{"title":"Duncan rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Duncan?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"In the City of Duncan, an animal control officer decides whether a dog is aggressive or dangerous and serves the owner a written notice. The owner must then licence the dog within 14 days and follow strict rules, including a microchip or tattoo, spaying or neutering, and $1,000,000 liability insurance.","aliases":["vicious dog duncan","dangerous dog bylaw","dog bite duncan","aggressive dog licence"],"cost":"Licence $215 if paid by January 31 and $355 after. An aggressive dog whose owner shows completion of the Canine Good Neighbour Program: $90, or $95 after January 31.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Coastal Animal Control Services of BC","value":"250-748-3395"},{"type":"email","label":"Coastal Animal Control Services","value":"info@coastalanimalservices.com"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-746-6126"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197 (PDF)","url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229"},{"title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212 (PDF)","url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Duncan dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Duncan dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/dog-leash-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dangerous-dogs/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs/"},"facts":{"how_declared":{"label":"How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive","value":"An Animal Control Officer decides. If a dog meets the bylaw definition of Aggressive Dog (for example, unprovoked aggressive behaviour or a minor injury to a person or animal) or Dangerous Dog (the Community Charter definition: killed or seriously injured a person or domestic animal, or likely to), the officer serves a written notice with the reasons.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229","title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"s. 2 (Aggressive Dog), s. 8.1.1, 8.2.1","quotes":["has without justifiable provocation displayed Aggressive Behaviour toward a person or Animal","has without justifiable provocation caused a Minor Injury to a person or Animal","Where an Animal Control Officer determines that a Dog meets the definition of a Dangerous Dog, the Animal Control Officer will issue a written notice to the Owner of that Dog","Dangerous Dog has the same meaning as in the Community Charter."]},{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03","title":"Community Charter, section 49, Province of British Columbia","section":"Community Charter s. 49(1)","quotes":["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"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Licence within 14 days of the notice (microchip or tattoo, neutered or spayed, $1,000,000 liability insurance renewed yearly). In public: aggressive dog on leash and collar or harness; dangerous dog also muzzled. At home: indoors or in an approved locked rear-yard enclosure. Dangerous dogs also need warning signs and are barred from off-leash areas and four named parks.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229","title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"s. 7.3.1, 7.3.4, 7.3.5, 8.3.1, 8.4.1, 8.4.2, 8.4.3, 8.5.1","quotes":["An Owner must apply for an Aggressive Dog or Dangerous Dog licence, as the case may be, within 14 days of receiving a notice","the Aggressive Dog or Dangerous Dog has been neutered or spayed","in the minimum amount of $1,000,000","unless the Aggressive Dog is secured by a collar or harness and a Leash","unless the Dangerous Dog is secured by a collar or harness, Muzzle, and a Leash firmly under the care and control of a Competent Person","The Owner of a Dangerous Dog must keep the Dangerous Dog securely confined either indoors or, if outdoors, in an Enclosure","in Charles Hoey Park, Centennial Park, McAdam Park, or Rotary Park","Every Owner of a Dangerous Dog must prominently display at each entrance to the Property"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"$215 if paid by January 31, $355 after, for a dog deemed aggressive or dangerous. An aggressive dog whose owner shows completion of the Canadian Kennel Club Canine Good Neighbour Program: $90, or $95 after January 31.","short":"$215 if paid by January 31, $355 after","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026 (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"Schedule C, A. Licensing of Dogs","quotes":["Dog deemed aggressive or dangerous $215.00 $355.00","Dog deemed aggressive where owner has provided proof of successful $90.00 $95.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Call Coastal Animal Control Services (the City's contractor) at 250-748-3395 or info@coastalanimalservices.com. Attacking or aggressive dogs are listed as a common issue for them.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/city-hall/finance/animal_control/","title":"Animal Control, City of Duncan","section":"Animal Control","quotes":["Inquiries, concerns and complaints regarding animals should be directed to Coastal Animal Control Services.","Attacking or aggressive dogs","Coastal Animal Control Services is located at 2202 Herd Road Phone: (T:250-748-3395)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: fail to licence aggressive dog $400, dangerous dog $500; aggressive dog uncontrolled in public or not secured $300; dangerous dog $400; no dangerous-dog sign $200; animal attacking or injuring a person or animal $500 (no early discount). Municipal ticket: $1,000 for failing to control an aggressive or dangerous dog or allowing an attack.","short":"Notice $300 to $500; ticket $1,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059","title":"Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), City of Duncan","section":"Schedule A, Animal Care and Control Bylaw s. 7.3.2 to 8.5.1","quotes":["Fail to licence aggressive dog $400.00 $375.00 $425.00 NO","Fail to licence dangerous dog $500.00 $475.00 $500.00 NO","Aggressive dog in public without leash $300.00 $275.00 $325.00 NO","Dangerous dog in public without leash and $400.00 $375.00 $425.00 NO","Fail to post dangerous dog warning signs $200.00 $175.00 $225.00 YES","Allow animal to attack, injury, or kill an animal or $500.00 $500.00 $500.00 NO"]},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 3189, 2018 (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"Schedule B, Animal Care and Control Bylaw","quotes":["Failure to control an Aggressive Dog 8.3.1; 8.3.2; 8.3.3 $1,000.00","Failure to control a Dangerous Dog 8.4.1; 8.4.2; 8.4.3 $1,000.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (and Community Charter s. 49 for the Dangerous Dog definition)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229","title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"s. 1 (Title)","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229) has two designations. An aggressive dog is one that, for example, behaved aggressively without provocation or caused a minor injury. A dangerous dog follows the [Community Charter](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03) definition: it killed or seriously injured a person or domestic animal, or is likely to. An animal control officer decides and serves a written notice with the reasons.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. After the notice, apply for an aggressive or dangerous dog licence within 14 days.\n2. Show the dog has a microchip or tattoo and is spayed or neutered.\n3. Carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance and renew it every year.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In public: an aggressive dog must be on a leash and wear a collar or harness. A dangerous dog must also be muzzled.\n- At home: the dog must be indoors or in an approved locked enclosure in the rear yard. The enclosure needs a secure top and one self-closing locked entrance, and an officer must inspect and approve it.\n- Dangerous dogs also need warning signs and are barred from off-leash areas and from Charles Hoey, Centennial, McAdam and Rotary parks. Both kinds are barred from school grounds and from within 30 metres of playground apparatus.\n- Owners must report moves, sales, deaths, escapes and bites.\n- An owner may apply for relief from an aggressive designation after at least 2 years with no further complaints and completion of the Canine Good Neighbour Program.\n- Bylaw notices ([Bylaw No. 3200](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059)): not licensing an aggressive dog $400, a dangerous dog $500; an aggressive dog uncontrolled in public or not secured $300, a dangerous dog $400; no warning sign $200; an animal attacking or injuring a person or animal $500.\n- Municipal ticket ([Bylaw No. 3189](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/)): $1,000 for failing to control an aggressive or dangerous dog or allowing an attack.\n- Report an attacking or aggressive dog to Coastal Animal Control Services.","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229","title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026 (PDF), City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.ca/city-hall/finance/animal_control/","title":"Animal Control, City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059","title":"Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 3189, 2018 (PDF), City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03","title":"Community Charter, section 49, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/dangerous-dogs.json"}}