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

# Highlands rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Dangerous dog licence: $100 in the bylaw's Schedule A. Not muzzled and on a leash: $150.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services (report a bite or attack), 250-478-0624
- Phone: CRD Animal Control after hours, 1-800-884-0919

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465), s. 1 'Vicious'](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)
  - Official wording: ""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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Rules for owners:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465), s. 24(2) and s. 1(2)(c)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Licence fee:** $100 for a dangerous dog licence (Schedule A, item J).
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465), Schedule A, item J](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog Licence 100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, How to report a dog bite or attack](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
  - Official wording: "Contact our office at 250.478.0624 or complete an online complaint form."
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licensing](https://www.highlands.ca/community-services/animals-wildlife/animal-control-licensing)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025, Schedule A, animal bylaw s. 24(2)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623)
  - Official wording: "Vicious Dog Not Muzzled and On Leash 24 (2) $150.00 $120.00 $180.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025, Schedule A, Appendix 2](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635)
  - Official wording: "Vicious Dog Not Muzzled and On Leash 24 (2) $150.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw No. 1465).
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465), s. 36](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)
  - Official wording: "*Amended under Bylaw No. 359, 2013 CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT ANIMAL REGULATION AND IMPOUNDING BY-LAW NO. 1465, 1986 SCHEDULE "B" 1. DOGS"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under 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.

## Steps

1. To report a bite or attack, phone CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 or complete the CRD's online complaint form.
2. After hours, call 1-800-884-0919.
3. Give your name, address and phone number. The CRD does not take anonymous reports.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Not muzzled and on a leash: bylaw notice $150 ($120 within 14 days; $180 after 28 days); municipal ticket $150.
- The bylaw's Schedule A lists a dangerous dog licence at $100. The CRD page lists $95 early, $100 regular and $120 late.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Report an animal complaint, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
- [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434)

## Related questions

- [Highlands dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-licence.md)
- [Highlands dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/how-many-pets.md)
- [Highlands bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Regulation and Impounding By-law No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw 1465) (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1434) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control & Licensing, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/community-services/animals-wildlife/animal-control-licensing) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs) (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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs/_