{"title":"Fort St. John rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fort-st-john","name":"Fort St. John","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Fort St. John","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca"},"short_answer":"Fort St. John's Animal Control Bylaw has two special categories: aggressive dogs and biting dogs. A bylaw officer serves the owner a written notice. The owner then needs a $100 yearly licence, and rules on confinement and leashing apply. The fine for most breaches is $400.","aliases":["aggressive dog fort st john","biting dog fort st john","dog bite rules fort st john","dangerous dog bylaw"],"cost":"$100 a year for a biting or aggressive dog licence (a regular dog licence is $20), valid 365 days from purchase.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"250-787-8150","note":"Or dial 3-1-1; press 4 for after-hours emergencies. 10631 100 Street."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2556, 2021 (consolidated PDF)","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw"},{"title":"Animal Control page, City of Fort St. John","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Fort St. John dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Fort St. John dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dog-leash-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/dawson-creek","name":"Dawson Creek","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/pouce-coupe","name":"Pouce Coupe","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chetwynd","name":"Chetwynd","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/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 aggressive dog is one that is a \"dangerous dog\" under s. 49 of the Community Charter or has (without a mitigating factor) pursued or harassed a person, cat or animal, shown aggression such as growling, snarling or lunging, shown potential to attack or injure, or been a continuing threat. A biting dog has bitten a person, animal or cat. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer who has reason to believe this serves a written notice on the owner; the owner may appeal to Council within 30 days.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"ss. 3, 36, 42","quotes":["“AGGRESSIVE DOG” means a Dog that is a “dangerous dog” as defined under section 49 of","displayed aggressive behaviour including, but not limited to, growling, snarling, lunging","“BITING DOG” means a Dog that has, in the absence of a Mitigating Factor, bitten a person","may issue and serve upon the Owner a notice in letter form","may appeal the findings of the Bylaw Enforcement Officer to Council within thirty days of service of the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Aggressive dog: licence, microchip, 'Dog on Premises' sign, confinement at home, a 2 m non-retractable leash held by a competent person over 16 off the property, and 48-hour notice of a move or death. Biting dog: s. 34(b)-(f) only, plus a biting dog licence, muzzle off the property and secure enclosure at home.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"ss. 34-35","quotes":["have a Microchip implanted in the Dog and provide proof of implantation","post signage on the Owner’s property indicating Dog on Premises","non-retractable leash no more than two metres","Competent Person over the age of sixteen years","notify the Bylaw Enforcement Officer within forty-eight hours","muzzle the Biting Dog when the Biting Dog is off the Owner’s property","confine the Biting Dog in a Secure Enclosure when the Biting Dog is on the Owner’s property","34(b)-(f) of this Bylaw that apply to an Owner of an Aggressive Dog","notify the Bylaw Enforcement Officer within forty-eight hours of:","confine the Biting Dog in a Secure Enclosure when the Biting Dog is on the Owner’s"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"$100 a year for a biting or aggressive dog licence (a regular dog licence is $20). The licence is valid 365 days from purchase.","short":"$100 a year (biting or aggressive dog)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Fort St. John","section":"License Fees","quotes":["$100 for each biting or aggressive dog licence"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure","title":"Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF)","section":"Schedule of Fees","quotes":["Aggressive and Biting Dog Tag","$100"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Report an aggressive dog or a dog bite to City Bylaw Services at 250-787-8150 or 3-1-1 (press 4 for after-hours emergencies), at 10631 100 Street. Cruelty to animals goes to the North Peace SPCA.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Fort St. John","section":"Report a Concern","quotes":["Report an animal at large, barking dog, aggressive dog, a dog bite, or a lost dog","250-787-8150 or dial 3-1-1 (press 4 for After Hours Emergencies)"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure","title":"Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF)","section":"Reporting a concern","quotes":["1131 by City of Fort St. John 60 by SPCA % bylaw@fortstjohn.ca Report a Problem (City app or website) owners"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $400 ($350 if paid within 14 days; $450 on days 31–60) for failing to licence, microchip, sign, confine, leash or muzzle an aggressive or biting dog, or failing to prevent an attack. No compliance agreement is available.","short":"Notice $400 ($350 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"Schedule C","quotes":["Fail to license aggressive dog","Fail to muzzle biting dog","Fail to prevent attack","$400.00","$350.00","$450.00"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure","title":"Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF)","section":"Aggressive and Biting Dogs","quotes":["Failure to muzzle a biting dog","$400"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to include Bylaw 2584, 2023), Parts Five to Eight","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021”."]}],"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\nUnder the [Animal Control Bylaw](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw), an aggressive dog is one that is a \"dangerous dog\" under s. 49 of the Community Charter, or has, without a mitigating factor, pursued or harassed a person, cat or animal, shown aggression such as growling, snarling or lunging, shown potential to attack or injure, or been a continuing threat. A biting dog has bitten a person, animal or cat. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer who has reason to believe a dog fits serves the owner a written notice.\n\n## Owner rules\n\n1. Aggressive dog: a $100 licence, a microchip, a \"Dog on Premises\" sign, confinement at home, and a non-retractable leash of 2 metres or less held by a competent person over 16 off the property. Tell the City within 48 hours if the dog moves or dies.\n2. Biting dog: a biting dog licence, a muzzle off the property and a secure enclosure at home, plus the bylaw's s. 34(b) to (f) rules.\n3. A secure enclosure is at least 2 metres high with a concrete, stone or asphalt floor, wire or steel mesh sides and roof, and a lock.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- You may appeal the notice to Council within 30 days.\n- After at least a year without further complaints and with a force-free training course, the owner of an aggressive dog may apply for relief (s. 40).\n- A bylaw notice for failing to licence, microchip, sign, confine, leash or muzzle such a dog, or to prevent an attack, is $400 ($350 if paid within 14 days; $450 on days 31–60). No compliance agreement is available.\n- Report an aggressive dog or bite to Bylaw Services at 250-787-8150 or 3-1-1. Cruelty to animals goes to the North Peace SPCA.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Fort St. John","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/animal-control-brochure","title":"Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF)","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/fort-st-john/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dangerous-dogs.json"}}