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

# Cranbrook rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Cranbrook an animal control officer can designate a dog "vicious" after aggression or a bite. The owner must then keep it muzzled and on a short leash in public, behind a 1.8 m solid fence at home, sterilized and licensed ($225). "Dangerous dogs" go to Provincial Court.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Cranbrook, https://www.cranbrook.ca)  
**Cost:** Vicious dog licence $225 a year. No separate licence fee is listed for a dangerous dog. Impound fees for vicious dogs run $200 to $2,000 and $2,500 per impoundment for a dangerous dog.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control (Bylaw Services), 250-489-9598 (Call 911 for an emergency needing police, fire or ambulance.)

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Cranbrook has two categories. A 'vicious dog' is designated by an animal control officer based on evidence that the dog has a tendency to attack or aggressively pursue, has bitten with at least a minor injury, caused a secondary injury while at large, or was deemed aggressive elsewhere. A 'dangerous dog' has the meaning in s. 49 of the Community Charter; destruction needs a Provincial Court order. Owners can ask for reconsideration within 14 days.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 1.2.1; s. 4.1(b); s. 5.1; s. 8.2](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "has been designated as a VICIOUS DOG" … "by an ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER based on evidence that:" … "the DOG has bitten an ANIMAL or human resulting in at" … "has the same meaning as provided in section 49 of the Community Charter." … "within fourteen (14) calendar days of the notice being delivered" … "pending approval of a destruction order by the Provincial Court"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Vicious dog: off the property, on a short leash (max 2 m) and muzzled; muzzled and secured in a vehicle; outdoors only in a rear yard with a 1.8 m solid fence and self-closing, latching gates, otherwise indoors; sterilized and vaccinated; always licensed; warning signs at entrances. Dangerous dogs follow the same rules unless a Provincial Court orders otherwise.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), ss. 4.2, 4.3, 5.1(b)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "the DOG is on a SHORT" … "LEASH, MUZZLED and under the immediate charge and control of" … "SOLID FENCE that is 1.8 meters in height and that has gates with self-" … "ensure the VICIOUS DOG is STERILIZED" … "signs designed or written in a manner to indicate a" … "Except as directed by an order of the Provincial Court, a PERSON" … "RESPONSIBLE for a DANGEROUS DOG must comply with the provisions"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $225 for a vicious dog licence. No separate licence fee is listed for a dangerous dog.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), Schedule B, Part A](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "1. VICIOUS DOG $225.00"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Current Dog Licence Fees](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "- Vicious Dog: $225 - Vicious dogs are those deemed "vicious" by an Animal Control Officer, as defined by the Animal Control Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call Bylaw Services at 250-489-9598; complaints about aggressive dogs are handled by Animal Control Services. For an emergency requiring police, fire or ambulance, phone 911.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Service Requests](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/bylaw-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "aggressive dogs" … "Complaints can be registered with the Bylaw Services Office by calling (250) 489-9598."
  - Source: [Request for Service, How to Contact Bylaw Services](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/bylaw-services/service-requests)
  - Official wording: "If there is an emergency situation that requires police, fire, or ambulance, please phone 911."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (full / within 14 days / after 28 days): failing to control or restrain a vicious dog, letting it run at large or bite: $500 / $475 / $500; not sterilizing or vaccinating: $125 / $100 / $150; no licence tag: $150 / $125 / $175; no warning signs: $225 / $200 / $250. Municipal tickets: $500, $100, $125, $200.
  - Source: [https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/, Schedule A1, ss. 4.2, 4.3](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/)
  - Official wording: "Failure to Sterilize Vicious Dog $125.00 $100.00 $150.00" … "Vicious Dog Running at Large $500.00 $475.00 $500.00" … "Failure to Display Vicious Dog" … "$225.00 $200.00 $250.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B1, Schedule B1, ss. 4.2, 4.3](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106172)
  - Official wording: "Failure to Sterilize Vicious Dog 4.3(a)(i) $100.00" … "Failure to Display Vicious Dog Warning Signs 4.3(b)(iv) $200.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Cranbrook Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (and s. 49 of the Community Charter)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 1.1](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
  - Official wording: "City of Cranbrook Animal Control" … "Bylaw No. 3845, 2016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Cranbrook's [Animal Control Bylaw 3845](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528) has two categories. A **vicious dog** is designated by an animal control officer who finds evidence that the dog tends to attack or aggressively pursue, has bitten with at least a minor injury, caused a secondary injury while at large, or was deemed aggressive elsewhere. A **dangerous dog** has the meaning in s. 49 of the Community Charter, and destroying one needs a Provincial Court order.

## Good to know

- **Reconsideration:** an owner can ask for reconsideration within 14 days.
- **In public:** a vicious dog must be off the property only on a short leash (no longer than 2 m) and muzzled. In a vehicle it must be muzzled and secured.
- **At home:** outdoors only in a rear yard with a 1.8 m solid fence and self-closing, latching gates; otherwise indoors. For up to 90 days from designation an enclosure may be used while a fence is built. Post warning signs at entrances.
- **Other duties:** the dog must be sterilized, vaccinated and always licensed ($225). Only one vicious dog is allowed per household, and never in an off-leash park. It may not be tethered except in a solid-fenced rear yard.
- **Dangerous dogs** follow the same rules unless a Provincial Court orders otherwise.
- **Fines (bylaw notice):** failing to control or restrain a vicious dog, letting it run at large or bite is $500; not sterilizing or vaccinating it is $125; no licence tag is $150; no warning signs is $225. Municipal tickets for these are $500, $100, $125 and $200. Early-payment (14 days) and late (after 28 days) amounts are in the bylaw notice schedule.
- Report an aggressive dog to Bylaw Services at 250-489-9598.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023, PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528)
- [Animal Control page, City of Cranbrook](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/bylaw-services/animal-control)

## Related questions

- [Cranbrook dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-licence.md)
- [Cranbrook dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023) (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/76528) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Cranbrook](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/bylaw-services/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Request for Service, City of Cranbrook Bylaw Services](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/bylaw-services/service-requests) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4049, 2021, Schedule A1 (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B1 (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106172) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/) (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 Cranbrook. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dangerous-dogs/_