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

# Powell River rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Powell River, a dog with a known tendency to attack, or that has bitten or aggressively pursued a person or animal without provocation, is a dangerous dog. Off its owner's property it must be leashed and muzzled. Report one to Animal Control at 604-485-8600.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Powell River, https://powellriver.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control (weekdays), 604-485-8600 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday)
- Phone: After hours, threat to public safety (RCMP), 604-485-6255
- Phone: After hours, Saturday and Sunday, 604-485-6291, press 3 (Weekend hours on the City page are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** A "dangerous dog" is one with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack a person or another animal without provocation, or one that has bitten, attacked or aggressively pursued a person or another animal without provocation.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 2(b)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109)
  - Official wording: "a dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack, without provocation, a person or" … "a dog which has bitten, attacked, or aggressively pursued, without provocation, a person"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Off the owner's property, the dog must be on a leash or tether no longer than two metres, securely muzzled, and under the immediate care and control of a competent person. On the owner's property it must be kept securely confined in a building or enclosure that prevents its escape and the entry of children under 12.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), ss. 16, 17](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109)
  - Official wording: "unless the dog is kept on a leash or tether not exceeding two metres in length, is securely muzzled" … "securely confined within a building or enclosure capable of preventing the dog’s escape and the" … "entry of children under the age of 12 years old"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Not confirmed. Powell River's bylaw and City page do not state a separate licence fee for a dangerous dog.
- **How to report:** City Bylaw Enforcement/Animal Control: (604) 485-8600, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; after hours, Saturday and Sunday: (604) 485-6291, press 3. For a dangerous dog at large that is a threat to public safety after hours, call the RCMP at (604) 485-6255. Complaints must include name, address and phone number; anonymous complaints are not accepted.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Dangerous, Deceased and Abused Animals; Contact Us](https://powellriver.ca/pages/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "After hours report of dangerous dogs at large if a threat to public safety: RCMP (604) 485-6255" … "Call (604) 485-8600 (8:00 am - 4:30 pm) Monday - Friday" … "Anonymous complaints will not be accepted by the City"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $300 for a dangerous dog not leashed or tethered and muzzled (s. 16) and $300 for one not securely confined (s. 17) ($30 discount if paid within 14 days; $30 surcharge after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $300 each.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, App. 1, ss. 16, 17](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841)
  - Official wording: "16 Dangerous dog not leashed or $300 $30 $30 Not Applicable" … "17 Dangerous dog not securely $300 $30 $30" … "if Paid within 14 days of the bylaw notice being received"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, s. 7, Sch. A](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841)
  - Official wording: "if Paid within 14 days of the bylaw notice being received" … "the amount of the surcharge in Column A3 of Schedule "A" shall be due"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 2572, 2019 (consolidated January 2022), Sch. 2](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/67966)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog not leashed or tethered and muzzled 16 $ 300.00" … "Dangerous dog not securely confined 17 $ 300.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Powell River Animal Control Bylaw No. 1979, 2003
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 1](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109)
  - Official wording: "City of Powell River Animal Control Bylaw No.1979, 2003"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In the [Animal Control Bylaw](<https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109>), a "dangerous dog" is one with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack a person or another animal without provocation, or one that has bitten, attacked or aggressively pursued a person or another animal without provocation. The bylaw does not say who decides or set out a declaration process; the definition applies on its own terms.

## Steps

1. Off the owner's property, keep the dog on a leash or tether no longer than 2 metres, securely muzzled, and under the immediate care and control of a competent person.
2. On the owner's property, keep it securely confined in a building or enclosure that prevents its escape and the entry of children under 12.
3. To report a dangerous dog, call City Bylaw Enforcement/Animal Control at 604-485-8600, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

## Good to know

- After hours and on weekends call 604-485-6291, press 3. For a dangerous dog at large that is a threat to public safety after hours, call the RCMP at 604-485-6255.
- Complaints must include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
- No separate licence fee for a dangerous dog is stated in the bylaw or on the City page.
- The bylaw requires no warning signs.
- A bylaw notice is $300 for a dangerous dog not leashed or tethered and muzzled, and $300 for one not securely confined ($30 discount if paid within 14 days; $30 surcharge if paid after 28 days). A municipal ticket is $300 for each.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109)

## Related questions

- [Powell River dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Powell River dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control, City of Powell River](https://powellriver.ca/pages/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 2572, 2019 (consolidated January 2022)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/67966) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Powell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/dangerous-dogs/_