Duncan rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
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.
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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 2 (Aggressive Dog), s. 8.1.1, 8.2.1; Community Charter, section 49, Province of British Columbia, Community Charter s. 49(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinghas 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. 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 |
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| 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.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 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAn 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 |
| 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.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026, Schedule C, A. Licensing of Dogs · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog deemed aggressive or dangerous $215.00 $355.00 Dog deemed aggressive where owner has provided proof of successful $90.00 $95.00 |
| 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.Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingInquiries, 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) |
| 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.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; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 3189, 2018, Schedule B, Animal Care and Control Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFail 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 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 |
| Bylaw | Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (and Community Charter s. 49 for the Dangerous Dog definition)Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 1 (Title) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019”. |
How it works
The Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197 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 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
- After the notice, apply for an aggressive or dangerous dog licence within 14 days.
- Show the dog has a microchip or tattoo and is spayed or neutered.
- 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): 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): $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
The same question in other places
North Cowichan · Ladysmith · North Saanich · Lake Cowichan · Sidney · Central Saanich
Sources
- Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026 (PDF), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control, City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 3189, 2018 (PDF), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
- Community Charter, section 49, Province of British Columbia (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.