Port Moody rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?

Port Moody, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343, s. 3.1 (Aggressive Dog, Vicious Dog) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343, s. 6.1, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 7.2, 7.3, 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Licence fee	Annual licence fee: aggressive dog $290; vicious dog $602 (no early-payment discount listed; the seniors' reduced rate does not apply).Fees Bylaw, 2025, No. 3524 (consolidated PDF), Business Licence and Bylaw Enforcement, Dog Licences; Dog Licences, Dog licence fees; Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343, s. 4.2, 6.2, 7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Dog Licence Fee – Aggressive 290.00 Dog Licence Fee – Vicious 602.00 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 Licensing fees will be required as prescribed in the Fees Bylaw for Aggressive, Vicious, and Dangerous Dogs.
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.Bylaw Enforcement, Animal control; Bylaw Complaints · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated PDF), Schedule 2, Animal Control Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	City of Port Moody Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343Animal Control Bylaw, 2024, No. 3343, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as “City of Port Moody Animal Control Bylaw, 2024 No. 3343”.

How it works

Under the Animal Control Bylaw, 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

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.
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.
Neither may use off-leash areas.
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.