55"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Report dog concerns to BC SPCA West Kootenay, 250-509-0297 (the City contracts out animal control to it).
  - Source: [Animal Control, City page: Animal Control](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "Domestic animal (dogs, cats) complaints or concerns should be directed to:" … "BC SPCA West Kootenay" … "250-509-0297"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal tickets, each $50 first offence, $100 second, $150 third within 12 months: aggressive dog (ss. 8.1-8.5), vicious dog (9.1-9.2), dangerous dog (10.1-10.10), guard dog not confined (11.1), no proper dangerous dog enclosure (12.1).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "8.1-8.5 Aggressive dog $50 $100 $150" … "9.1-9.2 Vicious dog $50 $100 $150" … "10.1-10.10 Dangerous dog $50 $100 $150" … "failure to properly" … "confine a guard dog" … "12.1 $50 $100 $150"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1342
  - Source: [Apply for a Pet Licence, City page: Related Bylaws](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw 1342 – Animal Control and Licencing"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/) has separate rules for aggressive dogs (sections 8.1 to 8.5), vicious dogs (9.1 to 9.2) and dangerous dogs (10.1 to 10.10), a rule for guard dogs (11.1) and a "proper dangerous dog enclosure" requirement (12.1). The bylaw PDF is a scan with no readable text, so the detailed rules (muzzles, leashes, signs, enclosures) and how a dog is declared are not stated here.

## Good to know

- Annual licence fees: aggressive dog $100, vicious dog $200, dangerous dog $500.
- Municipal tickets for each of these offences are $50, then $100, then $150 for a second and third offence within 12 months.
- The City contracts animal control to the BC SPCA West Kootenay. Report dog concerns to 250-509-0297.
- For the rules that apply to a specific dog, ask the City at City Hall, 460 Columbia Avenue.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw 1342 (PDF, scanned copy)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Bylaw-1342-Animal-Control-and-Licencing.pdf)
- [Apply for a Pet Licence](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/)

## Related questions

- [Castlegar dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Castlegar dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Apply for a Pet Licence, City of Castlegar](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/apply-for-a-pet-licence/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Castlegar](https://www.castlegar.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dangerous-dogs/_