North Vancouver rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?

North Vancouver, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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 .

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.Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 2 "Vicious Dog" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 10(f), s. 3, s. 11(f)(viii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Licence fee	$208.28 per year for a dog deemed vicious (the normal licence is $31.24).Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control, Schedule F (Animal Control) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording For a dog deemed to be vicious $ 208.28
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.Animal Care & Control, Animal Care & Control page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A, Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 2010, No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024)Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 2010, No. 8113

How it works

Under the Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 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: 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

The same question in other places

District of North Vancouver · Belcarra · Port Moody · West Vancouver · Vancouver · Burnaby

Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Care & Control, City of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A (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. How answers are checked.