---
title: Gibsons rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Gibsons?"
place: Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/gibsons
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Gibsons
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Gibsons rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Gibsons, https://www.gibsons.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Bylaw Officer, Town of Gibsons, 604-886-2274
- Email: Bylaw Officer, beo@gibsons.ca

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, s. 1 definitions of Dangerous Dog and Aggressive Dog; s. 8.1.1, 9.1.1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, s. 9.2.1, 9.2.2, 9.2.3](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, s. 8.2](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "The owner of an Aggressive Dog must ensure that the" … "within 30 metres of any" … "playground apparatus."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** None set. Gibsons has no separate licence fee for dangerous or aggressive dogs in its fee schedule.
- **How to report:** Contact the Town's Bylaw Officer at 604-886-2274 or beo@gibsons.ca, or submit the Bylaw Complaint Form.
  - Source: [Bylaw enforcement, Report a Bylaw Infraction](https://gibsons.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "To report any complaints or concerns (such as noise, parking, dogs at large or unsightly properties)" … "604-886-2274" … "beo@gibsons.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Schedule A, Bylaw 1328 s. 8.2, 9.2](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025
  - Source: [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Title](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Town of Gibsons Animal Care and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

- **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.
- **Aggressive:** without provocation, the dog has shown aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury.

A dog declared dangerous or aggressive by another local government is also covered.

## Owner rules

- **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.
- **Aggressive dog:** non-retractable leash in public; no school grounds, daycares, anywhere within 30 m of playground equipment, or off-leash areas.

## Good to know

- An enclosure must be at least 6 feet high, 4 feet wide and 10 feet long, locked, with secure sides, top and bottom.
- An owner may make written representations to the Senior Bylaw Enforcement Officer within 14 days.
- 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.
- If your dog bites, stay at the scene until the injured person or animal gets care and give your identification.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328 (Town of Gibsons)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/)
- [Bylaw enforcement and complaint form, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/)

## Related questions

- [Gibsons dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dog-licence.md)
- [Gibsons dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Gibsons bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/166385/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Town of Gibsons (consolidated)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw enforcement, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Gibsons. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/dangerous-dogs/_