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

# Nelson rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nelson, https://www.nelson.ca)  
**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).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Domestic Animal Control, 250-505-5666
- Online: Request Bylaw Enforcement (online form; anonymous complaints are not accepted), https://www.nelson.ca/200/Request-Bylaw-Enforcement
- In person: City Hall (licensing), Suite 101, 310 Ward Street, Nelson, BC V1L 5S4

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333, s. 1 definition of Vicious Dog](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333, s. 8(a), 3(c)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $300 a year licence for a Vicious/Pit Bull Terrier dog. Impound basic fee for a vicious dog is $1,250.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404)
  - Official wording: "Vicious/Pit Bull Terrier Dog $ 300.00" … "Vicious Dog-Basic Fee $ 1,250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Domestic Animal Control, phone 250-505-5666, or the online complaint form. The City does not accept anonymous complaints.
  - Source: [Animal Control](https://www.nelson.ca/156/Animal-Control)
  - Official wording: "Phone: 250-505-5666" … "Submit a Complaint Form"
  - Source: [Request Bylaw Enforcement](https://www.nelson.ca/200/Request-Bylaw-Enforcement)
  - Official wording: "We do not accept anonymous complaints."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Regulation and Control, s. 8(a)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/38996)
  - Official wording: "Vicious dog at large 150 100 200" … "Vicious dog not on leash in" … "Vicious dog not muzzled 150 100 300"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333, s. 39](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025)
  - Official wording: "Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw No. 2333, 1989"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Nelson'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.

## Steps

1. Licence the dog at the $300 vicious dog rate. The City may require $1,000,000 liability insurance before licensing.
2. At home, keep the dog indoors or in an enclosed six-foot chain-link fence.
3. 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.
4. To report a dangerous dog, call Domestic Animal Control at 250-505-5666 or use the online form. In urgent danger, call 911.

## Good to know

- The bylaw does not say who decides a dog is vicious, and it has no separate "dangerous" or "aggressive" category.
- An impounded vicious dog may be redeemed within 24 hours (not counting weekends and holidays). The basic impound fee is $1,250.
- The City does not accept anonymous complaints.
- Nelson uses bylaw notices only. A court fine for an offence under the bylaw can be up to $10,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025)
- [Animal Control, City of Nelson](https://www.nelson.ca/156/Animal-Control)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Regulation and Control Bylaw 2333 (PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1025) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092, Schedule M (PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A (PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/38996) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Nelson](https://www.nelson.ca/156/Animal-Control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Request Bylaw Enforcement, City of Nelson](https://www.nelson.ca/200/Request-Bylaw-Enforcement) (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 Nelson. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/dangerous-dogs/_