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

# Kitimat rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Kitimat an Animal Control Officer can designate a dog dangerous if it bites without provocation or has a known tendency to attack. The owner must muzzle and leash it (2 m or less) off the property, keep it securely confined at home, post a sign, and pay a $300 licence fee.

**Who handles it:** Municipal  
**Cost:** Dangerous dog licence: $300. Failure to muzzle, leash or control a dangerous dog: a bylaw notice is $500 ($450 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $3,000 ($2,500 if paid within 30 days).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall (bylaw complaints), 270 City Centre, Kitimat, BC V8C 2H7 (Office hours are not stated in the documents we read.)
- Phone: Municipal Hall (bylaw complaints), 250-632-8900

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer may designate a dog as a Dangerous Dog if it bites a human or animal without provocation, has a known tendency to attack a human or animal without provocation, or was previously designated and endangers a person or animal. The officer must tell the owner in writing.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.6.1-2](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An Animal Control Officer may designate a Dog as a" … "Dangerous Dog if the Dog" … "Bites a human or Animal without provocation" … "must inform the Owner of Record of the designation in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Off the property the dog must be on a leash or tether of no more than 2 m, fitted with a humane basket muzzle, and under the immediate control of a competent person. At home it must be securely confined in a building or enclosure, with a 'Dangerous Dog' sign on the fence or home. The owner must also report moves, sale, death or escape to the Animal Control Officer or Poundkeeper within set times.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 5.5.6.3-5](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "not exceeding two (2)" … "humane basket muzzle" … "securely confined within a building or" … "enclosure capable of" … "Dangerous Dog’ or ‘Dangerous Animal’ sign" … "Within two (2) working days of moving to a new residence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $300 licence fee for a dangerous dog.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, Schedule A](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Subdivision 6 - Dangerous Dogs/Dangerous Animals 5.5.6. 1. An Animal Control Officer may designate a Dog as a Dangerous Dog if the Dog:" … "4 Replacement of Lost Tag $2.00 5 Dangerous Dog $300.00 IMPOUNDMENT OF ANIMALS NOT LABELED AS DANGEROUS"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Make a written complaint on the District's Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form (phone 250-632-8900). The District starts an investigation on written complaints and relies on them to learn of violations.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form, Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form, header and Procedures 1-2](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/bylaw-enforcement-complaint-form.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Ph. 250-632-8900 Fax: 250-632-4995" … "Bylaw enforcement investigation will be commenced on submission of written complaints."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Failure to muzzle, leash or control a dangerous dog: bylaw notice $500 ($450 if paid within 14 days); municipal ticket $3,000 ($2,500 if paid within 30 days). Dangerous-dog impound fees are in the Animal Control schedule.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System, Part 1 Division 3 of the Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 5 table](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/part1-div3-municipalticket-20241202.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dogs/Animals at large" … "$300"
  - Source: [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026, Schedules A and B, row 81](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-05-19-reg.pdf)
  - Official wording: "81 Failure to Muzzle, Leash, or Control Dangerous Dog 5.5.6.3 $ 500.00 $ 450.00" … "81 Failure to Muzzle, Leash, or Control Dangerous Dog 5.5.6.3 $3,000.00 $2,500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 5, Division 5 - Animal Control (Bylaw No. 2031, 2023), Subdivision 6
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, Subdivision 6](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Subdivision 6 - Dangerous Dogs/Dangerous Animals"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under Part 5, Division 5 of the [Kitimat Municipal Code](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf), an Animal Control Officer may designate a dog as a Dangerous Dog if it bites a human or animal without provocation, has a known tendency to attack a human or animal without provocation, or was previously designated and endangers a person or animal. The officer must tell the owner in writing.

Once designated, off the property the dog must be on a leash or tether of no more than 2 metres, wear a humane basket muzzle, and be under the immediate control of a competent person. At home it must be securely confined in a building or enclosure, with a "Dangerous Dog" sign on the fence or home. The owner must also report a move, sale, death or escape to the Animal Control Officer or Poundkeeper within set times. Breaking the conditions is grounds for impounding the dog.

## Steps

1. To report a bite or aggressive dog, fill out the District's Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form or call 250-632-8900. Written complaints start an investigation.
2. If your dog is designated, license it ($300), muzzle it, and post the sign.

## Good to know

- Dangerous dog licence fee: $300. Impound fees for dangerous dogs are higher and are in the Animal Control fee schedule.
- Failure to muzzle, leash or control a dangerous dog: a bylaw notice is $500 ($450 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $3,000 ($2,500 if paid within 30 days).

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form, District of Kitimat (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/bylaw-enforcement-complaint-form.pdf)
- [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-05-19-reg.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System, Part 1 Division 3 of the Kitimat Municipal Code (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/part1-div3-municipalticket-20241202.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form, District of Kitimat (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/bylaw-enforcement-complaint-form.pdf) (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. 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/kitimat/dangerous-dogs/_