---
title: Cumberland rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Cumberland?"
place: Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/cumberland
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Cumberland
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Cumberland rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Cumberland, the Manager of Protective Services can declare a dog aggressive, biting or dangerous under the Animal Control Bylaw. Owners must then licence the dog ($50 a year), contain it, leash it and post signs. Report a dog to the Animal Control Officer at 250-336-2291.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Cumberland, https://cumberland.ca)  
**Cost:** Aggressive or biting dog licence $50 a year. Ticket fines range from $200 to $1000 ($100 to $500 if paid early).  
**How long:** An owner may appeal a declaration to Council within 30 days of being served.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control Officer, 250-336-2291
- Email: Animal Control Officer, bylaw@cumberland.ca
- In person: Complaint form at the Village Office, 2673 Dunsmuir Avenue, Cumberland, BC (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Aggressive dog: caused minor injuries (not bite wounds), aggressively pursued or harassed a person or animal, or showed aggressive behaviour such as growling, snarling or lunging. Biting dog: has bitten a person or animal. Dangerous dog: as defined by the Community Charter. The Manager of Protective Services decides and gives written notice; appeal to Council within 30 days of service.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 2, 49, 51, 54](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "DANGEROUS DOG means a dangerous dog as defined by the Community Charter." … "BITING DOG means a dog that has, in the absence of mitigating factors, bitten a person or animal." … "In determining whether a dog is dangerous, the Manager of Protective Services may consider mitigating factors." … "If the Manager of Protective Services has determined that a dog is a biting, aggressive or dangerous dog, they must notify the owner in writing of:" … "may appeal the determination of the Manager of Protective Services to Council in writing within 30" … "Caused minor injuries to a person or animal, not including bite" … "Aggressively pursued or harassed a person or animal; or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive: licence within 30 days of notice, dog contained on the property, non-retractable leash (2 m max) off it, 'Beware of Dog' signs. Biting: all of that, plus confined indoors (with a competent person 16 or older if anyone is present) or in a secure enclosure, and muzzled off the property. Dangerous: only with written authorization; then biting-dog rules apply.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 38, 42, 44, 45.1, 46, 48, 50](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The owner of an aggressive dog must complete the following requirements within 30 days of the Village serving notice that the dog is an aggressive dog:" … "Leashed with a non-retractable leash no more than two (2) metres (6.6 feet) in length, and" … "shall prominently display at all entrances to the property a sign stating “Beware of Dog”." … "shall ensure that the biting dog is muzzled at all times when it is off the owner’s property" … "No person shall own, possess, or harbour a dangerous dog within the boundaries the Village of Cumberland without written authorization from the Manager of Protective Services." … "A dangerous dog that is authorized to remain in the Village must be kept and licensed pursuant to the regulations for biting dogs in this Bylaw." … "The owner of a biting dog must comply with all of the requirements for aggressive dogs" … "Confined indoors, and if any person is present, under the control of a competent person aged 16 years or older"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Licence fee:** $50 a year for an aggressive/biting dog licence; a dangerous dog allowed to stay is licensed under the biting-dog rules.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), Schedule A, s. 1(c); s. 50](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive/biting dogs" … "A dangerous dog that is authorized to remain in the Village must be kept and licensed pursuant to the regulations for biting dogs in this Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** Contact the Village Animal Control Officer at 250-336-2291 or bylaw@cumberland.ca. The Village relies on complaints and does not accept anonymous ones; you can call or complete a complaint form at the Village Office.
  - Source: [Dogs and Animal Control, Aggressive Dogs](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/)
  - Official wording: "contact the Village Animal Control Officer at 250-336-2291"
  - Source: [Contact, Email Contacts](https://cumberland.ca/contact/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control: bylaw@cumberland.ca"
  - Source: [Bylaw Compliance, Bylaw Compliance page](https://cumberland.ca/bylaw-compliance/)
  - Official wording: "The Village does not accept anonymous complaints." … "To register a complaint with the Village, you may call 250-336-2291 or drop into the Village Office during office hours and complete a complaint form."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Ticket: aggressive dog not contained or not leashed $500 ($250 early); no aggressive-dog licence or no sign $200 ($100); biting dog not confined or not muzzled $1000 ($500); dangerous dog in the Village $1000 ($500). Court fine for these owner offences: $300 to $10 000.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025), Schedule B](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fail to obtain aggressive dog licence 38 $200 $100" … "Fail to contain aggressive dog 40 $500 $250" … "Fail to leash aggressive dog 42 $500 $250" … "Fail to post sign for aggressive dog 44 $200 $100" … "Fail to confine biting dog 45.1 $1000 $500" … "Fail to muzzle biting dog 46 $1000 $500" … "Dangerous dog in Village 48 $1000 $500"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 73](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $10 000 and no less than $300 per offence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 1](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061](<https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf>) has three levels for dogs in the Village of Cumberland. An aggressive dog has caused minor injuries (not bite wounds), aggressively pursued or harassed a person or animal, or shown aggressive behaviour such as growling, snarling or lunging. A biting dog has bitten a person or animal. A dangerous dog is defined by the Community Charter. The Manager of Protective Services decides and gives written notice.

## Steps

1. To report a dog, call the Animal Control Officer at 250-336-2291, email bylaw@cumberland.ca, or complete a complaint form at the Village Office. The Village relies on complaints and does not accept anonymous ones.
2. If your dog is declared, you may appeal in writing to Council within 30 days of being served.
3. Follow the owner rules for your dog's level (below).

## Good to know

- Aggressive dog: licence it within 30 days of the notice, keep it contained on the property, use a non-retractable leash of 2 metres or less off the property, and post "Beware of Dog" signs.
- Biting dog: all of the above, plus keep it confined indoors (with a competent person 16 or older if anyone is present) or in a secure enclosure, and muzzled off the property.
- Dangerous dog: allowed only with written authorization; then the biting-dog rules apply.
- Tickets: aggressive dog not contained or not leashed $500 ($250 if paid early); no aggressive-dog licence or no sign $200 ($100); biting dog not confined or not muzzled $1000 ($500); dangerous dog in the Village $1000 ($500).
- Court fines for these owner offences are $300 to $10 000.
- Impoundment fees are higher: aggressive or biting $250 first and $500 later; dangerous $500 plus $25 per day first and $1000 plus $25 per day later.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf)
- [Dogs and Animal Control, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bylaw-1061-CONS-Dec-18-2020.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Dogs and Animal Control, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Compliance, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/bylaw-compliance/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Cumberland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dangerous-dogs/_