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

# Port Moody rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** Port Moody's Animal Control Bylaw treats aggressive and vicious dogs (which includes dangerous dogs) as higher risk. Owners pay a higher yearly licence ($290 aggressive, $602 vicious), must confine and muzzle the dog, and cannot use off-leash areas.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Moody, https://www.portmoody.ca)  
**Cost:** Licence $290 aggressive, $602 vicious (Fees Bylaw). Impoundment fees are $437 (aggressive, first time) and $2,364 (vicious, first time).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 604-469-4697
- Phone: Port Moody Police Department (bitten, or after hours), 604-461-3456
- In person: City Hall, 100 Newport Drive, Port Moody, BC V3H 5C3 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Aggressive Dog: has pursued or harassed a person or other animal, or caused a minor injury (or shown a tendency to). Vicious Dog: unprovoked minor injuries more than once; or the Bylaw Manager has reasonable grounds to believe repeated aggressive behaviour makes it likely to injure; or it is a Dangerous Dog under the Community Charter. The bylaw does not say who declares an Aggressive Dog.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343, s. 3.1 (Aggressive Dog, Vicious Dog)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=631683)
  - Official wording: "has, aggressively, pursued or harassed a person or other Animal" … "has caused a Minor Injury to a person or another Animal or has" … "has, without provocation, caused a Minor Injury to a person on more than" … "the Bylaw Manager has reasonable grounds to believe that, based on" … "Dangerous Dog” has the same meaning as defined in the Community Charter."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Vicious dog: owner must be an adult over 19; on the owner's property keep it indoors with a competent adult or in a locked enclosure; off the property keep it muzzled, on a leash of 1.2 m or less, with a person over 19; microchip or tattoo within 5 days. Aggressive dog: confined indoors or in a fenced area with a competent adult; muzzled and leashed with an adult off the property. Neither may use off-leash areas.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343, s. 6.1, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 7.2, 7.3, 5.2](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=631683)
  - Official wording: "Every Owner of a Vicious Dog must be a Competent Adult." … "have the Dog on a Leash that does not exceed 1.2m in length" … "a) securely muzzled;" … "Every Owner of an Aggressive Dog shall ensure that at all times that the Dog is on" … "Dogs designated Vicious or Aggressive are prohibited from the use of any" … "within five (5) days after the Dog has been"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Annual licence fee: aggressive dog $290; vicious dog $602 (no early-payment discount listed; the seniors' reduced rate does not apply).
  - Source: [Fees Bylaw, 2025, No. 3524 (consolidated PDF), Business Licence and Bylaw Enforcement, Dog Licences](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=669753)
  - Official wording: "Dog Licence Fee – Aggressive 290.00" … "Dog Licence Fee – Vicious 602.00"
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Dog licence fees](https://www.portmoody.ca/home-and-property/pets/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Unfixed dog | $79.00 | $84.00 | Aggressive dog | $290.00 | $290.00 | Vicious dog" … "Aggressive dog | $290.00 | $290.00 | Vicious dog | $602.00 | $602.00 | Replacement of lost tag"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343, s. 4.2, 6.2, 7.1](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=631683)
  - Official wording: "Licensing fees will be required as prescribed in the Fees Bylaw for Aggressive," … "Vicious, and Dangerous Dogs."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Bitten, or a stray contained after hours (regular service hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.): Port Moody Police Department, 604.461.3456. Otherwise file a bylaw complaint online (no anonymous complaints) or call Bylaw Enforcement, 604.469.4697.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Animal control; Bylaw Complaints](https://www.portmoody.ca/city-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "If you've been bitten, or if you have contained a stray dog after our regular service hours (7am to 5pm), call the Port Moody Police Department at 604.461.3456." … "If you'd like us to investigate a bylaw infraction issue, you can submit a bylaw complaint online." … "Please note that we do not accept Anonymous complaints." … "Bylaw Enforcement 100 Newport Drive Port Moody, B.C. V3H 5C3 604.469.4697"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: vicious dog not confined $500; vicious dog not muzzled $500; aggressive dog not confined $250; aggressive dog not muzzled $250; dog causing injury $100/$200/$300 (1st/reoccurrence/subsequent); unlicensed aggressive dog $150/$300/$450; unlicensed vicious dog $200/$400/$600.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated PDF), Schedule 2, Animal Control Bylaw](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=514329)
  - Official wording: "Vicious Dog – Not Confined 6.6 $500.00" … "Vicious Dog – Not Muzzled 6.7 $500.00" … "Aggressive Dog – Not Confined 7.2 $250.00" … "Aggressive Dog – Not Muzzled 7.3 $250.00" … "Dog Causing Injury 5.3 1st Occurrence $100.00" … "Unlicensed Aggressive Dog 4.3 1st Occurrence $150.00" … "Unlicensed Vicious Dog 4.4 1st Occurrence $200.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Port Moody Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343, s. 1.1](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=631683)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “City of Port Moody Animal Control Bylaw, 2024 No. 3343”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control Bylaw](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=631683), an aggressive dog has pursued or harassed a person or animal, or caused a minor injury (or shown a tendency to). A vicious dog has caused unprovoked minor injuries more than once, or the Bylaw Manager has reasonable grounds to believe repeated aggressive behaviour makes injury likely, or it is a Dangerous Dog under the Community Charter. The bylaw does not say who declares an aggressive dog.

## Steps

1. Vicious dog: the owner must be over 19. On the property keep the dog indoors with a competent adult, or in a locked enclosure. Off the property it must be muzzled, on a leash of 1.2 m or less, with a person over 19. Microchip or tattoo within 5 days.
2. Aggressive dog: keep it confined indoors, or in a fenced area, with a competent adult. Off the property it must be muzzled and leashed with an adult.
3. Neither may use off-leash areas.
4. To report a dog: if someone is bitten, or a stray is contained after hours (regular hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.), call Port Moody Police Department at 604-461-3456. Otherwise file an online bylaw complaint (no anonymous complaints) or call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-469-4697.

## Good to know

- A licence held before the declaration becomes invalid; a new licence is needed.
- Municipal tickets: vicious dog not confined or not muzzled $500 each; aggressive dog not confined or not muzzled $250 each; dog causing injury $100, $200, $300.
- An owner whose dog bites must stay at the scene until the person or animal has medical care if needed.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3343 (PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=631683)

## Related questions

- [Port Moody dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Port Moody dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

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

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343 (PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=631683) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees Bylaw, 2025, No. 3524 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=669753) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=514329) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Port Moody](https://www.portmoody.ca/city-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licences, City of Port Moody](https://www.portmoody.ca/home-and-property/pets/dog-licences/) (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 Moody. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/dangerous-dogs/_