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

# Hope rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Hope, the fee schedule lists "potentially vicious" and "vicious" dogs, but the District's readable pages do not define them or say who decides. A potentially vicious dog licence is $150 a year; a vicious dog is $300.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Hope, https://www.hope.ca)  
**Cost:** Licence: potentially vicious dog $150 ($200 if renewed after April 1); vicious dog $300 ($400 late). Impound fee for a vicious dog: $500 plus boarding on the first impoundment, $1,000 plus boarding on a second or if it injures a person or domestic animal while running at large. Fine: bylaw notice $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days); municipal ticket $1,000.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-869-5671 (Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylaw@hope.ca

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Not confirmed. Hope's Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245 is a scan with no readable text.
- **Rules for owners:** The owner of an impounded vicious dog must show proof of valid liability insurance covering the dog's actions for the current year before a licence is issued or the dog is reclaimed.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule D, s. 4(c)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86974/Fees_Charges_Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "The owner of an impounded vicious dog must provide the Animal Control/Bylaw Enforcement Officer with proof of valid liability insurance"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Potentially vicious dog: $150 a year ($200 if renewed after April 1). Vicious dog: $300 ($400 late).
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule D](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86974/Fees_Charges_Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Potentially vicious dog $150.00 $200.00" … "Vicious dog $300.00 $400.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call Bylaw Services at 604-869-5671 or email bylaw@hope.ca. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer takes complaints weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Include your name, address and phone number.
  - Source: [Bylaw Directory](https://hope.ca/bylaws-directory)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Services at 604-869-5671 or bylaw@hope.ca."
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control, Enforcement of Bylaws](https://hope.ca/bylaw-animal-control)
  - Official wording: "weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m." … "Complaints without this information will not be investigated."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $50 surcharge after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $1,000. The schedules list one amount for any offence against the Dog Responsibility Bylaw.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026, Schedule A (BNE Bylaw No. 1627, 2026)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136112/1627%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008" … "$200.00 $150.00 $50.00 Yes"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026, Schedule A (MTI Bylaw No. 1628, 2026)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136113/1628%20-%20Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008 $1,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008 (fees in Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule D)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026, Schedule A (BNE Bylaw No. 1627, 2026)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136112/1627%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008" … "$200.00 $150.00 $50.00 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District of Hope's [Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245](<https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86972/Dog_Responsibility_Bylaw>) covers dangerous dogs, but it is a scan with no readable text. What can be confirmed is in the [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1363](<https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86974/Fees_Charges_Bylaw>), Schedule D, which sets licence and impound fees for "potentially vicious" and "vicious" dogs. It does not define either term, and the District's web page does not say who decides.

## Steps

1. To report a dangerous dog, call Bylaw Services at 604-869-5671 or email bylaw@hope.ca. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer takes complaints weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
2. Give your name, address and phone number.
3. If you are the owner of a dog that has been impounded, expect to pay the fees below.

## Good to know

- Licence: potentially vicious dog $150 a year ($200 if renewed after April 1); vicious dog $300 ($400 late).
- Impound fee for a vicious dog: $500 plus boarding for a first impoundment; $1,000 plus boarding for a second, or if it injures a person or domestic animal while running at large.
- The owner of an impounded vicious dog must show proof of valid liability insurance covering the dog's actions for the current year before a licence is issued or the dog is reclaimed.
- **Not stated in readable text:** how a dog is declared, and any muzzle, leash, enclosure or warning-sign rules. Ask Bylaw Services.
- The District's pages describe complaints in general and do not mention bites or aggressive dogs specifically.
- For any offence against the dog bylaw, a bylaw notice is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days) and a municipal ticket is $1,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control](https://hope.ca/bylaw-animal-control)
- [Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245 (scanned PDF)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86972/Dog_Responsibility_Bylaw)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1363, Schedule D](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86974/Fees_Charges_Bylaw)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control, District of Hope](https://hope.ca/bylaw-animal-control) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008 (scanned PDF, not readable), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86972/Dog_Responsibility_Bylaw) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86974/Fees_Charges_Bylaw) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136112/1627%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136113/1628%20-%20Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Directory, District of Hope](https://hope.ca/bylaws-directory) (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 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Hope. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/dangerous-dogs/_