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

# Metchosin rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Metchosin, the Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is "aggressive" or "dangerous". These dogs must be on a non-extendable leash in public (muzzled if dangerous) and confined at home. Licences cost $75 (aggressive) and $100 (dangerous). Report an attack to the CRD at 250-478-0624.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Capital Regional District, https://www.crd.ca)  
**Cost:** Aggressive dog licence $75; dangerous dog licence $100 (District bylaw). Tickets from $100 to $500, see below.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624 (A name, address and phone number are required; anonymous reports are not investigated.)

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** The Animal Control Officer designates a dog "aggressive" if, without justifiable provocation, it showed aggressive behaviour toward a person or domestic animal or caused a minor injury. "Dangerous dog" is as defined in Community Charter s. 49: a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property, or that the officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. The officer decides.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 2, s. 38(e)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "aggressive dog means a dog that has been designated as such by the Animal Control Officer" … "dangerous dog has the same meaning as" … "designate a dog to be an aggressive dog or a dangerous dog, and make orders in writing in"
  - Source: [Community Charter, Part 3 (s. 49), BC Laws, Community Charter s. 49(1)](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03)
  - Official wording: "has killed or seriously injured a person," … "has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal, while in a public place or while on private property, other than property owned or occupied by the person responsible for the dog," … "an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive or dangerous dog: on a highway, park or other public place only if firmly held on a non-extendable leash by a competent person (a dangerous dog also muzzled). At home: aggressive dog indoors, in a fenced area or tethered; dangerous dog indoors or in a locked, enclosed pen at least 1.82 m long, 1.22 m wide and 1.82 m high, with no other dog. A dangerous dog needs a warning sign at each entrance. Only dangerous dog owners must be 19 or older.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 33-36](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "must not cause or allow the dog to be on a highway, park or other public place" … "in an enclosed pen that is:" … "must display a sign at each entrance to the premises where the dog" … "A person under the age of 19 years must not own or keep a dangerous dog" … "must not cause or allow the dog to be on a highway, park or other public place, or on any" … "A person under the age of 19 years must not own or keep a dangerous dog or have the care and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Dangerous dog licence $100; aggressive dog licence $75 (Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 696, Schedule 2; also Bylaw 692 Schedule A). The CRD page lists the dangerous dog licence at $95 early, $100 regular, $120 late. (Sources differ: Regular amounts match for dangerous dogs ($100); the CRD page adds early and late amounts that the bylaw does not set. Marked conflict because of those extra amounts.)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, Schedule A](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog Licence $100.00" … "Aggressive Dog Licence $75.00"
  - Source: [Licensing Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "| Dangerous dog license | $95 | $100 | $120"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024, No. 696, Fees and Charges Bylaw 696, Schedule 2](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/8/)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive dog licence $75.00" … "Dargerous dog licence $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 (or use the CRD online complaint form). Give what happened, when and where, a description of the dog and owner and witness contact details. Name, address and phone are required; anonymous reports are not investigated.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation, Bylaw and Animal Care Services](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/animal-regulation)
  - Official wording: "Please contact CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 for complaints and for animal control matters such as"
  - 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."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal tickets (Schedule 5), amount if paid within 30 days / after: aggressive or dangerous dog on leash rules or confinement $250 / $300; aggressive or dangerous dog at large $500 / $500; failure to display sign $100 / $150; failure to notify $150 / $200.
  - Source: [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, Schedule 5](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/)
  - Official wording: "13. Aggressive/dangerous dog on leash 33(a)(i) $250 $300" … "14. Dangerous dog not muzzled 33(a)(ii) $250 $300" … "17. Aggressive/dangerous dog at large 33(b) $500 $500" … "19. Failure to display sign 34 $100 $150" … "20. Failure to notify 35 $150 $200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** District of Metchosin Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 1](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the District of Metchosin Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the District's [Animal Control Bylaw No. 692](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/), the Animal Control Officer designates a dog "aggressive" if, without justifiable provocation, it showed aggressive behaviour toward a person or domestic animal or caused a minor injury. A "dangerous dog" is as defined in Community Charter s. 49: one that has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property, or that the officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.

## Steps

1. To report an attack or bite, call CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624, or use the CRD's online complaint form.
2. Give what happened, when and where, a description of the dog and its owner, and any witnesses' contact details.

## Good to know

- In public (a highway, park or other public place), an aggressive or dangerous dog must be firmly held on a non-extendable leash by a competent person. A dangerous dog must also be muzzled.
- At home, an aggressive dog must be indoors, in a fenced area or tethered. A dangerous dog must be indoors or in a locked, enclosed pen at least 1.82 m long, 1.22 m wide and 1.82 m high, with no other dog. It also needs a warning sign at each entrance.
- Only dangerous dog owners must be 19 or older.
- Owners must tell the Animal Control Officer if the dog is loose or bites, and within 2 business days of a transfer or death.
- Municipal tickets (paid within 30 days of being served, or after): leash or confinement rules $250 or $300; at large $500 either way; no warning sign $100 or $150; failure to notify $150 or $200.
- The CRD page lists the dangerous dog licence at $95 early, $100 regular and $120 late, so you may be invoiced at CRD rates.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 692](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

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

## Sources

- [Animal Regulation, District of Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/animal-regulation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Licensing Dogs, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024, No. 696, District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/8/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Community Charter, Part 3 (s. 49), BC Laws](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03) (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 Capital Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dangerous-dogs/_