---
title: Maple Ridge rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/maple-ridge
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Maple Ridge
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Maple Ridge rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Maple Ridge, a dog that has attacked, bitten or injured a person or domestic animal, or aggressively pursued one, is an "aggressive dog" under the Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw. Owners must confine and muzzle it, post signs and microchip or tattoo it. The licence costs $200 or $270.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Maple Ridge, https://www.mapleridge.ca)  
**Cost:** Aggressive dog licence $200 if paid by January 31, $270 from February 1. Impound fee for a dangerous or aggressive dog: $500 first time, $1,000 second time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw, Licensing and Community Safety, 604-467-7305
- Phone: Ridge Meadows RCMP non-emergency, 604-463-6251

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Aggressive Dog: one that has attacked, bitten or injured a person (or shown a tendency to), bitten, killed or injured a domestic animal, or aggressively pursued or harassed a person or animal. Dangerous Animal: by District, SPCA or RCMP records or the owner's knowledge, has killed or injured a person or pet or, unprovoked, harassed a person.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012, s. 4.1 definitions](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012)
  - Official wording: "a dog that has attacked, bitten or caused injury to a person or has" … "a dog that has bitten, killed or caused injury to a domestic animal; or" … "a dog that has aggressively pursued or harassed a person or domestic" … "according to the records of the District, including the SPCA or the" … "demonstrated a propensity, tendency or disposition to do so" … "a dog with a known propensity to attack or injure a person without"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Keep the dog indoors, in an enclosure (1.8 m high, solid floor, mesh sides and roof) or on a leash of 1.5 m or less held by a competent adult; an enclosure must also be built on the property. Muzzle in public. Microchip or tattoo an aggressive dog. Post warning signs. Tell an officer within 3 days if it dies or is moved or sold, and at once if at large.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012, s. 7.7.1, 7.7.2, definition of Enclosure](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012)
  - Official wording: "on a leash or tether no more than 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in length" … "shall ensure that the animal wears a Muzzle while in a Public Place." … "shall tattoo or implant an electronic" … "shall post warning signs which give clear notice" … "within three (3) days should the" … "“Enclosure” means a structure at least 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in height having a solid" … "shall build an enclosure on their property as defined by this bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Aggressive dog licence: $200 if paid by January 31; $270 from February 1 (no senior discount listed).
  - Source: [Schedule A, Fees and Charges, Bylaw 6908-2012, Schedule A, s. 1(e)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/anmlctrlscheda201309241341477252)
  - Official wording: "(e) Aggressive Dog $200.00 $270.00"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Services, Annual Licensing and Renewal Fees](https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "| Altered (Senior Owner Discount) | $12.50 | $20.50 | Aggressive | $200.00 | $270.00 | Once fees have been paid, a dog licence is valid until the end of the current calendar year | |"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Complete the City's dog incident statement form and return it to the Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department (604-467-7305, email or fax), or call the Ridge Meadows RCMP non-emergency line at 604-463-6251.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Services, Dog Attacks (including bites)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Please complete our dog incident statement form and return it to the Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department at 604-467-7305 or via email or contact the Ridge Meadows RCMP non-emergency number at 604-463-6251."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: confine aggressive dog indoors $450; muzzle $300; warning signs $300; enclosure $300; fail to notify when at large $300; tattoo $200; leash over 1.5 m $150. Municipal ticket: $500, $300, $300, $300, $300, $200 and $100.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement (Consolidated) Bylaw No. 7626-2020, Schedule A, Part 1](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidated-bylaw-no-7626-2020)
  - Official wording: "6908-2012 7.7.1(a) $450 $400 $500 No" … "6908-2012 7.7.2(a) $300 $250 $350 No" … "6908-2012 7.7.1(d) Leash more than 1.5 m. $150 $100 $200 No"
  - Source: [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 6929-2012 (Consolidated), Schedule 2](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/ticket-information-utilization-bylaw-no-6929-2012-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "Fail to confine an aggressive dog indoors 7.7.1(a) $500" … "Fail to muzzle an aggressive dog 7.7.2(a) $300" … "Leash more than 1.5 m. 7.7.1(d) $100"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012 (s. 7.7)
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012, title](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012) defines an "Aggressive Dog" as one that has attacked, bitten or injured a person (or shown a tendency to), bitten, killed or injured a domestic animal, or aggressively pursued or harassed a person or animal. A "Dangerous Animal" is one that, by District, SPCA or RCMP records or the owner's knowledge, has killed or injured a person or pet or, unprovoked, harassed a person. The bylaw does not say who formally decides a dog is aggressive.

## Owner rules

1. Keep the dog indoors, in an enclosure (1.8 m high, solid floor, mesh sides and roof, built on the property), or on a leash of 1.5 m or less held by a competent adult.
2. Muzzle the dog in public.
3. Microchip or tattoo the dog.
4. Post warning signs.
5. Tell an officer within 3 days if the dog dies or is moved or sold, and at once if it is at large.

## Good to know

- A licensed dog that becomes aggressive: produce its licence within 14 days. The Inspector may revoke the licence.
- Bylaw notice amounts: confining the dog indoors $450; muzzle $300; warning signs $300; enclosure $300; failing to notify when it is at large $300; tattoo $200; leash over 1.5 m $150. Municipal ticket amounts for the same offences, in that order: $500, $300, $300, $300, $300, $200 and $100.
- To report an attack or bite, return the City's dog incident statement form to the Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department (604-467-7305, email or fax), or call the Ridge Meadows RCMP non-emergency line at 604-463-6251.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog incident statement](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/dog-incident-statement)
- [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012 (PDF)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012)

## Related questions

- [Maple Ridge dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dog-licence.md)
- [Maple Ridge dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dog-leash-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Schedule A, Fees and Charges, Bylaw 6908-2012](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/anmlctrlscheda201309241341477252) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control and Licensing Services, City of Maple Ridge](https://www.mapleridge.ca/resident-services/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement (Consolidated) Bylaw No. 7626-2020](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidated-bylaw-no-7626-2020) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 6929-2012 (Consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/ticket-information-utilization-bylaw-no-6929-2012-consolidated) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Maple Ridge. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dangerous-dogs/_