---
title: Trail rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: Trail, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/trail
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Trail
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Trail rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Trail an Animal Control Officer can designate a dog Aggressive or Vicious under the Animal Control Bylaw, with leash, microchip and, for vicious dogs, muzzle and confinement rules. "Dangerous" follows the Community Charter definition. Annual licences cost $100 (aggressive), $200 (vicious) and $500 (dangerous).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Trail, https://www.trail.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual licence: aggressive dog $100; vicious dog $200; dangerous dog $500.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-364-0833
- Online: Bylaw Enforcement page (online service request form), https://www.trail.ca/city-hall/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer may designate a dog Aggressive or Vicious and sends the owner a letter. Aggressive: unprovoked aggressive behaviour or minor injury. Vicious: repeated minor injuries, a serious injury, or likely to injure. 'Dangerous' follows the Community Charter definition.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 3, s. 9.1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Aggressive Dog” means a Dog that without provocation and in the absence of a mitigating factor:" … "has caused a Minor injury to a Person or Domestic Animal;" … "has caused a serious injury to a Person or Domestic Animal;" … "“Dangerous Dog” means a Dog, as defined by the Community Charter as amended from time to time." … "the Animal Control Officer may designate the dog an Aggressive Dog or Vicious Dog and shall deliver a letter to the owner of the Dog advising of the designation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive: never at large; leash up to 1.2 m (not retractable) in public; microchip within 14 days; photo; report moves or changes within 2 business days. Vicious: all that plus muzzle in public, warning signs, and indoors or a locked 2 m enclosure.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 9.4, 9.7](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Owner of an Aggressive Dog must:" … "with a maximum length of 1.2 metres from Owner to Dog" … "Muzzle the Dog in a manner as to prevent it from being able to Bite a Person or another Domestic Animal" … "post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry onto any premises" … "keep the Vicious Dog securely confined indoors or confined outdoors in an Enclosure located within securely fenced premises"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Aggressive dog $100 a year; vicious dog $200 a year; dangerous dog $500 a year.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, Schedule A](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For each aggressive dog – per year $100.00" … "For each vicious dog – per year $200.00" … "For each dangerous dog – per year $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call Trail Bylaw Enforcement at 250-364-0833 about a dog's behaviour, or use the City's online bylaw service request form. An owner whose dog bites must give contact details or report to the Animal Control Officer within 72 hours.
  - Source: [Dog Licensing, Dog Licensing page](https://www.trail.ca/services/animal-control/dog-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "may call the following number and Bylaw Enforcement personnel will respond" … "City of Trail Bylaw Enforcement Office: 250-364-0833"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Enforcement page](https://www.trail.ca/city-hall/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "please use the electronic service request form above"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 14.1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "making a report about the Dog Bite or incident to the Animal Control Officer; including name"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice, within 14 days / after: aggressive dog at large $100/$200; vicious dog at large $150/$300; not muzzled $150/$300; no signage $150/$300; minor injury $150/$300; serious injury $250/$500.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, Schedule B](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "EARLY PAYMENT OFFENCE SECTION PENALTY (1–14 Days)" … "Aggressive dog at large 9.4(a) $100.00 $200.00" … "Vicious dog at large 9.4(a) $150.00 $300.00" … "Fail to muzzle vicious dog 9.7(a) $150.00 $300.00" … "Fail to post signage 9.7(b) $150.00 $300.00" … "Animal cause minor injury 7.2(b) $150.00 $300.00" … "Animal cause serious injury 7.2(c) $250.00 $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Control Bylaw” No. 2970, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf), an Animal Control Officer in the City of Trail may designate a dog Aggressive or Vicious and send the owner a letter. The owner may ask for reconsideration within 14 days of the letter.

- Aggressive: unprovoked aggressive behaviour or a minor injury.
- Vicious: repeated minor injuries, a serious injury, or a dog an officer reasonably believes is likely to injure.
- Dangerous: follows the Community Charter definition, and officers have the Community Charter section 49 powers over dangerous dogs.

## Good to know

- Aggressive dog: never at large; on a leash of 1.2 m or less (not retractable) in public; microchip within 14 days; a photo on file; report moves or changes within 2 business days.
- Vicious dog: all of that, plus a muzzle in public, warning signs, and keeping the dog indoors or in a locked enclosure at least 2 m high, wide and long.
- An aggressive designation may be removed after one year if the conditions in s. 9.5 are met.
- Once a dog is designated, the owner must apply for the new licence at the higher annual fee.
- Bylaw notices, paid within 14 days / after: aggressive dog at large $100 / $200; vicious dog at large $150 / $300; not muzzled $150 / $300; no signage $150 / $300; minor injury $150 / $300; serious injury $250 / $500. Other lines range from $50 to $150 early. Court fines of up to $50,000 are possible.
- To report a dog, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-364-0833 or use the City's online service request form. The City treats complainants as a confidential source. An owner whose dog bites someone must give contact details or report to the Animal Control Officer within 72 hours.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026 (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, City of Trail (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dog Licensing, City of Trail](https://www.trail.ca/services/animal-control/dog-licensing/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Trail](https://www.trail.ca/city-hall/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Trail. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/dangerous-dogs/_