---
title: Langford rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: Langford, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/langford
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Langford rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Langford, an Animal Control Officer can designate a dog aggressive or dangerous and give the owner written notice. The owner then needs a special licence ($100 aggressive, $200 dangerous) and must follow strict confinement and leash rules. Dangerous dogs must also be muzzled in public.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Aggressive Dog licence $100; Dangerous Dog licence $200 (Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2239, Schedule A).  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services (Langford Animal Control Officer), 250-478-0624
- Online: CRD animal complaint form, https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer designates the dog and gives the owner written notice. Aggressive: without justifiable provocation, showed aggressive behaviour to a person or domestic animal or caused a minor injury. Dangerous: killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal off the owner's property, or likely to kill or seriously injure a person.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 16(1), 16(2)](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2239-2026-Online-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) displayed Aggressive Behaviour towards a Person or Domestic Animal; or" … "(b) caused a Minor Injury to a Person or Domestic Animal;" … "an Animal Control Officer may designate the Dog as an Aggressive Dog and will Deliver" … "(a) a Dog has killed or Seriously Injured a Person;" … "(c) an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the Dog is likely to kill or Seriously Injure a Person;" … "an Animal Control Officer may designate the Dog as a Dangerous Dog, and will Deliver"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Both: never at large (on private property that means indoors or in a locked 2 m Enclosure); never in off-leash areas; collar or harness and leash (max 1.2 m, no retractable) in public; permanent ID within 14 days of notice; photo within 7 days; special licence. Dangerous dogs also: muzzled in public, warning signs, locked fencing.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 17(1), 18, 16(5), 3 "Enclosure"](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2239-2026-Online-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "not cause, permit, or allow the Aggressive Dog to be At Large within the City, including in an Off-leash Area" … "within 14 days of receiving notice of the Dog being designated an Aggressive Dog," … "(d) when in a Public Place, Muzzle the Dangerous Dog;" … "post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry onto any property where the Dangerous" … "keep the Dangerous Dog securely confined indoors or confined outdoors in an Enclosure located within securely fenced property" … "a structure at least two metres in height, width and length" … "in relation to an Aggressive Dog or Dangerous Dog that is on private property, not contained in an Enclosure or securely confined within a dwelling"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $100 for an Aggressive Dog licence and $200 for a Dangerous Dog licence (Schedule A). The CRD page lists a dangerous dog licence at $100 ($95 early, $120 late). (Sources differ: Value follows the bylaw adopted March 16, 2026; the CRD table is dated June 11, 2025 and does not list an aggressive-dog fee. An existing dog licence becomes invalid on designation (s. 4(8)).)
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, Schedule A](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2239-2026-Online-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Male Dog (not Neutered) $60.00 Male Dog (Neutered) $40.00 Aggressive Dog $100.00 Dangerous Dog $200.00 Late application penalty (applied to all) $20.00" … "Male Dog (Neutered) $40.00 Aggressive Dog $100.00 Dangerous Dog $200.00 Late application penalty (applied to all) $20.00 Replacement of lost licence $5.00"
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees table](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog license | $95 | $100 | $120"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 or use the CRD online animal complaint form. Name, address and phone number are required; anonymous reports are not investigated. After a bite, exchange contact details, get medical help and report as soon as possible.
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Dog Bites and Attacks](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." … "We do not take anonymous reports, they will not be investigated." … "Report the incident to us as soon as possible to ensure everyone's safety"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement and Ticket Payment Information, Animal Control](https://langford.ca/residents/resident-resources/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "The Langford Animal Control Officer can be reached by calling (250) 478-0624."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Not confirmed. Langford does not publish its fine amounts.
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 1](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2239-2026-Online-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City's [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2239-2026-Online-1.pdf), an Animal Control Officer designates the dog and gives the owner written notice.

- **Aggressive:** without justifiable provocation, the dog showed aggressive behaviour to a person or domestic animal, or caused a minor injury.
- **Dangerous:** the dog killed or seriously injured a person, or killed or seriously injured a domestic animal off the owner's property, or is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.

A designation made in another CRD municipality carries over. An existing dog licence becomes invalid on designation.

## Good to know

- Owner rules for both kinds: never at large (on private property that means indoors or in a locked 2 m enclosure); never in off-leash areas; collar or harness and a leash of 1.2 m or less, not retractable, in public; permanent identification within 14 days of notice; a photo within 7 days; and the special licence.
- Dangerous dogs must also be muzzled in public, with warning signs and locked fencing.
- After one year an aggressive designation can be removed if conditions are met. A change of owner does not remove it.
- To report a dog, call CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 or use the CRD online complaint form. Anonymous reports are not investigated.
- After a bite, exchange contact details, get medical help and report as soon as possible. Leaving the scene of a dog attack without giving contact details or reporting it is not allowed.
- Fine amounts are not published. Tickets are set under Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 34 and Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1980, and neither schedule is online.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026 (PDF)](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2239-2026-Online-1.pdf)
- [Animal Complaints, CRD](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026 (PDF), City of Langford](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2239-2026-Online-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement and Ticket Payment Information, City of Langford](https://langford.ca/residents/resident-resources/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs) (read 2026-11-05)

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