Prince Rupert rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
Which dog breeds are restricted, and what are the rules for them?
Short answer
Prince Rupert's Dog Control Bylaw 3250 restricts listed breeds, their mixes and look-alikes. Owners of restricted or vicious dogs pay a $200 licence ($250 after March 1), keep the dog leashed and muzzled in public, and post a warning sign.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | Restricted: listed breeds, mixes or look-alikes (a BC vet decides). Vicious: records or owner's knowledge show it killed or injured a person or pet, or without provocation acted aggressively toward or harassed a person. Dangerous: killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in public or on others' property, or an officer reasonably expects it to.Dog Control Bylaw No. 3250, 2008, s. 408.7, 408.8; Sched. D · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall include any dog of mixed breeding which includes, but is not limited to the following Any dog which has the appearance and physical characteristics predominantly conforming to the standards for any of the above breeds has killed or injured a person or pet a Bylaw Officer or Peace Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person 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 according to the records of the Municipality, has killed or injured a person or pet |
|---|---|
| Rules for owners | Vicious or restricted dog: never in an off-leash area; muzzled and leashed in public; in the front yard only if leashed, muzzled and held by a competent person; warning sign visible from the street; back yard fenced at least 6 feet high, or a strong pen (leashed and muzzled when outside the pen).Dog Control Bylaw No. 3250, 2008, s. 408.1-408.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingensure that the dog is muzzled and leashed when in public places unless the dog is properly leashed and muzzled and under the control of a competent person a fence with a minimum height of six (6) feet purchase from the City, warning signage |
| Licence fee | Vicious or restricted dog licence: $200 on or before March 1, $250 after. If sterilized (vet certificate): $150 / $200. Warning sign is included in the licence.Sources differ: The City's Pet Licenses page lists only the after-March-1 amounts ($250, $200). Followed the bylaw. Impound fees (first/second/later) for vicious and restricted dogs are $250/$500/$1,000.Dog Control Bylaw No. 3250, 2008, Sched. B, s. 1.00; Pet Licenses, Dog License Fees table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingVicious Dogs $ 200.00 $ 250.00 Restricted Dogs – Sterilized with certification** $ 150.00 $ 200.00 Warning Signage – included in Restricted or Vicious Dog Licence Vicious Dogs | $250 | Restricted Dogs | $250 |
| How to report | Contact the Bylaw Department: 250-624-6852, bylaw@princerupert.ca, or the City's online bylaw complaint form (choose Animal Control; for a loose dog give time, colour/breed and whether it acted aggressively). Animal welfare concerns: SPCA hotline 1-855-622-7722.File a Bylaw Complaint; Animal Control, Animal Control page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPhone: 250-624 6852 Email: bylaw@princerupert.ca If this is an At-Large Dog Complaint, please note the Time of Sighting, Colour/Breed of Dog, and whether the dog was displaying aggressive behaviour. please contact the SPCA Hotline: 1-855-622-7722 |
| Fine | No separate ticket amount found for the restricted or vicious dog rules. Court fine under the Dog Control Bylaw: $1,000 to $10,000 per offence.Dog Control Bylaw No. 3250, 2008, s. 603 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingliable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and not less than $1,000 |
| Bylaw | Dog Control Bylaw No. 3250, 2008Dog Control Bylaw No. 3250, 2008, s. 605 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as the "DOG CONTROL BYLAW No. 3250, 2008" |
How it works
Dog Control Bylaw 3250 has three groups. A restricted dog is one of the listed breeds (pit bull types, Staffordshire terriers, Cane Corso, Italian Mastiff, Presa Canario, Fila Brasileiro, Argentinean Dogo), a mix of them, or a look-alike, as decided by a BC veterinarian. A vicious dog is one that records or the owner's knowledge show killed or injured a person or pet, or acted aggressively toward or harassed a person without provocation. A dangerous dog has killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal in public or on others' property, or an officer reasonably expects it to. The Bylaw Officer decides.
Good to know
- A vicious or restricted dog is never allowed in an off-leash area, and must be leashed and muzzled in public.
- It may be in the front yard only if leashed, muzzled and held by a competent person.
- A warning sign must be visible from the street.
- The back yard needs a fence at least 6 feet high, or a strong pen. Outside the pen the dog must be leashed and muzzled.
- A dangerous or vicious dog that is impounded can be reclaimed after a 21-day impounding period, unless the Bylaw Officer applies to Provincial Court for a destruction order for a dangerous dog.
- Licence fee: $200 on or before March 1 and $250 after; $150 and $200 if sterilized. The City's Pet Licenses page lists only the after-March-1 amounts, so confirm with the Bylaw Department.
- Impound fees for restricted and vicious dogs are $250, $500 and $1,000 (first, second and later times), per the City.
- No ticket amount was found for these rules. A court can fine $1,000 to $10,000 per offence.
- To report a dog, call 250-624-6852, email bylaw@princerupert.ca or use the City's online bylaw complaint form (choose Animal Control). For animal welfare concerns call the SPCA hotline at 1-855-622-7722.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port Edward · Kitimat · Terrace · Stewart · New Hazelton · Smithers
Sources
- Dog Control Bylaw No. 3250, 2008 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Pet Licenses, City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control, City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- File a Bylaw Complaint, City of Prince Rupert (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. How answers are checked.