Delta rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
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.
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.Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), ss. 2, 27, 28, 29 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinghas, 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 |
|---|---|
| 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.Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), ss. 9, 30, 31, 32, 33 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingeffectively 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 |
| Licence fee | $210 a year if spayed or neutered; $510 if not. Sold only at the Delta Community Animal Shelter, by appointment.Dog Licence, Dog Licence Fees; Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025, Schedule 2, s. 1(5)-(6) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording$210 Spayed/Neutered Aggressive or Dangerous Dog $510 Not Spayed/Neutered Aggressive or Dangerous Dog cannot be purchased online For every aggressive dog, if spayed or $210.00 |
| 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.About the Animal Shelter, Bylaw Information & Enforcement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTo 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. |
| 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).Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026), Schedule 1, ss. 30-34; Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026), Schedule A, ss. 31, 34(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording30(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 31 conditions – Aggressive dog 200 175 225 34(c) 300 250 350 |
| Bylaw | Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (Part IV); 'dangerous dog' as defined in the Community CharterDelta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), Part IV; s. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPART IV – AGGRESSIVE OR DANGEROUS DOGS “dangerous dog” means a dangerous dog as defined in the Community Charter; |
How it works
Under Part IV of the Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 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)
- Within 14 days, pay the aggressive or dangerous dog licence fee, show proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance, and have the dog microchipped.
- The licence is sold only at the Delta Community Animal Shelter, by appointment. It cannot be bought online.
- 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
The same question in other places
Richmond · Vancouver · Burnaby · White Rock · New Westminster · Surrey
Sources
- Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licence, City of Delta (read 2026-11-05)
- Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- About the Animal Shelter, City of Delta (read 2026-11-05)
- Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026) (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.