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

# Delta rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Delta, an Animal Control Officer may designate a dog that has attacked or bitten a person or animal as aggressive or dangerous. In public it must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than 1.2 m. The owner must also microchip it, carry $1,000,000 liability insurance and pay a $210 or $510 yearly licence.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Delta, https://www.delta.ca)  
**Cost:** Licence $210 a year spayed or neutered, $510 not. Tickets $100 to $500.  
**Where:**
- In person: Delta Community Animal Shelter (licences by appointment only), 7505 Hopcott Road, Delta, BC
- Phone: Delta Community Animal Shelter, 604-940-7111

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer may designate a dog aggressive or dangerous if there is reason to believe it has, without provocation, aggressively pursued, attacked or bitten another animal or a person, or is kept for fighting. A dog so designated in another place also counts. The owner has 14 days to ask the Animal Shelter Manager to reconsider, then may go to Council.
  - Source: [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), ss. 2, 27, 28, 29](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)
  - Official wording: "has, without provocation, aggressively pursued, attacked or bitten another animal or a person" … "has been designated as an aggressive dog, vicious dog or dangerous dog" … "within fourteen (14) calendar days of delivery of the letter" … "may request that Council reconsider"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** In public: muzzled, on a leash no longer than 1.2 m, held by a competent person 19 or older. Otherwise indoors or in a locked enclosure. Within 14 days: pay the aggressive/dangerous licence fee, show $1,000,000 liability insurance, microchip the dog. Owner must be 19+. Report escapes immediately.
  - Source: [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), ss. 9, 30, 31, 32, 33](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)
  - Official wording: "effectively muzzled" … "under the control of a person who is nineteen (19) years of age or older" … "keep the dog indoors or within a securely closed and locked enclosure" … "personal legal liability insurance of at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00)" … "have a licensed veterinarian implant an electronic identification microchip" … "shall immediately notify an Animal Control Officer"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $210 a year if spayed or neutered; $510 if not. Sold only at the Delta Community Animal Shelter, by appointment.
  - Source: [Dog Licence, Dog Licence Fees](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/permits-licences/dog-licence)
  - Official wording: "$210 Spayed/Neutered Aggressive or Dangerous Dog" … "$510 Not Spayed/Neutered Aggressive or Dangerous Dog" … "cannot be purchased online"
  - Source: [Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025, Schedule 2, s. 1(5)-(6)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/243967)
  - Official wording: "For every aggressive dog, if spayed or" … "$210.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call the Delta Community Animal Shelter / Property Use & Compliance at 604-940-7111 or use the DeltaConnect app. After hours, for a threat to public safety, call Delta Police at 604-946-4411.
  - Source: [About the Animal Shelter, Bylaw Information & Enforcement](https://www.delta.ca/services/delta-community-animal-shelter/about-animal-shelter)
  - Official wording: "To file a concern, please contact us at 604-940-7111 or through the DeltaConnect Mobile App." … "please call the Delta Police Department at 604-946-4411."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket and bylaw notice full amounts: re-licence or insurance failure $150, no microchip $100, breaking conditions in public or private place $200, not reporting escape $250, bite or chase animal $200, chase person $200, bite $300. Severe attack $500 (municipal ticket only). Early/late: $25 less/more ($50 for bites).
  - Source: [Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026), Schedule 1, ss. 30-34](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135301)
  - Official wording: "30(a) Failure to re-licence dog designated as aggressive 150" … "31 Failure to comply with conditions – Aggressive dog in 200" … "33 Failure to notify when aggressive dog at large 250" … "34(c) Permit dog to bite a person or animal 300" … "34(d) Permit dog to attack person or animal causing severe 500"
  - Source: [Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026), Schedule A, ss. 31, 34(c)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/238336)
  - Official wording: "31 conditions – Aggressive dog 200 175 225" … "34(c) 300 250 350"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (Part IV); 'dangerous dog' as defined in the Community Charter
  - Source: [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), Part IV; s. 2](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)
  - Official wording: "PART IV – AGGRESSIVE OR DANGEROUS DOGS" … "“dangerous dog” means a dangerous dog as defined in the Community Charter;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under Part IV of the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304), an Animal Control Officer may designate a dog aggressive or dangerous if there is reason to believe it has, without provocation, aggressively pursued, attacked or bitten another animal or a person, or is kept for fighting. A dog designated in another place also counts. The owner has 14 days to ask the Animal Shelter Manager to reconsider, and may then go to Council.

## Steps (if your dog is designated)

1. Within 14 days, pay the aggressive or dangerous dog licence fee, show proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance, and have the dog microchipped.
2. The licence is sold only at the Delta Community Animal Shelter, by appointment. It cannot be bought online.
3. Follow the public and home rules below. Report an escape immediately.

## Good to know

- Fee: $210 a year if spayed or neutered, $510 if not. After designation the fee is the difference from the licence already paid, pro-rated for the rest of the year. The fee schedule lists "aggressive dog"; the City's page applies the fee to "aggressive or dangerous".
- In public the dog must be muzzled, on a leash no longer than 1.2 metres, and held by a competent person 19 or older. Otherwise it must be indoors or in a locked enclosure. The owner must be 19 or older.
- Fines (full amounts; the bylaw notice and municipal ticket match): failing to re-licence or insure $150, no microchip $100, breaking conditions in a public or private place $200, not reporting an escape $250, a dog that bites or chases an animal $200, chases a person $200, bites a person $300. A severe attack is $500 (municipal ticket only). Early or late payment on a bylaw notice changes the amount by $25 ($50 for bites). The maximum court fine under the bylaw is $2,000.
- Report a dangerous dog to the Shelter or Property Use & Compliance at 604-940-7111, or use the DeltaConnect app. After hours, for a threat to public safety, call Delta Police at 604-946-4411.

## Official forms and pages

- [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licence, City of Delta](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/permits-licences/dog-licence) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/243967) (read 2026-11-05)
- [About the Animal Shelter, City of Delta](https://www.delta.ca/services/delta-community-animal-shelter/about-animal-shelter) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135301) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/238336) (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 Delta. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/dangerous-dogs/_