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

# Colwood rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Colwood, the animal control officer can designate a dog aggressive; a dangerous dog is defined by the provincial Community Charter. A dangerous dog must be muzzled and leashed in public and locked in a pen at home. An aggressive dog must be leashed and confined. Dangerous dog offences start at $500.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Colwood, https://www.colwood.ca)  
**Cost:** Dangerous dog licence $100 a year ($120 after March 1; the CRD also lists $95 if bought before December 31). Aggressive dog licence $75 a year ($95 after March 1).  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624 (After hours 1-800-665-7899 ext. 0.)

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Aggressive dog: designated by the Animal Control Officer after aggressive behaviour or a minor injury without provocation; the owner may appeal to the Animal Control Review Board within 14 days. Dangerous dog (Community Charter s. 49): has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on property not owned or occupied by its owner, or an animal control officer reasonably believes it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 3.0](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive dog means a dog that has been designated as such by the Animal Control Officer" … "The owner may appeal the designation to the Animal Control Review Board within 14 days of the" … "Dangerous Dog is as defined in the Community Charter"
  - Source: [Community Charter, s. 49, Province of British Columbia, Community Charter s. 49(1)](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03)
  - Official wording: "has killed or seriously injured a person," … "an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person." … "has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal, while in a public place or while on private property, other than property owned or occupied by the person responsible for the dog, or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Dangerous dog: only out with a competent person on a non-extendable leash and muzzled; confined at all times at home in a locked, enclosed pen at least 1.82 x 1.22 x 1.82 m or indoors; never in off-leash areas; warning sign posted; report escapes and attacks immediately; handler must be 19 or older. Aggressive dog: leashed when out, confined indoors or in a secure yard, never in off-leash areas.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 9.2, 9.3](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "Must not allow the dog in public or private spaces without consent unless:" … "it is on a non-extendable leash held by a competent person; and" … "it is muzzled to prevent biting;" … "Must post visible signage warning of a dangerous dog;" … "A person under 19 years must not own or control a dangerous dog in public." … "Must confine the dog indoors or in a secure yard or tethered on their property;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Dangerous dog: $100 a year ($120 after March 1; the CRD lists $95 if bought before December 31 for the next year). Aggressive dog: $75 a year ($95 after March 1).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), Schedule A](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog $100.00 $120.00" … "Aggressive Dog $75.00 $95.00" … "A $5.00 discount of the annual Licence Fee"
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog license | $95 | $100 | $120"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Contact CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 (after hours 1-800-665-7899 ext. 0) or use the CRD online complaint form; give what happened, when and where, a description of the dog, owner and witness details, and photos of injuries if any. Name, address and phone number are required; anonymous reports are not investigated.
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Dog Bites and Attacks](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
  - Official wording: "Contact our office at 250.478.0624 or complete an online complaint form." … "We do not take anonymous reports, they will not be investigated."
  - Source: [PETiquette, Animal Regulation](https://www.colwood.ca/parks-recreation-culture/petiquette)
  - Official wording: "The CRD Animal Control Officer for Colwood can be reached by calling (250) 478-0624 or after hours at 1-800-665-7899 extension 0."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice amounts: dangerous dog improperly in a public place, on private land, not in building or enclosure, or attack: $500 each (no early discount; $500 late). Fail to erect dangerous dog sign $250 ($200 early, $300 late). Fail to advise of attack $750 (MTI). Municipal ticket amounts are the same. In court, the minimum fine for a dangerous-dog offence is $500, $750 or $1,000 (first, second, third), or $2,000 if a person or animal is injured.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026), Schedule B, Animal Control Bylaw](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/187475)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog improperly in a" … "Dangerous dog improperly in a 9.2(a) $500.00 N/A $500.00" … "Fail to erect dangerous dog sign" … "Fail to secure animal 12.8 $250.00 $200.00 $300.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), Schedule 11](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1091)
  - Official wording: "Fail to advise of Dangerous Dog Attack" … "Fail to advise of Dangerous Dog Attack 9.3(d) $750.00"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 15.1](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "the minimum fine for a "Dangerous Dog" related offence that results in injury to a" … "Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollars."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014; Community Charter, s. 49
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 9.1](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
  - Official wording: "The provisions of this section are in addition to any other regulations, prohibitions or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City's [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366), the Animal Control Officer designates a dog aggressive after aggressive behaviour or a minor injury without provocation. The owner may appeal to the Animal Control Review Board within 14 days. A dangerous dog, as defined in section 49 of the Community Charter, has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on property not owned or occupied by its owner, or an officer reasonably believes it is likely to. Designations apply across all CRD municipalities.

## Dangerous dog rules

- Out only with a competent person, on a non-extendable leash, and muzzled. The handler must be 19 or older.
- At home, confined at all times in a locked, enclosed pen at least 1.82 x 1.22 x 1.82 m, or indoors.
- Never in off-leash areas; a warning sign must be posted.
- Report escapes and attacks immediately.

## Aggressive dog rules

- Leashed when out, confined indoors or in a secure yard, and never in off-leash areas.
- The designation may be removed once, on written application after six months, with behavioural training, permanent identification and a written assessment.

## Good to know

- Notify the Animal Control Officer within 48 hours of a change of ownership or death.
- Bylaw notice and municipal ticket amounts are the same: $500 for a dangerous dog improperly in a public place, on private land, outside a building or enclosure, or an attack; $250 for failing to post the sign; $750 for failing to advise of an attack (municipal ticket). In court, the minimum fine is $500, $750 or $1,000 (first, second, third offence), or $2,000 if a person or animal is injured.
- To report a dog, call CRD Animal Care Services or use the CRD online complaint form. Give your name, address and phone number; anonymous reports are not investigated. Seek medical help and exchange contact information first.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533 (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366)
- [Animal Complaints, CRD](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/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)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025) (PDF), City of Colwood](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/86366) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Community Charter, s. 49, Province of British Columbia](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022) (PDF), City of Colwood](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1091) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/187475) (read 2026-11-05)
- [PETiquette, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/parks-recreation-culture/petiquette) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Colwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs/_