---
title: Northern Rockies rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Northern Rockies?"
place: Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/northern-rockies
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Northern Rockies Regional Municipality
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Northern Rockies rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, owners of a dangerous dog must keep it leashed and held by a competent person, or muzzled, in public, and otherwise in a secured enclosure, with warning signs posted. Report a bite or aggressive dog to Animal Control at 250.775.0048. Call 911 in an emergency.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, https://www.northernrockies.ca)  
**Cost:** No separate dangerous-dog licence fee is set in the bylaw. Bylaw notices range from $50 to $200 (see below). Impound fees for a dangerous dog or pit bull: $200 first time, $500 second, $1,000 third, $1,100 fourth and later.  
**How long:** An impounded dangerous dog may be reclaimed within 72 hours.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control, 250.775.0048 (Patrol 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with on-call on Saturdays. After-hours messages are returned the next business day.)
- Email: Animal Control, Bylaw@NorthernRockies.ca
- Phone: Emergency (RCMP Northern Rockies Detachment), 911

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Defined as in the Community Charter. Includes a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property; has bitten a person or animal without provocation; tends to attack without provocation; or that an animal control officer reasonably believes is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 5.1 Dangerous Dog](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/)
  - Official wording: "has bitten another domestic animal or human without provocation" … "an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person" … "has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal, while in a public" … "an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 7.13](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/)
  - Official wording: "if the animal control officer believes that a dog is a dangerous dog, the animal control officer may"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Rules for owners:** In public or on private property with consent, the dog must be firmly leashed or in an enclosure, firmly held by a competent person, or muzzled. Otherwise keep it in a secured enclosure or structure. Post warning signs at each entrance and on the building. Tell the Municipality within two working days of selling, giving away or the death of the dog.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 7.2 to 7.8](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/)
  - Official wording: "firmly held on a leash or secured in an enclosure" … "muzzled by a properly fitted humane device" … "An owner of a dangerous dog must keep the dangerous dog in a secured enclosure or structure." … "display a sign at each entrance to the parcel of land on which the" … "Within two working days of selling or giving away the dangerous dog, the" … "Within two working days of the death of the dangerous dog, advise the"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 5.1 Enclosure](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/)
  - Official wording: "of at least 2.4 meters (six feet) in height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Licence fee:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **How to report:** Report a dog bite or aggressive dog to Animal Control: 250.775.0048 or Bylaw@NorthernRockies.ca. For an emergency such as a human-animal conflict, call 911 (RCMP Northern Rockies Detachment).
  - Source: [Dog Licences and Animal Control, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Report a Concern](https://www.northernrockies.ca/resident-services/dog-licences-animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Report an animal at large, barking dog, aggressive dog, a dog bite or a lost dog" … "P: 250.775.0048 | E: Bylaw@NorthernRockies.ca" … "Report an animal control EMERGENCY, such as a human-animal conflict"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 7.9](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/)
  - Official wording: "is running at large, or has bitten or has attacked a person or animal."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (early within 21 days / late after 32 days): attack, chase or run at large (s. 7.1) $200 ($180 / $220); improper control, no secure enclosure or no signs (s. 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) $100 ($90 / $110); not reporting an attack (s. 7.9) $200. Pit bull not controlled or enclosed (s. 7.2, 7.3), or unlicensed pit bull: $200.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Schedule A, Animal Control](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/59372/)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog Improperly in a 7.2 (a)(b)(c) $100 $90 $110" … "Failure to Erect Dangerous Dog 7.4(a)(b) $100 $90 $110" … "Failure to Advise the Municipality 7.9 $200 $180 $220" … "Pit Bull Dog not in a secured 7.3 $200 $180 $220" … "Dangerous Dog Running at Large, 7.1 $200 $180 $220" … "Possession of Unlicensed Pit Bull 8.1 (a) $200 $180 $220"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Schedule A, Animal Control](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/59372/)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog Running at Large, 7.1 $200 $180 $220"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (section 7, Dangerous Dogs; section 8, pit bulls).
  - Source: [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, cover](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Section 7 of the [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/) defines a dangerous dog as in the Community Charter. That includes a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property; has bitten a person or animal without provocation; tends to attack without provocation; or that an animal control officer reasonably believes is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. The bylaw sets no separate declaration process or appeal. An animal control officer may apply to Provincial Court for a destruction order.

## Steps

1. In public, or on private property with consent, keep the dog firmly leashed or in an enclosure and held by a competent person, or muzzled.
2. Otherwise keep it in a secured enclosure or structure.
3. Post warning signs at each entrance and on the building: the word WARNING, the phrase "Dangerous Dog on Premises" and a picture of a dog head with bared teeth.
4. Tell the municipality within two working days if you sell or give away the dog, or if it dies. Report it yourself if it is loose or bites.

## Good to know

- Pit bulls (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier and crosses) are prohibited inside the boundary unless licensed on or before October 31, 2007, and must follow the same owner rules.
- Bylaw notices: attack, chase or run at large $200 ($180 if paid within 21 days, $220 after 32 days); improper control, no secure enclosure or no signs $100 ($90 / $110); not reporting an attack $200; pit bull not controlled or enclosed, or unlicensed, $200; defacing the sign $100; not advising of a sale $50.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Stewart](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9400/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Dog Licences and Animal Control, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://www.northernrockies.ca/resident-services/dog-licences-animal-control) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/59372/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/dangerous-dogs/_