---
title: Nakusp rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nakusp
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Nakusp
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Nakusp rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Nakusp, the Animal Control Bylaw calls a dog dangerous if it has killed or injured a person or domestic animal, has harassed a person, or is a listed breed such as a Pit Bull Terrier or Rottweiler. Off the property it must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than 2 m; at home it must be confined.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Nakusp, https://www.nakusp.com)  
**Cost:** No dangerous-dog licence fee is set; regular licence fees apply. A $350 dangerous dog surcharge is payable on release from impound. Fines: bylaw notice $100 to $300; municipal ticket $100 to $250.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office (Municipal Hall), 91 1st Street NW, Nakusp, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-265-3689 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Online: Bylaw complaint form (written complaints only), https://www.nakusp.com/bylawenforcement

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** A "dangerous dog" is one that has killed or injured a person or domestic animal or has pursued or harassed a person; has a known tendency to attack without provocation; is bred or trained for fighting; or is a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, or a dog bred from any of them.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 645, 2013 (consolidated January 15, 2020), Part I s. 3, definition of Dangerous Dog](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5592/)
  - Official wording: "has killed or injured a person or domestic animal, or has pursued or harassed a person;" … "any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation other animals or humans;" … "is specifically bred or trained for fighting purposes;" … "a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler and any dog whose breeding includes one or more of the breeds enumerated in this paragraph;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Rules for owners:** Off the property: muzzled and on a leash no more than 2 m long held by a person able to control it. On the property: confined indoors or in an enclosed pen that keeps young children out and the dog in. Post "Beware of Dog" signs (at least 12 x 12 inches, yellow, bold black letters) at front and rear entrances.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 645, 2013 (consolidated January 15, 2020), Part II s. 3](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5592/)
  - Official wording: "shall keep the dog muzzled and secured to a leash, no more than 2 meters in length" … "shall keep the dog securely confined either indoors or in an enclosed pen or other structure capable of preventing the entry of young children" … "shall prominently display a sign stating ‘Beware of Dog’ at the front and rear entrances" … "Said sign to be at least 12 inches x 12 inches in size, yellow in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Licence fee:** None set. Nakusp sets no separate licence fee for a dangerous dog; regular licence fees apply.
- **How to report:** Submit a written complaint with your name, civic address, telephone number, location and nature of the problem, using the form on the Bylaw Enforcement page or at the Village Office. Safety (Priority 1) complaints are investigated after one complaint.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Complaints; Investigations](https://www.nakusp.com/bylawenforcement)
  - Official wording: "All complaints must be in written format and include the complainant's name, civic address, telephone number, location of the infraction, and general nature of the potential bylaw contravention." … "Priority 1 issues will be investigated after only one complaint." … "Priority 1 - Safety"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: failing to muzzle or leash a dangerous dog $250 ($225 within 14 days; $275 after 28 days); failing to confine it $300 ($275; $325); no posted sign $100 ($75; $125). Municipal ticket: $200, $250 and $100.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 694, 2020 (consolidated), Schedule A, Animal Control, Part II 3(a)-(c)](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/7413/)
  - Official wording: "Part II 3(a) Fail to muzzle or leash a 250 225 275 No" … "Part II 3(b) Fail to Confine Dangerous 300 275 325 No" … "Part II 3(c) No posted sign for Dangerous 100 75 125 No"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 684, 2018 (consolidated May 2025), Schedule 10](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13964/)
  - Official wording: "Fail to muzzle or leash a dangerous dog Part II 3(a) $200.00" … "Fail to Confine Dangerous Dog Part II 3(b) $250.00" … "No Posted Sign for Dangerous Dog Part II 3(c) $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 645, 2013 (consolidated to include Bylaws 645-1, 645-2 and 645-3, 2019; consolidated January 15, 2020)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 645, 2013 (consolidated January 15, 2020), s. 1](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5592/)
  - Official wording: "the “Animal Control Bylaw No 645, 2013”" … "Consolidated January 15, 2020 to include Bylaws 645-1, 645-2 and 645-3, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 645](<https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5592/>) defines a "dangerous dog" as one that has killed or injured a person or domestic animal, or has pursued or harassed a person; has a known tendency to attack without provocation; is bred or trained for fighting; or is a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, or a dog bred from any of them. The bylaw does not say who decides or how a dog is declared.

## Good to know

- Off the property: muzzled, and on a leash no more than 2 m long held by a person able to control it. A dog that has bitten a person or domestic animal must be muzzled off the owner's property.
- On the property: confined indoors or in an enclosed pen that keeps young children out and the dog in.
- Post "Beware of Dog" signs (at least 12 x 12 inches, yellow, bold black letters) at the front and rear entrances.
- No separate licence fee is set; regular licence fees apply. A $350 dangerous dog surcharge is payable on release from impound.
- To report a dog, submit a written complaint with your name, civic address, telephone number, and the location and nature of the problem, using the form on the [Bylaw Enforcement page](<https://www.nakusp.com/bylawenforcement>) or at the Village Office. Safety (Priority 1) complaints are investigated after one complaint. The pages name no separate bite-reporting line.
- Failing to muzzle or leash a dangerous dog: a bylaw notice is $250 ($225 if paid within 14 days; $275 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $200.
- Failing to confine it: a bylaw notice is $300 ($275; $325); a municipal ticket is $250.
- No posted sign: a bylaw notice is $100 ($75; $125); a municipal ticket is $100.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 645, 2013 (consolidated January 15, 2020) (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5592/)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/bylawenforcement)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Silverton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 645, 2013 (consolidated January 15, 2020) (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5592/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 693, 2020 (consolidated April 2026) (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13954/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 694, 2020 (consolidated) (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/7413/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 684, 2018 (consolidated May 2025) (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13964/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/bylawenforcement) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Nakusp. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/dangerous-dogs/_