{"title":"Pitt Meadows rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/pitt-meadows","name":"Pitt Meadows","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Pitt Meadows","url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Pitt Meadows a Bylaw Enforcement Officer can declare a dog aggressive or vicious. Owners then pay a $250 or $500 annual licence fee, use a short leash, get training and confine the dog. For an attack, call the RCMP non-emergency line, 778-670-9010.","aliases":["vicious dog pitt meadows","aggressive dog designation pitt meadows","dog bite pitt meadows","dangerous dog bylaw pitt meadows"],"cost":"Annual licence: aggressive dog $250; vicious dog $500.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"604-465-2428"},{"type":"phone","label":"RCMP non-emergency (dog attack)","value":"778-670-9010"},{"type":"in_person","label":"City Hall (pay the fee within 7 days)","value":"12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2968, 2023 (PDF)","url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf"},{"title":"Dog Licences","url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/services-and-payments/dog-licences"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Pitt Meadows dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Pitt Meadows dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dog-leash-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/maple-ridge","name":"Maple Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dangerous-dogs/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs/"},"facts":{"how_declared":{"label":"How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive","value":"A Bylaw Enforcement Officer decides, from their own observation or reports they find credible. Aggressive dog: caused minor injury, unprovoked pursuit or harassment, or likely to cause injury. Vicious dog: has seriously injured a person or animal, or is likely to kill or seriously injure. Owner may ask the Director to reconsider within 30 days.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)","section":"ss. 2.1, 6.1, 6.4, 7.1","quotes":["has caused minor injury to a person or Domestic Animal;","has seriously injured a person or a Domestic Animal; or","may determine that a Dog is an Aggressive Dog as defined by this bylaw","Within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice of an Aggressive Dog"]},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)","section":"s. 7.4","quotes":["Within 30 days of receipt of a Vicious Dog designation, the Owner may"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Pay the licence fee and microchip or tattoo the dog within 7 days; hire a certified trainer within 30 days and finish 3 sessions within 3 months. In public: on a leash (1 m maximum, no retractable) held by a capable person, never in off-leash areas; vicious dogs also muzzled. At home: confined indoors, in a locked enclosure, leashed, or in a fenced area. Vicious dogs need warning signs.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)","section":"s. 6.3","quotes":["attend at City Hall within seven (7) days of receiving the written notice","within three (3) months, provide written confirmation from a certified Dog trainer","not cause, permit, or allow the Dog to enter any Off-Leash Area; and"]},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)","section":"s. 7.3","quotes":["display a clearly visible Vicious Dog sign at all points of entry","unless the Vicious Dog is muzzled and secured on a leash to its Owner"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"Aggressive dog $250; vicious dog $500 (annual licence fee).","short":"Vicious $500; aggressive $250","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)","section":"Schedule A ss. 5-6","quotes":["Dog Licensing Fee for an Aggressive Dog is $250.00.","Dog Licensing Fee for a Vicious Dog is $500.00."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"For a dangerous dog attack, call the RCMP non-emergency line, 778-670-9010. For concerns about dogs, contact Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/services-and-payments/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Pitt Meadows","section":"Animal Safety","quotes":["Contact the RCMP non-emergency number at 778-670-9010.","For concerns about dogs in Pitt Meadows, contact our Bylaws department at 604-465-2428."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notices: dog causes injury to a person or animal $400. Aggressive-dog breaches mostly $400 (permanent ID $150; leash over 1 m or retractable leash $200). Vicious-dog breaches mostly $500 ($300 for licence, ID, sign, loss of control or leash rules). Court: $2,000 to $50,000.","short":"Notice $500 vicious; $400 aggressive","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-No-2439%2C-2009-Consolidated-Version.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Dog Control Bylaw","quotes":["Dog causes injury to a 5.1(d) n/a 400 n/a","Fail to leash aggressive dog 6.3(e) n/a 400 n/a","Use of a leash in excess of 6.7 n/a 200 n/a","Fail to leash and muzzle a 7.3(f) n/a 500 n/a","Use of a leash in excess 7.7 n/a 300 n/a","Fail to provide                  6.3(b)        n/a           150           n/a","Fail to purchase an aggressive","Fail to leash aggressive dog"]},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)","section":"s. 9.4","quotes":["penalty not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) and not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for each offence"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2968, 2023","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["DOG CONTROL BYLAW","Bylaw No. 2968, 2023"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Dog Control Bylaw No. 2968, 2023](<https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf>), a Bylaw Enforcement Officer decides, from their own observation or reports they find credible. An aggressive dog has caused minor injury, pursued or harassed unprovoked, or is likely to cause injury. A vicious dog has seriously injured a person or animal, or is likely to kill or seriously injure. The owner may ask the Director to reconsider within 30 days.\n\n## Owner rules\n\n1. Pay the licence fee and microchip or tattoo the dog within 7 days.\n2. Hire a certified trainer within 30 days and finish 3 sessions within 3 months.\n3. In public, keep the dog on a leash (1 m maximum, no retractable) held by a capable person, never in off-leash areas. Vicious dogs must also be muzzled.\n4. At home, keep the dog confined indoors, in a locked enclosure, leashed, or in a fenced area. Vicious dogs need warning signs.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Tell the City within 3 days if the dog is moved, sold or transferred, and immediately if it is at large.\n- An aggressive dog's status can be cancelled after 6 months if conditions are met; a vicious dog can be downgraded to aggressive after 1 year.\n- A locked pen must be at least 3 m x 1.5 m x 1.5 m and 1.2 m from the property line.\n- Bylaw notices: dog causes injury $400; aggressive-dog breaches mostly $400 (permanent ID $150; leash over 1 m or retractable leash $200); vicious-dog breaches mostly $500 ($300 for licence, ID, sign, loss of control or leash rules). Court penalty $2,000 to $50,000.\n- The bylaw also refers to a \"dangerous dog\" under the Community Charter (s. 49), which allows seizure and a Provincial Court order.\n- Concerns about dogs: Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/services-and-payments/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, City of Pitt Meadows","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-No-2439%2C-2009-Consolidated-Version.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dangerous-dogs.json"}}