Fort St. John rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?
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.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 3, 36, 42 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording“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 |
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| Rules for owners | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 34-35 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinghave 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 |
| Licence fee | $100 a year for a biting or aggressive dog licence (a regular dog licence is $20). The licence is valid 365 days from purchase.Animal Control, License Fees; Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Schedule of Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording$100 for each biting or aggressive dog licence Aggressive and Biting Dog Tag $100 |
| How to report | 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.Animal Control, Report a Concern; Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Reporting a concern · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingReport 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) 1131 by City of Fort St. John 60 by SPCA % bylaw@fortstjohn.ca Report a Problem (City app or website) owners |
| Fine | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), Schedule C; Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Aggressive and Biting Dogs · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFail to license aggressive dog Fail to muzzle biting dog Fail to prevent attack $400.00 $350.00 $450.00 Failure to muzzle a biting dog $400 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to include Bylaw 2584, 2023), Parts Five to EightAnimal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021”. |
How it works
Under the 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.
Owner rules
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Good to know
- You may appeal the notice to Council within 30 days.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge · Mackenzie · Prince George
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control, City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF) (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.