District of North Vancouver rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
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.
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.Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 2; s. 8(j) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingany 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 |
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| 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.Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingensure 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 |
| 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.Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481, Schedule E; Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 3.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSpayed or neutered aggressive dog $116.00 annual fee proof of liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 with respect to the dog to be |
| 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.Complaint and Enforcement Policy, s. 5 Receiving Complaints · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingComplaints 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 |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458, Schedule A, Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981; Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 14.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFirst 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 Fail to spay or neuter aggressive dog 8A(ii) $200.00 Fail to post sign indicating aggressive dog 8A(iv) $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (ss. 3.4, 8, 8A).Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDogs 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 |
How it works
The Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 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
- If you own an aggressive dog, follow the owner rules below.
- 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.
- Anonymous complaints are acted on only for safety issues.
- 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
The same question in other places
North Vancouver · Belcarra · West Vancouver · Port Moody · Vancouver · Burnaby
Sources
- https://docs.dnv.org/documents/dog-walkers-guide.pdf (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
- Complaint and Enforcement Policy (PDF), District of North Vancouver (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. How answers are checked.