Kent rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Kent?
Short answer
In Kent, the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) decides if a dog is aggressive and sets the owner's duties. The dog must be securely confined, or on a leash of 3 m or less with a competent person and a muzzle. The licence is $295 a year if spayed or neutered, $354 if not.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | A dog is aggressive if it has attacked, bitten or injured a person; injured a domestic animal in a public place or off the owner's property; aggressively chased people, vehicles or animals while at large; was used for fighting; or is a dangerous dog. The FVRD Chief Animal Control Officer decides by letter; appeal in writing within 30 days.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part B; ss. 21-23 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga dog that has, with or without provocation, attacked, bitten or caused injury to a person a letter must be sent to the owner of the dog confirming that the Regional District considers the dog to be an aggressive dog the owner of the dog may appeal the classification, in writing, within 30 days a dog that has bitten, killed, or caused injury to a domestic animal while in a public place, on limited common property, or while on private property other than property owned or occupied by the person responsible for the dog; |
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| Rules for owners | Keep the dog securely confined in an enclosure, or on a leash of 3 m or less with a competent person in control and a muzzle. Allow a microchip to be implanted (or scanned) and give the FVRD a photo within 7 working days.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), s. 24 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingkeep the dog securely confined in an enclosure muzzled to prevent it from biting a person or other animal provide a photo of the dog to the Regional District within 7 working days |
| Licence fee | Aggressive dog licence $295 a year if spayed or neutered, $354 if not.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A (Bylaw 1854, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAggressive Altered Dog (each) $295 Aggressive Unaltered Dog (each) $354 |
| How to report | Call the FVRD at 1-844-495-CARE during business hours (Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or email. For a dog attack in progress after hours, call the local police.Animal Control, Fraser Valley Regional District, Complaints and Emergencies; Bylaw Enforcement, Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingplease call 1-844-495-CARE or email us Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm To report a dog attack in progress after regular business hours, please call your local police department. The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) now manages animal control for the District of Kent. |
| Fine | Bylaw notices: aggressive dog not confined, not on leash, no competent person, no muzzle, no microchip or no photo $500 each ($490 early, $510 late). Dog attacking or injuring a person or animal $250. Dog causing a death $500.FVRD Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1415, 2017 (consolidated), Schedule A-3, Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording24(a) Aggressive Dog Confined $500 $490 $510 No Muzzle 17(e) Dog Attacking or $250 $240 $260 17(g) Dog Causing |
| Bylaw | Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013, ss. 21-26FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 |
How it works
The FVRD runs animal control in Kent under its Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206. A dog is aggressive if it has attacked, bitten or injured a person; injured a domestic animal in a public place or off the owner's property; aggressively chased people, vehicles or animals while at large; or was used for fighting. A dog that meets the Community Charter's "dangerous dog" definition also counts. The FVRD's Chief Animal Control Officer decides by letter. You can appeal in writing within 30 days.
Owner's duties
- Keep the dog securely confined in an enclosure, or on a leash of 3 m or less with a competent person in control and a muzzle.
- Allow a microchip to be implanted (or scanned) and give the FVRD a photo within 7 working days.
- Pay the aggressive dog licence: $295 a year if spayed or neutered, $354 if not.
Good to know
- Bylaw notices: an aggressive dog not confined, not on leash, with no competent person, no muzzle, no microchip or no photo is $500 each ($490 early, $510 late). A dog attacking or injuring a person or animal is $250. A dog causing a death is $500.
- The microchip implant fee is $60. A female dog in heat must be confined.
- To report a dog, call FVRD Animal Control at 1-844-495-CARE, Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email. For an attack in progress after hours, call the local police.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Hope · Abbotsford · Mission · Maple Ridge
Sources
- FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- FVRD Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1415, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Animal Control, Fraser Valley Regional District (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Enforcement, District of Kent (read 2026-11-06)
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.