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

# Prince George rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Prince George, an Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is aggressive or dangerous. Owners must then keep the dog confined indoors or in a locked pen, sterilize it, buy a special licence at City Hall, and muzzle it and keep it on a leash of 1 m or less in public.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Prince George, https://www.princegeorge.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual licence: dangerous dog $515, aggressive dog $310, nuisance dog $105 (2019 rates, the latest listed). Tickets for dangerous dog offences run $1,000, $750 or $500 (municipal ticket); aggressive dog offences are $500 (bylaw notice). In court, the minimum fine for dangerous dog offences is $2,500.  
**Where:**
- In person: City Hall (licences), 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 (Aggressive, dangerous and nuisance dog licences can be bought only at City Hall.)
- Phone: Bylaw Services (emergencies such as a serious dog attack), 250-561-7622

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer decides. Dangerous: killed or seriously injured a person; or killed or seriously injured a domestic animal in public or on land not the owner's; or the officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. Aggressive: the officer believes it bit, harassed or chased animals, showed aggressive behaviour, bit someone causing minor injury, or damaged property.
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, s. 2.1 "Dangerous Dog"; s. 15.1; s. 16.1](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "has killed or Seriously Injured a person," … "an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or cause Serious Injury a person." … "If an Animal Control Officer believes on reasonable and probable grounds that a Dog" … "then the Animal Control Officer may declare the dog an Aggressive Dog." … "an Animal Control Officer shall issue written notice in the form set out in Schedule" … "has kiJied or Seriously Injured a domestic animal, while in a public place or while"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Dangerous dog: kept indoors or in a locked Controlled Confinement pen; warning signs at each entrance; sterilized and microchipped; $2 million liability insurance; off the property, muzzled and on a leash of 1 m or less held by someone 19 or older. Aggressive dogs have the same confinement, sterilization, muzzle and leash rules.
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, ss. 15.7-15.9, 16.3-16.5, 16.8](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the Dangerous Dog is confined indoors, in a manner that shall not allow the" … "display a sign at each entrance to the parcel of land on which" … "sterilize the Dangerous Dog;" … "secured on a Leash not longer than one (1) metre, held by a person at least nineteen (19) years of age" … "obtain, maintain and provide annually a copy of a liability insurance policy satisfactory to the Manager of Bylaw Services" … "sterilize the Aggressive Dog;" … "the Aggressive Dog is confined indoors, in a manner that shall not allow the" … "minimum dimensions of 1.5 metres by 3.0 metres;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Annual licence: $515 for a dangerous dog, $310 for an aggressive dog, $105 for a nuisance dog (2019 rates, the latest listed). These licences can only be bought at City Hall.
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004 (consolidated), Schedule C-1, Schedule C-1, Dog License Fees](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog $500.00 $515.00" … "Aggressive Dog $300.00 $310.00" … "Nuisance Dog $100.00 $105.00"
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, s. 16.11](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog Licenses may only be paid at City Hall."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call Bylaw Services at 250-561-7622 for an emergency such as a serious dog or dangerous animal attack. Animal Control officers are scheduled seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Animal reports](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "For emergencies such as a serious dog or dangerous animal attack, contact Bylaw Services at 250-561-7622."
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Enforcement hours of operation](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m." … "Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Dangerous dog tickets (Municipal Ticket Information): $1,000 for most offences (bite, no muzzle, at large, unlicensed), $750 for no sign, not sterilized or not microchipped, $500 for some notice offences. Aggressive dog offences are $500 by Bylaw Notice. In court, the minimum fine for dangerous dog offences is $2,500.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 8919, 2017, Schedule B](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8919_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog Bite a Person or Animal 16.2 d) $1000" … "Fail to Muzzle Dangerous Dog In Public Place 16.5 a) $1000" … "Dangerous Dog at Large 16.6 $1000" … "Fail to License Dangerous Dog 16.9 $1000" … "Owner Fail to Sterilize Dangerous Dog 16.4 b) $750" … "Fail to Notify of Death of a Dangerous Dog 16.4 e) $500"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B, Schedule B, Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dog at Large 15.10 $500 $500 Yes"
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, s. 22.2, 21.4(b)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Offences under Section 16 Dangerous Dogs, may be enforced by:" … "the minimum fine for a contravention of Section 16 Dangerous Dog offences is a fine of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2500.00); and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017 (ss. 15 and 16)
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, s. 1.1](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of Prince George Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf), an Animal Control Officer decides. A dog is dangerous if it has killed or seriously injured a person or domestic animal, or is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. An officer may declare a dog aggressive if the officer believes it bit, harassed, chased or damaged property, or showed aggressive behaviour. An owner can ask the Manager of Bylaw Services to reconsider an aggressive dog declaration within 7 days, with the review fee.

## Rules for owners

1. Buy the annual licence at City Hall.
2. Sterilize the dog. A dangerous dog must also be microchipped.
3. At home, keep the dog indoors or in a locked Controlled Confinement pen (at least 1.5 m by 3.0 m and 1.5 m high, approved by an officer).
4. In public, the dog must be muzzled and on a leash of 1 m or less held by someone 19 or older.
5. For a dangerous dog, post warning signs at each entrance and carry liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence, due within 14 days of the declaration.

## Good to know

- Aggressive dogs have the same confinement, sterilization, muzzle and leash rules.
- A dangerous dog ticket is $1,000 for most offences (bite, no muzzle, at large, unlicensed), $750 for no sign, not sterilized or not microchipped, and $500 for some notice offences. Aggressive dog offences are $500 by bylaw notice.
- For a serious dog attack, call Bylaw Services at 250-561-7622. Animal Control officers are scheduled seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

## Official forms and pages

- [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw 8898 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004 (consolidated), Schedule C-1 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 8919, 2017, Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8919_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement) (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 Prince George. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dangerous-dogs/_