Squamish rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Squamish?
Short answer
Squamish’s dangerous-dog definition includes a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or bitten, attacked or aggressively pursued one without provocation. The District also publishes restrictions for owners of designated dogs.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | Squamish’s dangerous-dog definition includes a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or bitten, attacked or aggressively pursued one without provocation.Dangerous Dogs List · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wordingThe District of Squamish Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009 Section 2(e) defines a dangerous dog as: 1. A dog which has killed or seriously injured a person or animal; 2. A dog which has a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack animals or humans without provocation; 3. A dog which has bitten, attacked or aggressively pursued a person or animal without provocation; 4. A dog, which has been trained for or is owned for the purpose of dog fighting. |
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| Rules for owners | Off the property, use a secure muzzle and a leash or restraint up to 2 m under a competent handler’s control. At home, confine the dog securely and post the required warning sign.Dangerous Dogs List · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wordingNo owner of a dangerous dog shall permit the dog to be running at large in the District unless the dog is kept on a leash, tether or other suitable device not exceeding two meters in length, is securely muzzled so as to prevent the dog from biting a person or animal, and is under the immediate care and control of a competent person. The owner of a dangerous dog shall, at all times when the dog is on the owner’s property, keep the dog 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. As well, post a sign at the entrance to where the dog is kept, warning in writing, as well as with a symbol, that there is a dangerous dog on the property. |
| Licence fee | Not confirmed. Checked Dangerous Dogs List - District of Squamish - Hardwired for Adventure, Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009; not found there. |
| How to report | Not confirmed. Checked Dangerous Dogs List - District of Squamish - Hardwired for Adventure; not found there. |
| Fine | A dangerous dog at large or failure to confine it carries a $500 notice ($450 within 14 days, $550 after 28 days). Failure to post the sign is $300 ($270 early, $330 late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015, Section 5 and Animal Control schedule, sections 28–30 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wording(b) if received by the District within fourteen (14) days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the discounted penalty set out in Column 2 opposite the contravention; (c) if more than twenty-eight (28) days after the person received or is presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the late penalty set out in Column 3 opposite the contravention; or 28 Dangerous dog at large $500 $450 $550 No 29 Failure to confine $500 $450 $550 No dangerous dog 30 Failure to post sign of $300 $270 $330 Yes dangerous dog |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009, section 2(e).Dangerous Dogs List · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wordingThe District of Squamish Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009 Section 2(e) defines a dangerous dog as: |
How it works
Describe what the dog did and where it happened. Details such as pursuit, a bite, an injury or the presence of another animal help an officer distinguish the incident you saw from a description of the dog's temperament. Off the property, use a secure muzzle and a leash or restraint up to 2 m under a competent handler’s control. At home, confine the dog securely and post the required warning sign.
Steps
- For the local definition and reporting information, consult Dangerous Dogs List. Write down the location, time and sequence of events. Identify what you saw yourself and how an officer can reach any witnesses.
- Use the reporting information below or the animal-control contact in the linked rules. If you receive a designation, read the conditions before taking the dog into a public place.
Good to know
- A dangerous dog at large or failure to confine it carries a $500 notice ($450 within 14 days, $550 after 28 days). Failure to post the sign is $300 ($270 early, $330 late).
- Keep any written notice. If its terms are unclear, refer to the wording on the notice when asking about handling, confinement or review.
- For a question about how to submit the incident details and obtain a reference number, call the Municipal Hall at 604-892-5217.
- Read the applicable provisions in Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015 (PDF).
The same question in other places
Lions Bay · Bowen Island · West Vancouver · Gibsons · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver
Sources
- Dangerous Dogs List (read 2026-11-09)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015 (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
- Squamish municipal office contact information (read 2026-11-09)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.