---
title: Golden rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Golden?"
place: Golden, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/golden
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Golden
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Golden rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Golden, an Animal Control Officer can designate a dog aggressive or vicious under Bylaw 1510, and owners must follow stricter rules. An aggressive dog licence is $100 before February 1; a vicious or dangerous dog licence is $350. Report a dog to Bylaw Enforcement.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Golden, https://www.golden.ca)  
**Cost:** Aggressive dog licence $100 before February 1, $125 on or after. Vicious or dangerous dog licence $350 before February 1, $400 on or after. Impound fee $300 for an aggressive, vicious or dangerous dog. Seniors 50% discount is noted in the fee schedule.  
**How long:** An owner can ask the Screening Officer to reconsider a designation within 7 days of the letter.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-344-2271 ext. 234
- Online: Report a bylaw violation, https://www.golden.ca/town-services/bylaw-enforcement
- In person: Town Hall (complaint form), 810 9th Ave. South, Golden, BC

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Aggressive: without provocation showed aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury. Vicious: caused minor injury more than once, caused serious injury, is likely to (officer's view), or is dangerous. Dangerous: killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal (in public or on others' property), or a court says so. An Animal Control Officer designates aggressive or vicious dogs.
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 2.1; s. 8.2](https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dog" means a Dog that without provocation and in the absence of a Mitigating" … "has caused a Minor Injury to a person or Domestic Animal on more than" … "has been found by a court to be a Dangerous Dog" … "If an Animal Control Officer is of the opinion that a Dog is an Aggressive Dog or Vicious" … "Dog, the Animal Control Officer may designate the Dog an Aggressive Dog or Vicious Dog." … "has killed or Seriously Injured a Domestic Animal while in a Public Place or while on private property, other than property owned or occupied by the person responsible for the Dog;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive: never at large; in public, collar or harness and a leash of 1.2 m or less (no retractable leash); not in off-leash areas; permanent ID within 14 days; photo; tell the Town of moves within 7 days; aggressive dog licence. Vicious: all of that plus a muzzle in public, warning signs at entrances, and indoors or in a 2 m locked enclosure inside locked fencing.
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 9.1, 10.1](https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "with a maximum length of 1.2 metres attached to the Owner of the Dog" … "Muzzle the Dog in a manner as to prevent it from being" … "post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry onto any premises where the Dog" … "ensure the Dog has Permanent Identification within 14 days of receiving notice" … "notify the Animal Control Officer within seven (7) days if the Dog moves, dies,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Licence fee:** Aggressive dog licence $100 if paid before February 1, $125 on or after. Vicious or dangerous dog licence $350 before February 1, $400 on or after. A further $300 impound fee applies on impoundment of an aggressive, vicious or dangerous dog.
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, Schedule B](https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$ 100.00 $ 125.00" … "Vicious/Dangerous Dog $ 350.00 $ 400.00" … "An additional impoundment fee of $300 applies to an aggressive, vicious or dangerous"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** Contact Bylaw Enforcement by phone at 250-344-2271 ext. 234, by email, or with the online bylaw complaint form or a form at Town Hall; allow up to seven business days for a response. A dog owner whose dog bites must give their name and contact details to the other party or report to the Animal Control Officer within 24 hours.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Inquiries & Complaints](https://www.golden.ca/town-services/bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-344-2271 ext. 234" … "Fill out or pick up a form in person at Town Hall." … "please allow up to seven business days for a response"
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 17.1](https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "making a report about the Dog Bite or incident to the Animal Control Officer" … "within a period of twenty-four (24) hours"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notices (early/late amounts in brackets): aggressive dog at large, unleashed, in off-leash area or unlicenced $100 ($80/$120); breaking vicious-dog rules $200 ($180/$220); displaying aggressive behaviour $200; causing injury $300 ($280/$320); leaving the scene of a bite $200.
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, Schedule A, s. 9.1, 10.1, 14.2, 17.1](https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dog at large $ 100.00 $ 80.00 $ 120.00" … "Unlicenced aggressive dog $ 100.00 $ 80.00 $ 120.00" … "Fail to muzzle Vicious Dog $ 200.00 $ 180.00 $ 220.00" … "Display aggressive behaviour $ 200.00 $ 180.00 $ 220.00" … "Cause injury $ 300.00 $ 280.00 $ 320.00" … "Leave scene of dog bite $ 200.00 $ 180.00 $ 220.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control (designations in Part 4; Community Charter s. 49 powers for Dangerous Dogs)
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 1.1, 8.1](https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control" … "the authority to exercise all the special"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

[Bylaw No. 1510, 2026](<https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf>) lets an Animal Control Officer designate a dog aggressive or vicious. An aggressive dog showed aggressive behaviour without provocation or caused a minor injury. A vicious dog caused minor injury more than once, caused serious injury, or is likely to in the officer's view. A dangerous dog killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal, or a court says so, and is treated as vicious.

## Rules for owners

- Aggressive dog: never at large. In public, use a collar or harness and a leash of 1.2 m or less (no retractable leash). Keep it out of off-leash areas. Give it permanent ID within 14 days, supply a photo, tell the Town of a move within 7 days, and hold an aggressive dog licence.
- Vicious dog: all of the above, plus a muzzle in public, warning signs at entrances, and keeping it indoors or in a locked enclosure (at least 2 m high, wide and long) inside locked fencing.

## Steps

1. To report a dog, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-344-2271 ext. 234, email, use the online complaint form, or pick up a form at Town Hall. Allow up to seven business days for a response.
2. If your dog is designated, you can ask the Screening Officer to reconsider within 7 days. After one year you may apply to remove an aggressive designation if conditions are met.

## Good to know

- If your dog bites, give your name and contact details to the other party or report to the Animal Control Officer within 24 hours.
- Bylaw notices: aggressive dog at large, unleashed, in an off-leash area or unlicenced $100 ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 after 28). Breaking vicious-dog rules $200. Displaying aggressive behaviour $200. Causing injury $300. Leaving the scene of a bite $200.
- A court fine of up to $50,000 is also possible.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw Enforcement, Town of Golden](https://www.golden.ca/town-services/bylaw-enforcement)
- [Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control (PDF)](https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control (PDF)](https://golden.civicweb.net/filepro/document/151404/Bylaw%20No.%201510%202026,%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Responsible%20Pet%20Ownership%20and%20Animal%20Control.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, Town of Golden](https://www.golden.ca/town-services/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Town of Golden. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/dangerous-dogs/_