Langford rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?

Langford, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 16(1), 16(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 17(1), 18, 16(5), 3 "Enclosure" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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)).Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, Schedule A; Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Dangerous dog license \| $95 \| $100 \| $120
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.Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Dog Bites and Attacks; Bylaw Enforcement and Ticket Payment Information, Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 The Langford Animal Control Officer can be reached by calling (250) 478-0624.
Fine	Not confirmed. Langford does not publish its fine amounts.
Bylaw	Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026”.

How it works

Under the City's Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 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

The same question in other places

Highlands · Colwood · View Royal · Esquimalt · Metchosin · Sooke

Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026 (PDF), City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)
Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Enforcement and Ticket Payment Information, City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)
Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District (read 2026-11-05)

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. How answers are checked.