{"title":"Nelson rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Nelson","url":"https://www.nelson.ca"},"short_answer":"Nelson's Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 regulates \"vicious dogs\": dogs with a known tendency to attack, dogs that have bitten without provocation, and Pit Bull Terrier-type breeds. They need a $300 licence, a leash and muzzle in public, and secure confinement at home.","aliases":["vicious dog nelson bc","pit bull bylaw nelson","dog bite nelson","muzzle dog nelson"],"cost":"Vicious or Pit Bull Terrier licence $300 a year. Impound basic fee $1,250. Bylaw notices: vicious dog at large or off leash in a leash area $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $200 after 28 days), second offence $250, third and further $500; not muzzled $150 ($100; $300).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Domestic Animal Control","value":"250-505-5666"},{"type":"online","label":"Request Bylaw Enforcement (online form; anonymous complaints are not accepted)","value":"https://www.nelson.ca/200/Request-Bylaw-Enforcement"},{"type":"in_person","label":"City Hall (licensing)","value":"Suite 101, 310 Ward Street, Nelson, BC V1L 5S4"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (PDF)","url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025"},{"title":"Animal Control, City of Nelson","url":"https://www.nelson.ca/156/Animal-Control"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Nelson dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Nelson dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/salmo","name":"Salmo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/warfield","name":"Warfield","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/dangerous-dogs/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs/"},"facts":{"how_declared":{"label":"How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive","value":"The bylaw uses the term 'Vicious Dog': a dog over about 4 months old with a known tendency to attack without provocation, or that has bitten an animal or person without provocation, or any Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier or cross of those breeds.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025","title":"Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (PDF)","section":"s. 1 definition of Vicious Dog","quotes":["with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation other domestic animals or humans; or","which has bitten another domestic animal or human without provocation;","which is a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier or any dog of mixed breeding which includes any of the aforementioned breeds."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"A vicious dog must be on a leash and effectively muzzled on any street, public place or private land without the occupier's consent, and must never be at large. On the owner's premises it must be kept indoors or in an enclosed six-foot chain-link fence. The City may require $1,000,000 liability insurance before licensing.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025","title":"Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (PDF)","section":"s. 8(a), 3(c)","quotes":["unless such Vicious Dog is on a leash and effectively muzzled.","keep the dog securely confined, either indoors or in an enclosed six foot","the City may require the owner to furnish proof of liability insurance, for the entire period of licensing, of at least $1,000,000"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"$300 a year licence for a Vicious/Pit Bull Terrier dog. Impound basic fee for a vicious dog is $1,250.","short":"$300 a year (vicious dog)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M (PDF)","section":"Schedule M","quotes":["Vicious/Pit Bull Terrier Dog $ 300.00","Vicious Dog-Basic Fee $ 1,250.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Domestic Animal Control, phone 250-505-5666, or the online complaint form. The City does not accept anonymous complaints.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.nelson.ca/156/Animal-Control","title":"Animal Control, City of Nelson","section":"Animal Control","quotes":["Phone: 250-505-5666","Submit a Complaint Form"]},{"url":"https://www.nelson.ca/200/Request-Bylaw-Enforcement","title":"Request Bylaw Enforcement, City of Nelson","section":"Request Bylaw Enforcement","quotes":["We do not accept anonymous complaints."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: vicious dog at large $150 ($100 within 14 days; $200 after 28 days); second offence $250; third and further $500. Vicious dog not on a leash in a leash area: the same. Vicious dog not muzzled $150 ($100; $300).","short":"Notice $150 ($100 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/38996","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Animal Regulation and Control, s. 8(a)","quotes":["Vicious dog at large 150 100 200","Vicious dog not on leash in","Vicious dog not muzzled 150 100 300"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw No. 2333, 1989 (sections 1, 3(c), 8(a), 20(b)). Fees: Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092, Schedule M.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025","title":"Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (PDF)","section":"s. 39","quotes":["Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw No. 2333, 1989"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nNelson's [Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025) uses the term \"vicious dog\". That is a dog over about four months old with a known tendency to attack without provocation, or that has bitten an animal or person without provocation, or any Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier or cross of those breeds. The breed test applies automatically.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Licence the dog at the $300 vicious dog rate. The City may require $1,000,000 liability insurance before licensing.\n2. At home, keep the dog indoors or in an enclosed six-foot chain-link fence.\n3. In any street, public place or private land without the occupier's consent, keep the dog on a leash and effectively muzzled. It must never be at large.\n4. To report a dangerous dog, call Domestic Animal Control at 250-505-5666 or use the online form. In urgent danger, call 911.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The bylaw does not say who decides a dog is vicious, and it has no separate \"dangerous\" or \"aggressive\" category.\n- An impounded vicious dog may be redeemed within 24 hours (not counting weekends and holidays). The basic impound fee is $1,250.\n- The City does not accept anonymous complaints.\n- Nelson uses bylaw notices only. A court fine for an offence under the bylaw can be up to $10,000.","sources":[{"url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025","title":"Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/38996","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.nelson.ca/156/Animal-Control","title":"Animal Control, City of Nelson","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.nelson.ca/200/Request-Bylaw-Enforcement","title":"Request Bylaw Enforcement, City of Nelson","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dangerous-dogs.json"}}