--- title: Central Saanich rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Central Saanich?" place: Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/central-saanich category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: District of Central Saanich sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dangerous-dogs/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dangerous-dogs.json" --- # Central Saanich rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs **Question:** What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Central Saanich? **Short answer:** In Central Saanich, an Animal Control Officer can designate a dog aggressive or dangerous by written notice. Owners then face strict rules on leashes, muzzles, enclosures and licensing. Report a dangerous dog to CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Central Saanich, https://www.centralsaanich.ca) **Cost:** The fee for an aggressive or dangerous dog licence is set in the Fees and Charges Bylaw, which could not be read. Ask the District. A court fine can be up to $50,000. **How long:** An aggressive designation can be removed after one year with training. **Where:** - Phone: CRD Animal Control, 250-478-0624 (After hours, call 1-800-807-4077 only for a true and immediate public safety concern.) - Phone: Bylaw Enforcement Officer, 250-544-4237 (Bylaw@csaanich.ca; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) ## Key facts - **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer designates the dog and delivers written notice to the owner. Aggressive: showed aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury, with no mitigating factor. Dangerous: killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal off the owner's property, or is likely to; or a court found it dangerous. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), ss. 4.1, 4.3, 4.4](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "an Animal Control Officer may designate the Dog as a Dangerous Dog and will Deliver" … "Animal Control Officer may designate the Dog as an Aggressive Dog and will Deliver" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Rules for owners:** Never at large or in an off-leash area. In public: collar or harness and leash no longer than 1.2 m, not retractable; dangerous dogs also muzzled. Dangerous dogs need warning signs and secure indoor or locked enclosure. Permanent ID within 14 days, photo within 7 days, special licence, notify of death or move within 48 hours. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), ss. 4.8, 4.10](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "when in a Public Place, properly secure a Muzzle upon the Dangerous Dog" … "within 14 days of receiving notice of the Dog being designated a Dangerous Dog" … "within seven days of the Dog being designated a Dangerous Dog" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Licence fee:** Not confirmed. The licence fee is in the Fees and Charges Bylaw, which has no readable text. - **How to report:** Call CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624. After hours, call 1-800-807-4077 only for a true and immediate public safety concern. - Source: [Pets and Wildlife, Public Safety Concerns](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/pets-wildlife) - Official wording: "You can reach CRD Animal Control regarding domestic animal issues at 250-478-0624." … "1-800-807-4077 for incidents involving a true and immediate public safety concern." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine:** Not confirmed. The ticket amounts for these offences are not given. - **Bylaw:** Central Saanich Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), s. 14.1](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "Central Saanich Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Under the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097](), an Animal Control Officer designates the dog and delivers written notice to the owner. - Aggressive: the dog showed aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury, with no mitigating factor. - Dangerous: the dog killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal off the owner's property, or is likely to. A court finding of dangerousness also counts. Designations made in other municipalities also apply here. ## Steps 1. To report a dangerous dog, call CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624. After hours, call 1-800-807-4077 only for a true and immediate public safety concern. 2. If your dog is designated, follow the owner rules below. 3. To have an aggressive designation removed, the bylaw allows this after one year with training. ## Good to know - Owner rules: never let the dog be at large or in an off-leash area. In public, use a collar or harness and a leash no longer than 1.2 m, not retractable. Dangerous dogs must also be muzzled. - Dangerous dogs need warning signs and a secure indoor space or locked enclosure. - You must have permanent identification within 14 days, give a photo within 7 days, and hold a special Aggressive or Dangerous Dog Licence. - Tell the District within 48 hours if the dog dies or moves. - The licence fee and the ticket amounts for these offences could not be confirmed. Ask the District at 250-544-4237. - A court fine can be up to $50,000. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) ## Related questions - [Central Saanich dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-licence.md) - [Central Saanich dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dog-leash-rules.md) - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/how-many-pets.md) - [Central Saanich bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/bylaw-fines.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dangerous-dogs.md) - [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dangerous-dogs.md) - [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs.md) ## Sources - [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Pets and Wildlife, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/pets-wildlife) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-06) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Central Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dangerous-dogs/_