--- title: Tofino rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Tofino?" place: Tofino, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/tofino category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: District of Tofino sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dangerous-dogs/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dangerous-dogs.json" --- # Tofino rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs **Question:** What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Tofino? **Short answer:** In Tofino, the animal bylaw defines "dangerous" and "vicious" dogs. A vicious dog must be muzzled in public or kept indoors or in a locked enclosure. To report a dog, contact Bylaw Services at 250-725-3229 ext. 706. For immediate danger call 911. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tofino, https://tofino.ca) **Cost:** No separate licence fee for a dangerous or vicious dog. Fine for a vicious dog not confined or muzzled: bylaw notice $100; municipal ticket $100. **How long:** not applicable **Where:** - Online: Report a Bylaw Violation (online complaint form; anonymous complaints are not accepted), https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/ - Phone: Bylaw Services (office, ext. 706), 250-725-3229 - Phone: Bylaw Services (on-duty officer), 250-266-1674 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, extended in summer and holidays) - Phone: RCMP non-emergency, 250-725-3242 ## Key facts - **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** The bylaw defines a 'dangerous dog' as one that has killed or seriously injured, or is likely to kill or seriously injure, a person (or has killed or seriously injured a domestic or companion animal off the owner's property). A 'vicious dog' has a known tendency to attack without provocation, or has bitten a person or animal without provocation. - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 2 definitions](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/) - Official wording: "includes a dog that has, or is likely to kill or seriously injure a person" … "any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, without provocation, other domestic animals or humans" … "any dog which has bitten another domestic animal or a human without provocation" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Rules for owners:** A vicious dog must be effectively muzzled in any public place or on a highway. Otherwise it must be kept indoors or in a securely closed and locked enclosure. A dog that bites a person or companion animal and is not immunized against rabies is impounded under quarantine for 10 days. - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 10(a), (c)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/) - Official wording: "The owner of a vicious dog shall ensure that such dog is not on a highway or any public place unless effectively muzzled" … "such dog shall be kept indoors or within a securely closed and locked enclosure." … "the dog shall be impounded under quarantine for ten (10) days for observation by the Animal Control Officer." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Licence fee:** None set. Tofino has no separate licence fee for a dangerous or vicious dog. - **How to report:** Report to Bylaw Services: online complaint form (anonymous complaints are not accepted), phone 250-725-3229 ext. 706 (office) or 250-266-1674 (on-duty officer). For immediate danger call 911 or the RCMP non-emergency line, 250-725-3242. - Source: [Bylaw Services, Bylaw Services page](https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/) - Official wording: "250-725-3229 ext. 706 (Office)" … "250-266-1674 (On-Duty Officer)" - Source: [Bylaw Complaints, Bylaw Complaints page](https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/) - Official wording: "Anonymous complaints are not accepted" … "Please contact Emergency Services by calling 911 or the RCMP non-emergency line at 250-725-3242" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fine:** Vicious dog not confined or muzzled (s. 10(a)): bylaw notice $100 ($80 within 14 days; $120 after 60 days); municipal ticket $100 ($50 if paid within 7 business days). - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated), Schedule A (Animal Control Bylaw 10(a))](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/) - Official wording: "Vicious Dog Not Confined or Muzzled 10(a) Yes $100 $80 $120 50%" - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), Schedule 6](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version%29.pdf) - Official wording: "Vicious Dog Not Confined or Muzzled 10(a) $100.00" … "Fines as set out in all Schedules with the exception of Schedule 7 are reduced by 50% if the fine is paid within 7 business days of the date of issuance of the Municipal Ticketing Information." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 1](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/) - Official wording: "District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works The [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866]() defines two kinds of dog. A "dangerous dog" has killed or seriously injured, or is likely to kill or seriously injure, a person, or has killed or seriously injured a domestic or companion animal off the owner's property. A "vicious dog" has a known tendency to attack without provocation, or has bitten a person or animal without provocation. The bylaw does not set out a formal declaration process or say who decides. ## Good to know - A vicious dog must be effectively muzzled in any public place or on a highway. Otherwise it must be kept indoors or in a securely closed and locked enclosure. - A dog that bites a person or companion animal and is not immunized against rabies is impounded under quarantine for 10 days. - An Animal Control Officer may apply to Provincial Court for a destruction order for a dangerous dog. - There is no separate licence fee for a dangerous or vicious dog. - To report a dog, use the online complaint form (anonymous complaints are not accepted) or call Bylaw Services at 250-725-3229 ext. 706 or the on-duty officer at 250-266-1674. For immediate danger call 911 or the RCMP non-emergency line, 250-725-3242. - A vicious dog not confined or muzzled: a bylaw notice is $100 ($80 within 14 days; $120 after 60 days). A municipal ticket is $100 ($50 if paid within 7 business days). ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866 (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/) ## Related questions - [Tofino dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dog-licence.md) - [Tofino dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dog-leash-rules.md) - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Tofino](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/how-many-pets.md) - [Tofino bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/bylaw-fines.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Ucluelet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dangerous-dogs.md) ## Sources - [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/) (read 2026-11-08) - [Bylaw Services, District of Tofino](https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-08) - [Bylaw Complaints, District of Tofino](https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/) (read 2026-11-08) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/) (read 2026-11-08) - [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Tofino. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dangerous-dogs/_