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

# Duncan rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**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.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Coastal Animal Control Services of BC, 250-748-3395
- Email: Coastal Animal Control Services, info@coastalanimalservices.com
- Phone: City Hall, 250-746-6126

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 2 (Aggressive Dog), s. 8.1.1, 8.2.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Community Charter, section 49, Province of British Columbia, Community Charter s. 49(1)](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, 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](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $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.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026, Schedule C, A. Licensing of Dogs](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "Dog deemed aggressive or dangerous $215.00 $355.00" … "Dog deemed aggressive where owner has provided proof of successful $90.00 $95.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control](https://duncan.ca/city-hall/finance/animal_control/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), Schedule A, Animal Care and Control Bylaw s. 7.3.2 to 8.5.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 3189, 2018, Schedule B, Animal Care and Control Bylaw](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (and Community Charter s. 49 for the Dangerous Dog definition)
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 1 (Title)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

## Steps

1. After the notice, apply for an aggressive or dangerous dog licence within 14 days.
2. Show the dog has a microchip or tattoo and is spayed or neutered.
3. Carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance and renew it every year.

## Good to know

- In public: an aggressive dog must be on a leash and wear a collar or harness. A dangerous dog must also be muzzled.
- 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.
- 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.
- Owners must report moves, sales, deaths, escapes and bites.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Report an attacking or aggressive dog to Coastal Animal Control Services.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/city-hall/finance/animal_control/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 3189, 2018 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Community Charter, section 49, Province of British Columbia](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03) (read 2026-11-05)

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