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

# Pitt Meadows rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Pitt Meadows, https://www.pittmeadows.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual licence: aggressive dog $250; vicious dog $500.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428
- Phone: RCMP non-emergency (dog attack), 778-670-9010
- In person: City Hall (pay the fee within 7 days), 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** 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.
  - Source: [https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, ss. 2.1, 6.1, 6.4, 7.1](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, s. 7.4](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Within 30 days of receipt of a Vicious Dog designation, the Owner may"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** 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.
  - Source: [https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, s. 6.3](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, s. 7.3](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Aggressive dog $250; vicious dog $500 (annual licence fee).
  - Source: [https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, Schedule A ss. 5-6](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog Licensing Fee for an Aggressive Dog is $250.00." … "Dog Licensing Fee for a Vicious Dog is $500.00."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** For a dangerous dog attack, call the RCMP non-emergency line, 778-670-9010. For concerns about dogs, contact Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428.
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Animal Safety](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/services-and-payments/dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated), Schedule A, Dog Control Bylaw](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-No-2439%2C-2009-Consolidated-Version.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, s. 9.4](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "penalty not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) and not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for each offence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Dog Control Bylaw No. 2968, 2023
  - Source: [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)
  - Official wording: "DOG CONTROL BYLAW" … "Bylaw No. 2968, 2023"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

## Owner rules

1. Pay the licence fee and microchip or tattoo the dog within 7 days.
2. Hire a certified trainer within 30 days and finish 3 sessions within 3 months.
3. 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.
4. At home, keep the dog confined indoors, in a locked enclosure, leashed, or in a fenced area. Vicious dogs need warning signs.

## Good to know

- Tell the City within 3 days if the dog is moved, sold or transferred, and immediately if it is at large.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The bylaw also refers to a "dangerous dog" under the Community Charter (s. 49), which allows seizure and a Provincial Court order.
- Concerns about dogs: Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Control Bylaw No. 2968, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf)
- [Dog Licences](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/services-and-payments/dog-licences)

## Related questions

- [Pitt Meadows dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dog-licence.md)
- [Pitt Meadows dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dog-leash-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF)](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licences, City of Pitt Meadows](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/services-and-payments/dog-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-No-2439%2C-2009-Consolidated-Version.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 Pitt Meadows. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/dangerous-dogs/_