{"title":"Highlands rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Highlands?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"In Highlands, the animal bylaw calls a dog that has attacked, bitten or chased a person or animal \"vicious\". Its owner must keep it muzzled and on a leash. Report a bite or attack to CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624. The dangerous dog licence is $100 in the bylaw.","aliases":["dangerous dog highlands","vicious dog highlands bc","dog bite report highlands","aggressive dog bylaw highlands"],"cost":"Dangerous dog licence: $100 in the bylaw's Schedule A. Not muzzled and on a leash: $150.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"CRD Animal Care Services (report a bite or attack)","value":"250-478-0624"},{"type":"phone","label":"CRD Animal Control after hours","value":"1-800-884-0919"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Report an animal complaint, Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints"},{"title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)","url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Highlands dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Highlands dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Highlands bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/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":"The Highlands copy of the animal bylaw defines a 'vicious' animal as one that has attacked or bitten, attempted to attack or bite, or chased any person, animal or wildlife (excluding an attack on a dog or cat, and an attack by a dog on animals or wildlife molesting livestock). It does not say who decides or set a declaration process.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)","section":"s. 1 'Vicious'","quotes":["\"Vicious\" when used in relation to any animal means any animal that has attacked or bitten,","attempted to attack or bite or chased any person or animal or wildlife"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"The owner of a vicious dog must keep it muzzled and on a leash. A vicious animal is deemed not to be under direct and continuous control, so it is 'at large' whenever off the owner's property.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)","section":"s. 24(2) and s. 1(2)(c)","quotes":["An owner of a vicious dog shall keep it muzzled and on a leash.","a vicious animal is deemed not to be under the direct and continuous control of a person"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"$100 for a dangerous dog licence (Schedule A, item J).","short":"$100","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, item J","quotes":["Dangerous Dog Licence 100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Contact CRD Animal Care Services by phone at 250-478-0624 or complete the CRD's online complaint form. After hours: 1-800-884-0919.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints","title":"Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District","section":"How to report a dog bite or attack","quotes":["Contact our office at 250.478.0624 or complete an online complaint form."]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/community-services/animals-wildlife/animal-control-licensing","title":"Animal Control & Licensing, District of Highlands","section":"Animal Control & Licensing","quotes":["212 - 2780 Veterans Memorial Parkway Langford, British Columbia Phone: 250-474-3351 AFTER HOURS: 1-800-884-0919 ## To Report: - Cougar Sightings: 1-800-663-9453 - Wildlife Sightings: 1-877-952-7277"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Vicious dog not muzzled and on a leash (s. 24(2)): bylaw notice $150 ($120 within 14 days; $180 after 28 days); municipal ticket $150.","short":"Notice $150 ($120 if paid in 14 days); ticket $150","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, animal bylaw s. 24(2)","quotes":["Vicious Dog Not Muzzled and On Leash 24 (2) $150.00 $120.00 $180.00"]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Appendix 2","quotes":["Vicious Dog Not Muzzled and On Leash 24 (2) $150.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw No. 1465).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)","section":"s. 36","quotes":["*Amended under Bylaw No. 359, 2013 CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT ANIMAL REGULATION AND IMPOUNDING BY-LAW NO. 1465, 1986 SCHEDULE \"B\" 1. DOGS"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434) (CRD Bylaw 1465), a \"vicious\" animal is one that has attacked or bitten, attempted to attack or bite, or chased any person, animal or wildlife. Excluded are an attack on a dog or cat, and an attack by a dog on animals or wildlife molesting livestock. The bylaw does not say who decides or set a declaration process.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. To report a bite or attack, phone CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 or complete the CRD's online complaint form.\n2. After hours, call 1-800-884-0919.\n3. Give your name, address and phone number. The CRD does not take anonymous reports.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The owner of a vicious dog must keep it muzzled and on a leash. A vicious animal is deemed not to be under direct and continuous control, so it is \"at large\" whenever it is off the owner's property.\n- Not muzzled and on a leash: bylaw notice $150 ($120 within 14 days; $180 after 28 days); municipal ticket $150.\n- The bylaw's Schedule A lists a dangerous dog licence at $100. The CRD page lists $95 early, $100 regular and $120 late.\n- The CRD describes other rules for dangerous dogs in its area bylaws, but they are not in the Highlands bylaw text, so ask the CRD what applies.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434","title":"Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints","title":"Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/community-services/animals-wildlife/animal-control-licensing","title":"Animal Control & Licensing, District of Highlands","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs","title":"Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs.json"}}