---
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?"
place: District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/north-vancouver-district
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of North Vancouver
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# 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?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Vancouver, https://www.dnv.org)  
**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:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-990-3711
- Phone: Animal Welfare Shelter and Services, 604-990-3666
- In person: Municipal Hall, 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 4N5

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** 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.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 2; s. 8(j)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** 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.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8A](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $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.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481, Schedule E](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%206481.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Spayed or neutered aggressive dog $116.00 annual fee"
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 3.4](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "proof of liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 with respect to the dog to be"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** 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.
  - Source: [Complaint and Enforcement Policy, s. 5 Receiving Complaints](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/complaint-enforcement-policy.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458, Schedule A, Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 14.4](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fail to spay or neuter aggressive dog 8A(ii) $200.00" … "Fail to post sign indicating aggressive dog 8A(iv) $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (ss. 3.4, 8, 8A).
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8A](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

## Steps

1. If you own an aggressive dog, follow the owner rules below.
2. 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.
3. Anonymous complaints are acted on only for safety issues.
4. In an emergency, call 911.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [https://docs.dnv.org/documents/dog-walkers-guide.pdf](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/dog-walkers-guide.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%205981.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF), District of North Vancouver](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%206481.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF), District of North Vancouver](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Complaint and Enforcement Policy (PDF), District of North Vancouver](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/complaint-enforcement-policy.pdf) (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 District of North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs/_