---
title: Salt Spring Island rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/salt-spring-island
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: regional
owner_body: Capital Regional District
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Salt Spring Island rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** On Salt Spring Island, an unincorporated area, CRD Bylaw 1465 calls an animal dangerous if it has attacked, bitten, tried to attack or bite, or chased a person, animal or wildlife. A dangerous dog must be muzzled and on a leash, its property needs warning signs, and its owner needs a $100 dangerous dog licence.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Capital Regional District, https://www.crd.ca)  
**Cost:** Dangerous dog licence $100 (Bylaw 1465). The CRD web page (June 11, 2025) lists $95 early, $100 regular and $120 late.  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624 (To report a bite or attack.)
- Email: CRD Animal Care Services, animalservices@crd.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Bylaw 1465 defines 'dangerous' as an animal that has attacked or bitten, tried to attack or bite, or chased any person, animal or wildlife (not a dog attacking animals molesting livestock). It does not say who declares it; the CRD says investigations may end in an aggressive or dangerous designation.
  - Source: [CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023), s. 1(1) 'Dangerous'](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1465-consolidated-animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986b)
  - Official wording: "means any animal that has attacked or bitten, attempted to attack or bite, or chased any person or animal or wildlife"
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Dog Bites and Attacks](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
  - Official wording: "Some investigations may result in issuing an aggressive dog or dangerous dog designations."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Keep the dog muzzled and on a leash. A dangerous dog is never treated as under control. Post a warning sign at each entrance of the property and buildings, visible from the street. Dangerous dogs may be impounded and are banned from CRD community parks.
  - Source: [CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023), ss. 1(2)(c), 14(b)-(c), 24(2)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1465-consolidated-animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986b)
  - Official wording: "An owner of a dangerous dog shall keep it muzzled and on a leash." … "must display a warning sign at each entrance of the property and buildings" … "a dangerous animal is deemed not to be under the direct and continuous control of a person"
  - Source: [CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations, s. 8(3)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/3795-community-parks-regulations-juan-de-fuca-and-salt-spring-island-electoral-areas)
  - Official wording: "must not permit the dangerous dog to enter a community park"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** $100 for a Dangerous Dog Licence (the owner of a dog declared dangerous must buy it).
  - Source: [CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023), s. 5(7), Sched. A (k)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1465-consolidated-animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986b)
  - Official wording: "The owner of a dog declared dangerous must purchase a “Dangerous Dog Licence”" … "Dangerous Dog License $100.00"
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees table](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog license | $95 | $100 | $120"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call CRD Animal Care Services at 250.478.0624 or use the CRD online complaint form. Give what happened, when and where, a description of the dog, owner and witness details, and photos of injuries. Name, address and phone are required.
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Dog Bites and Attacks](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
  - Official wording: "Contact our office at 250.478.0624 or complete an online complaint form." … "The Capital Regional District (CRD) responds to animal complaints in:" … "Please note we require your name, address and phone number to move forward with any complaint."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $150 for an uncontrolled dangerous dog (not muzzled and leashed); $50 for failing to display the dangerous dog sign (ticket).
  - Source: [CRD Bylaw 1857, Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw, Sched. 9 items 8 and 10](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b)
  - Official wording: "Uncontrolled Dangerous Dog 24 (2) $150.00" … "sign 14 (c) $50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 1, 1986 (CRD Bylaw No. 1465)
  - Source: [CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023), title](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1465-consolidated-animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986b)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL REGULATION AND IMPOUNDING BYLAW NO. 1, 1986"
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 1, 1986 (Consolidated) | Capital Regional District, CRD bylaw directory](https://www.crd.ca/government-administration/bylaw-directory/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "To regulate the keeping of animals within the Electoral Areas of the Capital Regional District."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

CRD Animal Care Services enforces [Bylaw 1465](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1465-consolidated-animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986b) on Salt Spring Island. The bylaw defines "dangerous" as an animal that has attacked or bitten, tried to attack or bite, or chased any person, animal or wildlife. It does not say who declares a dog dangerous. The CRD says investigations may end in an aggressive or dangerous designation.

## Steps

1. Keep a dangerous dog muzzled and on a leash. It is never treated as under control.
2. Post a warning sign at each entrance of the property and buildings, visible from the street.
3. Buy a Dangerous Dog Licence: $100 under the bylaw.

To report a bite or attack, call CRD Animal Care Services at 250.478.0624 or use the CRD online complaint form. Give what happened, when and where, a description of the dog, owner and witness details, and photos of injuries. Name, address and phone are required.

## Good to know

- Dangerous dogs may be impounded and are banned from CRD community parks.
- Tickets: $150 for a dangerous dog that is not muzzled and leashed, $50 for failing to display the sign.
- The CRD web page (fees as of June 11, 2025) lists the licence at $95 early, $100 regular and $120 late. Confirm with the CRD.
- The CRD complaints page lists extra requirements that it says apply "in some municipalities". They are not in Bylaw 1465.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 1465 (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1465-consolidated-animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986b)
- [Animal Complaints (CRD)](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)

## Related questions

- [Salt Spring Island dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Salt Spring Island dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/dog-licence.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Salt Spring Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [CRD Bylaw No. 1465, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw (consolidated June 2023) (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1465-consolidated-animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986b) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs) (read 2026-11-05)
- [CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/3795-community-parks-regulations-juan-de-fuca-and-salt-spring-island-electoral-areas) (read 2026-11-05)
- [CRD Bylaw 1857, Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 1, 1986 (Consolidated) | Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/government-administration/bylaw-directory/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-1-1986-consolidated) (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 Capital Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/dangerous-dogs/_