Grand Forks rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?
Short answer
The City of Grand Forks regulates "vicious dogs" under Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116: dogs that have attacked, bitten, tried to attack or bite, or chased a person, animal or wildlife without provocation, as decided by an Animal Control Officer. They must be confined at home and leashed and muzzled in public.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | The bylaw calls it a 'vicious dog': any dog that has attacked or bitten, attempted to attack or bite, or chased any person, animal or wildlife, without provocation, as determined by an Animal Control Officer.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, s. 2.19 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording“Vicious dog” means any Dog that has attacked or bitten, attempted to attack or bite, or chased any person or Animal or wildlife, without provocation, as determined by an Animal Control Officer; |
|---|---|
| Rules for owners | Keep the dog at least 100 m from a school, daycare or public park. Confine it indoors or in an enclosed pen it cannot escape and others cannot enter. Off the owner's premises it must be leashed, muzzled or caged; on a street or public place it is At Large unless leashed and muzzled or under competent control.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, ss. 28, 29 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust keep the Vicious Dog a minimum distance of 100 metres away from an elementary school, middle school, high school, daycare facility, or any public park in the Control Area. securely confine the Vicious Dog indoors or in an enclosed pen or structure capable of preventing the Vicious Dog from escaping or being entered by any unauthorized persons; securely leash, muzzle or cage the Vicious Dog to prevent it from biting, attacking or chasing another Animal or a person a vicious Dog not securely leashed and muzzled or under the adequate control of a responsible and competent person while on a highway or public place. |
| Licence fee | Impounding a vicious dog costs $500 (double for a second offence). The fee schedule lists no separate licence fee for vicious dogs.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1958 (consolidated through Amendment A20, PDF), Schedule O, s. 1(c), (e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingImpoundment of any vicious dog $500.00 For the second offence, the impounding fees shall be double the fees |
| How to report | The bylaw sets no reporting process. The City's Bylaw Services (Animal Control/Bylaw Enforcement Officer) can be reached through City Hall at (250) 442-8266 or info@grandforks.ca.Building Inspections and Bylaw Services, Bylaw Services page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Control/Bylaw Enforcement Officer: Shane Gorman (250) 442-8266 info@grandforks.ca |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: $50 for failing to secure a vicious dog (ss. 28, 29); $1,000 for obstructing a Bylaw Enforcement Officer (s. 34).Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073, Schedule U · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFailure to secure vicious dog $50.00 Obstructing a Bylaw Enforcement Officer $1,000.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116” |
How it works
Under the Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, a "vicious dog" is any dog that has attacked or bitten, attempted to attack or bite, or chased any person, animal or wildlife, without provocation, as determined by an Animal Control Officer.
Owner rules
- Keep the dog at least 100 metres from an elementary, middle or high school, a daycare facility or any public park.
- Keep it securely confined indoors or in an enclosed pen or structure that it cannot escape from and others cannot enter.
- Off your premises, securely leash, muzzle or cage it so it cannot bite, attack or chase.
- On a street or public place, keep it leashed and muzzled. Otherwise it counts as "at large" unless a responsible, competent person has adequate control of it.
Good to know
- Failing to secure a vicious dog is a $50 municipal ticket. Obstructing a Bylaw Enforcement Officer is $1,000. Impounding a vicious dog costs $500, doubled for a second offence.
- The bylaw sets no reporting process. To report a dog, contact the City's Bylaw Services through City Hall at (250) 442-8266 or info@grandforks.ca.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1958 (consolidated through Amendment A20, PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Inspections and Bylaw Services, City of Grand Forks (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.