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

# North Vancouver rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** The City of North Vancouver calls them "vicious dogs". Once the Poundkeeper, an Animal Control Officer or a police officer declares a dog vicious, it needs a special licence (.28 a year) and liability insurance and must be muzzled and leashed off the owner's property. The bylaw notice for breaking that rule is .

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of North Vancouver, https://www.cnv.org)  
**Cost:** Vicious dog licence $208.28 a year (the normal licence is $31.24). Bylaw notices: unlicensed vicious dog $400; vicious dog at large $200; unmuzzled or unleashed off the owner's property $240; biting or injuring a person or animal $240.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control Services, 604-982-8302 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After-hours dog emergencies 604-607-1651.)
- Email: Animal Control Services, animalcontrol@cnv.org

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** The bylaw says "vicious dog". It is a dog declared vicious by the Poundkeeper, Animal Control Officer or Police Officer, including one that attacked or bit without provocation, is likely to kill or seriously injure, is used for dog fighting, or was declared vicious or dangerous in another BC municipality.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 2 "Vicious Dog"](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Vicious Dog means a Dog or Puppy which has been declared vicious by the" … "Poundkeeper, Animal Control Officer or Police Officer as defined herein, and includes:" … "which has been declared a “vicious or dangerous dog” in any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Off the owner's property the dog must be muzzled, leashed and under direct control of someone at least 16 who can fully control it. Outside the dwelling on the premises it must be muzzled and leashed, or kept in a building or secure structure. A licence needs proof of dog-specific liability insurance. A pen must carry a vicious-dog sign, with signs at each entrance to the property.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 10(f), s. 3, s. 11(f)(viii)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "unless the Vicious Dog is Muzzled, leashed and under the direct" … "control of a person who is at least 16 years old, and has the physical ability" … "Muzzled and leashed, or" … "contained in a building, or in a Secure Structure." … "an Owner shall provide proof of liability" … "insurance specific to the Dog or Puppy before a Licence may be issued for a Vicious Dog." … "a pen that is confining a Vicious Dog shall contain a sign, in writing and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $208.28 per year for a dog deemed vicious (the normal licence is $31.24).
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control, Schedule F (Animal Control)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For a dog deemed to be vicious $ 208.28"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Report bites or vicious pursuit to Animal Control Services at animalcontrol@cnv.org or 604-982-8302 (Mon to Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). After-hours dog emergencies: 604-607-1651. Immediate danger: RCMP, 911.
  - Source: [Animal Care & Control, Animal Care & Control page](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Animal-Control)
  - Official wording: "Tel: 604-982-8302 | Monday to Friday, 8:30 - 5:00pm" … "Email: animalcontrol@cnv.org" … "After-hours Emergency Dog-Related Complaints" … "Tel: 604-607-1651" … "Immediate Dangerous Animal Concerns" … "RCMP 911" … "Animal Control does not respond to anonymous complaints." … "should report each incident to Animal Control Services at animalcontrol@cnv.org"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Vicious dog: unlicensed $400; at large $200; unmuzzled or unleashed off the owner's property $240; unmuzzled on private property $170; unleashed or unconfined on private property $120; biting or injuring a person or animal $240. Ordinary dog biting a person: $120. Pen requirement not met: $200. Amounts are the standard figures; early payment and late amounts differ.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A, Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Dog Licence (Vicious Dog) 10 (a) No $400 $350 $450 N/A" … "Vicious Dog at Large 10 (c) No $200 $150 $300 N/A" … "Un-muzzled Vicious Dog 10 (f)(i) No $240 $200 $300 N/A" … "Un-muzzled Vicious Dog on Private Property 10 (f)(ii)(a) No $170 $150 $200 N/A" … "Unconfined Vicious Dog on Private Property 10 (f)(ii)(b) No $120 $100 $150 N/A" … "Fail to Ensure Vicious Dog does not bite person 10 (e)(i) No $240 $200 $300 N/A" … "Fail to Ensure Dog does not bite person 10 (e)(i) No $120 $100 $150 N/A" … "Pen Requirement Not Met 11 (f) Yes $200 $150 $250 $75"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 2010, No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024)
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 1](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 2010, No. 8113"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf), a "vicious dog" is one declared vicious by the Poundkeeper, an Animal Control Officer or a police officer. That includes a dog that attacked or bit without provocation, one likely to kill or seriously injure, a dog used for dog fighting, or one declared vicious or dangerous in another BC municipality.

## Good to know

- Licence: the fee is $208.28 a year, and a licence needs proof of dog-specific liability insurance. A dog licensed elsewhere and declared vicious or dangerous there pays the full amount.
- Off the owner's property, the dog must be muzzled, leashed and under the direct control of someone at least 16 who can fully control it.
- Outside the dwelling on the premises, it must be muzzled and leashed, or kept in a building or secure structure.
- A pen must carry a vicious-dog sign, with signs at each entrance to the property.
- Bylaw notices under the [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf): unlicensed $400, at large $200, unmuzzled or unleashed off the owner's property $240, unmuzzled on private property $170, unleashed or unconfined on private property $120, biting or injuring a person or animal $240, pen requirement not met $200. An ordinary dog biting a person is $120.
- Report bites or vicious pursuit to Animal Control Services. For immediate danger, call the RCMP or 911.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf)
- [Animal Care & Control page](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Animal-Control)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

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

## Sources

- [Animal Care & Control, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Animal-Control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024) (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf) (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 North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dangerous-dogs/_