{"title":"District of North Vancouver rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in the District of North Vancouver?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","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":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://www.dnv.org"},"short_answer":"In the District of North Vancouver (not the City of North Vancouver), an aggressive dog is one that has, without provocation, attacked, bitten, harassed or pursued a person or domestic animal. Its owner must keep it muzzled and leashed in public, spayed or neutered, and insured for $1,000,000.","aliases":["aggressive dog district of north vancouver","dangerous dog bylaw north vancouver district","dog bite north vancouver district","muzzle dog rules dnv"],"cost":"Licence for an aggressive, spayed or neutered dog: $116 a year, plus proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance and a vet's spay or neuter certificate. Fines: see Good to know.","how_long":"A licence runs for the calendar year and expires December 31.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"604-990-3711"},{"type":"phone","label":"Animal Welfare Shelter and Services","value":"604-990-3666"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 4N5"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"District of North Vancouver dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"District of North Vancouver dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"District of North Vancouver bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/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 defines an 'aggressive dog' as any dog that has, without provocation, attacked, bitten, harassed or pursued in a hostile fashion a person or domestic animal. It also makes it an offence to let a dog bite or injure a person.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","section":"s. 2; s. 8(j)","quotes":["any dog which has, without provocation, attacked, bitten, or harassed or pursued in a hostile fashion a person or domestic animal","bite a person, whether on the property of the owner or not"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Leash and muzzle in any public place; spayed or neutered; securely confined indoors or in an enclosed pen; sign on the pen if penned; owner at least 19; $1,000,000 liability insurance.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","section":"s. 8A","quotes":["ensure that such dog is on a leash and muzzled at all times when it is on any public street","ensure that such dog has been spayed or neutered","securely confined on premises owned or controlled by the dog","post a sign on the pen","not be under the age of nineteen (19) years","keep and maintain liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"$116 a year for a spayed or neutered aggressive dog. Applicants must also give proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance and a vet's spay or neuter certificate.","short":"$116 a year (aggressive dog, spayed or neutered)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%206481.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","section":"Schedule E","quotes":["Spayed or neutered aggressive dog $116.00 annual fee"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","section":"s. 3.4","quotes":["proof of liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 with respect to the dog to be"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Bylaw complaints can be made in person, by phone or in writing (letter or email). Give the location, a description of the problem, and your name, address, and phone or email. Anonymous complaints are acted on only for safety issues.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/complaint-enforcement-policy.pdf","title":"Complaint and Enforcement Policy (PDF), District of North Vancouver","section":"s. 5 Receiving Complaints","quotes":["Complaints may be received:","Complainants must provide a location and general description of the potential","Complainants must provide their name, address, telephone number or email.","violation is a Priority 1: Safety issue, or a matter which the District proactively enforces"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: not leashed or muzzled in public $250, $350, $500 (first, second, third and later offence); not securely confined $250/$350/$500; no spay or neuter $200; no pen sign $100; owner under 19 $200; no insurance $200; dog bites a person $300. Early and late amounts differ. Municipal tickets (in the Dog bylaw) carry the same base amounts.","short":"Notice $250, $350, $500 by offence number","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","section":"Schedule A, Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981","quotes":["First offence; 250 190 375","Third and subsequent offences. 500 375 750","Fail to spay or neuter aggressive dog 200 150 300","Fail to ensure dog does not bite person 300 225 450"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","section":"s. 14.4","quotes":["Fail to spay or neuter aggressive dog 8A(ii) $200.00","Fail to post sign indicating aggressive dog 8A(iv) $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (ss. 3.4, 8, 8A).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","section":"s. 8A","quotes":["Dogs at any one time. (7534) Aggressive Dogs 8A. The owner of an aggressive dog must: (i) ensure that such dog is on a leash and muzzled at all times when it is on any public street","DOG TAX AND REGULATION BYLAW BYLAW 5981 Effective Date - July 11, 1988"]}],"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\nThe [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981](<https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf>) defines an \"aggressive dog\" as any dog that has, without provocation, attacked, bitten, harassed or pursued in a hostile fashion a person or domestic animal. It is also an offence in the District of North Vancouver to let a dog bite or injure a person. The bylaw does not say who decides a dog is aggressive or set a declaration process.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. If you own an aggressive dog, follow the owner rules below.\n2. To report a dog, tell the District's Bylaw Services (604-990-3711) in person, by phone or in writing. Give the location, a description of the problem, and your name, address, and phone or email.\n3. Anonymous complaints are acted on only for safety issues.\n4. In an emergency, call 911.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Owner rules: leash and muzzle in any public place; spayed or neutered; securely confined indoors or in an enclosed pen; a sign on the pen if penned; owner at least 19; $1,000,000 liability insurance.\n- Fine for not leashed or muzzled in public: bylaw notice $250, $350 or $500 for a first, second, and third or later offence. Not securely confined: $250, $350 or $500.\n- Other bylaw notice fines: no spay or neuter $200; no pen sign $100; owner under 19 $200; no insurance $200; dog bites a person $300. Early and late amounts differ from the base amount. Municipal tickets in the Dog bylaw carry the same base amounts.","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/dog-walkers-guide.pdf","title":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/dog-walkers-guide.pdf","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%206481.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF), District of North Vancouver","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/complaint-enforcement-policy.pdf","title":"Complaint and Enforcement Policy (PDF), District of North Vancouver","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs.json"}}