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

# Surrey rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Surrey, an Animal Control Officer can give written notice that a dog is aggressive, vicious or dangerous. Each level brings stricter rules (short leash, muzzle, enclosure) and a higher yearly licence: $174 for aggressive (or guard), $261.50 for vicious, $655 for dangerous.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Surrey, https://www.surrey.ca)  
**Cost:** Yearly licence $174 (guard or aggressive), $261.50 (vicious), $655 (dangerous).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services call centre, 604-591-4370
- Email: Report a bite or attack, bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca
- Online: Report a Problem, https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/report-problem-or-submit-request
- Phone: Dog Licensing, 604-592-2601

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer issues a written notice deeming a dog Aggressive (unprovoked aggressive behaviour or minor injury), Vicious (unprovoked serious injury, known tendency to attack, or repeated minor injuries) or Dangerous (killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or attacked after being deemed vicious). A dangerous-dog owner may ask the Bylaw Manager to reconsider within 14 days.
  - Source: [Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026), s. 2, 18, 22, 24, 25](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/19105)
  - Official wording: "Where a Dog meets the definition of an Aggressive Dog, an Animal Control Officer may" … "Where a Dog meets the definition of a Vicious Dog, an Animal Control Officer may issue written" … ""Dangerous Dog" means a Dog that:" … "has killed or Seriously Injured a person;" … "within fourteen (14) calendar days of issuance of that written notice, request in writing that" … "a written assessment of the Dog, prepared by a Dog behaviour specialist within the" … "Has without justifiable provocation displayed Aggressive Behaviour toward a person or" … "Has without justifiable provocation caused a Minor Injury to a person or Animal;" … "has without justifiable provocation caused a Serious Injury to a person or Animal; or" … "has on more than one occasion caused a Minor Injury to a person or Animal; or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive: leash of 1 m maximum off the property, never at large, muzzled in off-leash areas, permanent ID within 30 days. Vicious and dangerous: also muzzled off the property, barred from off-leash areas, warning signs, kept indoors or in a locked enclosure. Dangerous: owner over 19, spay/neuter certificate, approved trainer, $500,000 liability insurance, photo kept at the shelter.
  - Source: [Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026), s. 19, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/19105)
  - Official wording: "secure the Dog by a collar and Leash that is a maximum length of one (1) metre when" … "keep the Dog Muzzled when in a designated off-leash area" … "post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry onto any premises where the Dog is" … "who is over nineteen (19) years of age" … "an amount not less than five hundred thousand dollars" … "have the Dangerous Dog photographed and the photo retained at the Animal shelter" … "shall promptly notify the City’s Bylaw Manager if:"
  - Source: [Dog Licensing, Dangerous dogs](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Keep the dog in a six-sided pen when not in the house."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Annual licence: aggressive (or guard) dog $174; vicious dog $261.50; dangerous dog $655. Apply in person or by mail.
  - Source: [Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026), Schedule B](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/19105)
  - Official wording: "c) Guard Dog/Aggressive Dog - $174.00" … "d) Vicious Dog - $261.50" … "e) Dangerous Dog - $655.00"
  - Source: [Dog Licensing, Fees](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Dog deemed guard/aggressive* | $174.00" … "Dog deemed vicious* | $261.50" … "Dog deemed dangerous* | $655.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call Bylaw Services at 604-591-4370, report online through Report a Problem, or email bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca. A Bylaw Enforcement Witness Statement Form is used to document an observed violation or animal bite/attack; email it to the officer or to bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca. In immediate danger, call 911.
  - Source: [Bylaw & Licensing Services, Report a problem](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/city-departments/public-safety/bylaw-licensing-services)
  - Official wording: "Call 604-591-4370 - Submit a report online through Report a Problem" … "Email bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca for bylaw complaints" … "This form is used to document information about an observed Bylaw violation or animal bite/attack."
  - Source: [Report a Problem or Submit a Request, Contact](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/report-problem-or-submit-request)
  - Official wording: "In the case of injury or immediate danger, call 911 right away."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (early / late amounts in brackets): dangerous dog improperly leashed $450 ($400 / $500); no permanent ID, no photo, not in enclosure, or no sign $450. Vicious dog at large or not muzzled $450. Aggressive dog improperly leashed or at large $300 ($250 / $350). Municipal ticket: keeping a dangerous dog $1,000; dangerous dog at large, in off-leash area or not muzzled $1,000; other dangerous-dog offences $450.
  - Source: [Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2016, No. 18691, Schedule A, Part 3, s. 19, 23, 29](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18691)
  - Official wording: "19105 29 (a) Dangerous dog $450.00 $400.00 $500.00" … "19105 23 (b) Vicious dog at large $450.00 $400.00 $500.00" … "19105 19 (a) Aggressive dog $300.00 $250.00 $350.00"
  - Source: [Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 12508, Schedule 4](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.pdf)
  - Official wording: "17. Keeping dangerous dog 27 $1000.00" … "19. Dangerous dog at large 29 (b) $1000.00" … "21. Dangerous dog not muzzled 29 (d) $1000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105
  - Source: [Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026), s. 1](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/19105)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 19105](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/19105), an Animal Control Officer issues a written notice deeming a dog:

- **Aggressive:** unprovoked aggressive behaviour or a minor injury.
- **Vicious:** unprovoked serious injury, a known tendency to attack, repeated minor injuries, or aggressively pursuing a person while at large.
- **Dangerous:** it killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or attacked after being deemed vicious. The owner may ask the Bylaw Manager to reconsider within 14 days.

## What owners must do

- Aggressive: a leash of 1 metre or less off the property, never at large, a muzzle in off-leash areas, and permanent ID within 30 days.
- Vicious and dangerous: also a muzzle off the property, no off-leash areas, warning signs, and the dog kept indoors or in a locked enclosure.
- Dangerous: the owner must be over 19, with a spay or neuter certificate, an approved trainer, $500,000 liability insurance, and a photo kept at the shelter.

## Good to know

- To report a dog, call Bylaw Services at 604-591-4370, use Report a Problem online, or email bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca. A Bylaw Enforcement Witness Statement Form documents a bite or attack. In immediate danger, call 911.
- An owner unwilling or unable to comply may have a dangerous dog seized and held 14 days, after which it may be euthanized.
- Licences for these dogs are bought in person or by mail.
- Bylaw notice: dangerous dog improperly leashed $450 ($400 if paid within 14 days; $500 if late); aggressive dog improperly leashed or at large $300 ($250 / $350). Municipal ticket: keeping a dangerous dog, or one at large, in an off-leash area or unmuzzled, $1,000.
- Court fine on conviction: $50 to $2,000, or up to six months in jail.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Licensing page](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/dog-licensing)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 19105 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/19105)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/19105) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licensing, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/dog-licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw & Licensing Services, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/city-departments/public-safety/bylaw-licensing-services) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Report a Problem or Submit a Request, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/report-problem-or-submit-request) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2016, No. 18691, Schedule A](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18691) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 12508 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.pdf) (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 Surrey. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/dangerous-dogs/_