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

# Port Coquitlam rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Port Coquitlam an Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is aggressive or dangerous. The owner must then follow strict rules on enclosure, leash, muzzle and identification, keep the dog out of off-leash areas, and pay a higher yearly licence fee: $115 for aggressive, $500 for dangerous.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Coquitlam, https://www.portcoquitlam.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual licence: aggressive dog $115; dangerous dog $500. Most aggressive or dangerous dog tickets are $500.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-927-5440
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylawservices@portcoquitlam.ca
- Online: Dog Incident Statement, https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control/dog-incident-statement

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer decides. Aggressive: has without provocation bitten, injured, assaulted, pursued or harassed a person or animal, or the officer believes it is likely to cause injury. Dangerous (Community Charter s. 49): has killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal off its owner's property, or is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 2, 7.4, 10.1, 11.1](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dog means a Dog:" … "that the Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to cause" … "Dangerous Dog means a Dangerous Dog as defined in the Community Charter." … "Animal Control Officer determines that a Dog is an Aggressive Dog or a" … "Control Officer may issue a notice of that determination to the Owner of the Dog."
  - Source: [Community Charter, section 49, Province of BC, Community Charter s. 49(1)](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03)
  - Official wording: "has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal, while in a public place or while on private property, other than property owned or occupied by the person responsible for the dog, or" … "an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive: microchip or tattoo within 14 days; keep indoors or in a locked 1.8 m enclosure; off the property only on a non-retractable leash of 1.2 m or less held by a responsible adult; never in off-leash areas; muzzle if a muzzle notice is issued. Dangerous: also warning signs at every entry; microchip within 3 days; muzzled and leashed off the property; nobody under 18 may handle it off the property.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 10.3-10.6, 10.11, 11.3, 11.7-11.9, 11.14](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "within 14 days of receipt of a notice under" … "Section 10. 1), cause the Aggressive Dog to be marked with" … "unless the Dog is secured to a responsible adult on a non-retractable Leash" … "be in any area designated by the City as an Off- Leash Area;" … "shall be muzzled whenever the Dog is in a public place." … "Every Owner of a Dangerous Dog shall post a clearly visible sign in the form shown" … "unless the Dog is muzzled and secured to a responsible adult on a non-" … "No person who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years shall possess or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Annual licence fee: aggressive dog $115; dangerous dog $500 (same whether paid before or after February 1).
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 4415, Schedule M](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/Bylaw%204415%20-%202026%20Fees%20and%20Charges.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dog $115 $115" … "Dangerous Dog $500 $500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Complete the City's Dog Incident Statement form, or contact Bylaw Services at 604-927-5440 or bylawservices@portcoquitlam.ca. Officers then investigate and may issue an aggressive dog warning or an aggressive/dangerous designation.
  - Source: [Animal Control, FAQ](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "The City requires a dog incident statement form be completed to generate a file for investigation." … "contact Bylaw Services at 604-927-5440 or bylawservices@portcoquitlam.ca." … "This could include an aggressive dog warning or aggressive/ dangerous dog designation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Most aggressive or dangerous dog offences are $500, with no early-payment discount ($500 also if paid late). Failing to identify an aggressive dog: $300 ($210 / $375).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3814, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-10/3814%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dog Not Secured 10.4 500 N/A 500 N/A" … "Aggressive Dog No Muzzle 10.12 500 N/A 500 N/A" … "Dangerous Dog Not Secured 11.8 500 N/A 500 N/A" … "Dangerous Dog No Muzzle 11.9 500 N/A 500 N/A" … "Fail to Provide Identification of 10.3 300 210 375 50%"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw, 2017, No. 3990
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 1](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Animal Control Bylaw, 2017, No. 3990”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control Bylaw 3990](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf), an Animal Control Officer decides. A dog is aggressive if it has, without provocation, bitten, injured, assaulted, pursued or harassed a person or animal, or if the officer believes it is likely to cause injury. A dog is dangerous (Community Charter section 49) if it has killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal off its owner's property, or is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.

## Rules for owners

1. Aggressive dog: microchip or tattoo it within 14 days.
2. Keep it indoors or in a locked enclosure 1.8 m high.
3. Off the property, it must be on a non-retractable leash of 1.2 m or less held by a responsible adult, and muzzled if a muzzle notice is issued. It may never go in off-leash areas.
4. Dangerous dog: also post warning signs at every entry and microchip it within 3 days. Off the property it must be muzzled and leashed, and nobody under 18 may handle it.

## Good to know

- Annual licence fees are $115 (aggressive) and $500 (dangerous), whether paid before or after February 1.
- Most offences carry a $500 ticket with no early-payment discount. Failing to identify an aggressive dog is $300 ($210 early, $375 late).
- To report an incident, complete the City's Dog Incident Statement form, or contact Bylaw Services at 604-927-5440 or bylawservices@portcoquitlam.ca. Officers then investigate and may issue an aggressive dog warning or a designation.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw 3990 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)
- [Animal Control (City of Port Coquitlam)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/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)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 4415, Schedule M (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/Bylaw%204415%20-%202026%20Fees%20and%20Charges.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3814, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-10/3814%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Community Charter, section 49, Province of BC](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03) (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 Port Coquitlam. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dangerous-dogs/_