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

# Fernie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** The City of Fernie's Animal Responsibility Bylaw has three tiers: aggressive, vicious and dangerous dogs. An Animal Control Officer designates the dog by written notice, and the owner must then follow strict leash, muzzle, confinement and licensing rules.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fernie, https://www.fernie.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual licence: aggressive dog $150, vicious dog $227, dangerous dog $567. Municipal tickets range from $200 to $1,000 depending on the offence.  
**How long:** An owner may ask for reconsideration of a vicious or dangerous designation within 14 days. An aggressive dog needs permanent identification and an Aggressive Dog licence within 30 days.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-423-2244
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylawservices@fernie.ca

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer decides and gives the owner written notice. Aggressive: showed aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury without provocation. Vicious: serious injury, a known tendency to attack, or repeated minor injuries. Dangerous: as defined in s. 49 of the Community Charter.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2; s. 5.4, 5.5](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "has without justifiable provocation, displayed aggressive" … "Dangerous Dog has the same meaning as defined in section 49" … "Has, without justifiable provocation, caused a" … "An Animal Control Officer may, by written notice, designate a Dog as an"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive: leash 1 m or less off property, never at large, muzzled in off-leash areas, never left unattended off property; permanent ID and Aggressive licence within 30 days. Vicious and Dangerous: also muzzled off property, no off-leash areas, warning signs, secure enclosure at home. Dangerous: owner over 19, spayed or neutered, $1,000,000 liability insurance.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 7.2, 8.4, 9.5, 9.7](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "secure the Dog by a collar and Leash that is a maximum length of (1) metre" … "keep the Dog effectively Muzzled" … "post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry" … "Enclosure with a roof and locked" … "who is over nineteen (19) years of age" … "not less than one million ($1,000,000) dollars" … "iii. obtain a City of Fernie Aggressive Dog license for the Dog;" … "(c) ensure the Dog is not in a designated Off-Leash area in the City at any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Aggressive Dog $150, Vicious Dog $227, Dangerous Dog $567 (licence fees in Schedule A).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Schedule A](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "One unneutered male or open female dog; $35.00 Replacement tag. $1.00 Aggressive Dog $150.00 Vicious Dog $227.00 Dangerous Dog $567.00 Impoundment first impoundment: $50.00" … "Replacement tag. $1.00 Aggressive Dog $150.00 Vicious Dog $227.00 Dangerous Dog $567.00 Impoundment first impoundment: $50.00 second impoundment: $75.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Contact Bylaw Services: (250) 423-2244 or bylawservices@fernie.ca. Give your full name and phone number, the date and time, and details; anonymous complaints are not investigated.
  - Source: [Bylaw Services, How to Report a Bylaw Violation](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/bylaw-services-business-licences.html)
  - Official wording: "By email at bylawservices@fernie.ca or" … "By phone at (250) 423-2244"
  - Source: [Bylaw Concerns](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/online-services/report-problem-request-service/bylaw-concerns.html)
  - Official wording: "Anonymous complaints will not be investigated."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal tickets: aggressive dog rule breaches $200 to $250; vicious dog $200 to $400; dangerous dog $500 to $1,000. A dog showing aggressive behaviour $300, causing a minor injury $400, a serious injury $1,000.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, Appendix 7 of Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, Parts 5 to 9](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199)
  - Official wording: "display aggressive behaviour towards person or domestic" … "Dog causes minor injury 5.2 (b) $400.00" … "Dog causes serious injury 5.2 (c) $1,000.00" … "Aggressive dog improperly leashed 7.2 (a) $250.00" … "Vicious dog improperly leashed 8.4 (a) $400.00" … "Dangerous dog improperly leashed 9.7 (a) $1,000.00" … "Dangerous Dog warning sign not posted 9.7 (e) $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Parts 7 to 9](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927), a City of Fernie Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is aggressive, vicious or dangerous and gives the owner written notice.

- **Aggressive:** showed aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury without provocation.
- **Vicious:** caused a serious injury, has a known tendency to attack, or caused repeated minor injuries.
- **Dangerous:** as defined in section 49 of the Community Charter.

## Owner rules

- **Aggressive dog:** a leash of 1 metre or less off the owner's property, never at large, muzzled in off-leash areas, and never left unattended off the property. The owner must get permanent identification and an Aggressive Dog licence within 30 days.
- **Vicious and dangerous dogs:** the same rules, plus a muzzle whenever off the property, no off-leash areas at all, warning signs, and a secure enclosure at home. The enclosure must be at least 2 m high and 2 m wide, with a top and bottom, and lockable.
- **Dangerous dog only:** the owner must be over 19, the dog must be spayed or neutered, and the owner must carry $1,000,000 liability insurance.

## Good to know

- An owner may ask the Director responsible for Bylaw Services to reconsider a vicious or dangerous designation within 14 days, with written reasons and a dog behaviour specialist's assessment from the last 6 months. An aggressive designation can be reviewed after one year.
- Licence fees are $150 (aggressive), $227 (vicious) and $567 (dangerous).
- Municipal tickets: $200 to $250 for breaking aggressive dog rules, $200 to $400 for vicious dog rules and $500 to $1,000 for dangerous dog rules. A dog showing aggressive behaviour is $300, causing a minor injury $400 and a serious injury $1,000. The amount depends on the section broken.
- To report a dog, contact Bylaw Services at 250-423-2244 or bylawservices@fernie.ca with your full name and phone number, the date and time, and details. Anonymous complaints are not investigated.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), Parts 5 to 9](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
- [Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/bylaw-services-business-licences.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Concerns, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/online-services/report-problem-request-service/bylaw-concerns.html) (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 Fernie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dangerous-dogs/_