{"title":"Gibsons rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Gibsons?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","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":"Town of Gibsons","url":"https://www.gibsons.ca"},"short_answer":"In Gibsons, an Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is dangerous or aggressive and gives the owner written notice. A dangerous dog must be muzzled and leashed in public and kept secured at home. Breaking these rules costs $200 to $450 in bylaw notices.","aliases":["dangerous dog bylaw gibsons","aggressive dog gibsons","dog bite gibsons","report dog attack gibsons"],"cost":"No separate licence fee found. Impoundment fees are higher: $300 for a declared dangerous dog, $150 for an aggressive dog. Bylaw notices $200 to $450.","how_long":"Not stated. An aggressive designation may be reviewed after one year.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Officer, Town of Gibsons","value":"604-886-2274"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Officer","value":"beo@gibsons.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328 (Town of Gibsons)","url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/"},{"title":"Bylaw enforcement and complaint form, Town of Gibsons","url":"https://gibsons.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Gibsons dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Gibsons dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Gibsons bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/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 Animal Control Officer decides. A dog is 'dangerous' if, for example, records show it has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, it is bred or trained for fighting, or the officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to seriously injure a person (and it is over 6 months old). An 'aggressive' dog is one that, without provocation, has shown aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury. The officer gives the owner written notice.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/","title":"Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 1 definitions of Dangerous Dog and Aggressive Dog; s. 8.1.1, 9.1.1","quotes":["Is bred or trained specifically for fighting purposes;","An Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to","seriously injure a person and;","Has without justifiable provocation displayed Aggressive Behavior towards","the Animal Control Officer will issue","a written notice to the owner of that dog advising of the determination"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Dangerous dog: muzzled and on a non-retractable leash held by a capable person in any public place; kept indoors or in a locked enclosure at home; kept out of schools, daycares, parks, playgrounds and off-leash areas; warning signs at each entrance; tell the Town within one week of a move. Aggressive dog: non-retractable leash in public, no school grounds, daycares, within 30 m of playground equipment, or off-leash areas.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/","title":"Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 9.2.1, 9.2.2, 9.2.3","quotes":["unless the Dangerous Dog is muzzled and","secured by a collar or harness and a non-retractable leash firmly","keep the dog securely confined either indoors or in an enclosure","notify the Town within one (1) week of any change of address","Every owner of a Dangerous Dog must post warning signs"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/","title":"Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 8.2","quotes":["The owner of an Aggressive Dog must ensure that the","within 30 metres of any","playground apparatus."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Gibsons has no separate licence fee for dangerous or aggressive dogs in its fee schedule.","sources":[]},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Contact the Town's Bylaw Officer at 604-886-2274 or beo@gibsons.ca, or submit the Bylaw Complaint Form.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/","title":"Bylaw enforcement, Town of Gibsons","section":"Report a Bylaw Infraction","quotes":["To report any complaints or concerns (such as noise, parking, dogs at large or unsightly properties)","604-886-2274","beo@gibsons.ca"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice amounts: dangerous dog in public without muzzle $400 ($375 early, $425 late); failing to secure a dangerous dog $400 ($375, $425); dangerous dog at a school, daycare, park or off-leash area $450 ($400, $500); failing to post warning sign $200 ($175, $225); aggressive dog breaking s. 8.2 rules $300 ($275, $325).","short":"Notice $400 ($375 early, $425 late)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Town of Gibsons (consolidated)","section":"Schedule A, Bylaw 1328 s. 8.2, 9.2","quotes":["Dangerous dog in public","9.2.1","Fail to secure dangerous dog $400 $375 $425","Fail to post warning sign $200 $175 $225","Aggressive dog in public place"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/","title":"Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"Title","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as \"Town of Gibsons Animal Care and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328](<https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/>), an Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog in Gibsons is \"dangerous\" or \"aggressive\" and gives the owner written notice.\n\n- **Dangerous:** for example, records show it has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, it is bred or trained for fighting, or the officer has reasonable grounds to believe a dog over 6 months old is likely to seriously injure a person.\n- **Aggressive:** without provocation, the dog has shown aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury.\n\nA dog declared dangerous or aggressive by another local government is also covered.\n\n## Owner rules\n\n- **Dangerous dog:** muzzled and on a non-retractable leash held by a capable person in public; kept indoors or in a locked enclosure at home; kept out of schools, daycares, parks, playgrounds and off-leash areas; warning signs at each entrance; tell the Town within one week of a move.\n- **Aggressive dog:** non-retractable leash in public; no school grounds, daycares, anywhere within 30 m of playground equipment, or off-leash areas.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- An enclosure must be at least 6 feet high, 4 feet wide and 10 feet long, locked, with secure sides, top and bottom.\n- An owner may make written representations to the Senior Bylaw Enforcement Officer within 14 days.\n- Bylaw notices include: dangerous dog in public without a muzzle $400; failing to secure a dangerous dog $400; dangerous dog at a school, daycare, park or off-leash area $450; no warning sign $200; aggressive dog breaking the rules $300. Early-payment amounts are in the bylaw notice schedule.\n- If your dog bites, stay at the scene until the injured person or animal gets care and give your identification.\n- Report a dog to the Bylaw Officer at 604-886-2274 or beo@gibsons.ca, or use the Bylaw Complaint Form on the Town website.","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/","title":"Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Town of Gibsons (consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://gibsons.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/","title":"Bylaw enforcement, Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dangerous-dogs.json"}}