Surrey rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
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.
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.Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026), s. 2, 18, 22, 24, 25 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWhere 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 |
|---|---|
| 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.Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026), s. 19, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30; Dog Licensing, Dangerous dogs · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingsecure 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: Keep the dog in a six-sided pen when not in the house. |
| Licence fee | Annual licence: aggressive (or guard) dog $174; vicious dog $261.50; dangerous dog $655. Apply in person or by mail.Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026), Schedule B; Dog Licensing, Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingc) Guard Dog/Aggressive Dog - $174.00 d) Vicious Dog - $261.50 e) Dangerous Dog - $655.00 Dog deemed guard/aggressive* | $174.00 Dog deemed vicious* | $261.50 Dog deemed dangerous* | $655.00 |
| 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.Bylaw & Licensing Services, Report a problem; Report a Problem or Submit a Request, Contact · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCall 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. In the case of injury or immediate danger, call 911 right away. |
| 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.Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2016, No. 18691, Schedule A, Part 3, s. 19, 23, 29; Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 12508, Schedule 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording19105 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 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 |
| Bylaw | Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, |
How it works
Under the Animal Responsibility Bylaw 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
The same question in other places
Langley City · White Rock · New Westminster · Port Coquitlam · Township of Langley · Coquitlam
Sources
- Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (consolidated to Bylaw 21964, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licensing, City of Surrey (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw & Licensing Services, City of Surrey (read 2026-11-05)
- Report a Problem or Submit a Request, City of Surrey (read 2026-11-05)
- Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2016, No. 18691, Schedule A (read 2026-11-05)
- Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 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. How answers are checked.