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

# Victoria rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Victoria, an animal control officer can designate a dog dangerous if it bites a person or animal without provocation, or is known to attack. A dangerous dog must be leashed and muzzled in public, confined at home and posted with a warning sign. Report a dog to 250-414-0233.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Victoria, https://www.victoria.ca)  
**Cost:** No separate dangerous-dog licence fee is stated. Fines up to $500 (bylaw notice and municipal ticket).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Victoria Animal Control Services, 250-414-0233
- Email: Victoria Animal Control Services, vacs@shaw.ca

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An animal control officer may designate a dog dangerous if it bites a human or animal without provocation, has a known propensity to attack without provocation, or was already designated and endangers safety. The officer sets the length of the designation and must tell the owner in writing.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), s. 28(1)-(3)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "An animal control officer may designate a dog as a dangerous dog if the dog" … "bites a human or animal without provocation," … "has a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack a human or animal without provocation, or" … "After designating a dog as a dangerous dog, an animal control officer must inform the owner of the dog in writing of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** In public or on private land the dog must be held on a leash of 2.4 m or less by a competent person and wear a humane basket muzzle. On the owner's own land it must be confined indoors, on a deck at least 3 m high, or in a locked rear-yard pen approved by an animal control officer. Warning signs required.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), ss. 29-31](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "firmly held by a person competent to restrain the dog on a leash not exceeding 2.4 m in length, and" … "properly fitted with a humane basket muzzle that allows the dog to pant and drink." … "on a deck that is no less than 3 m above ground level, or" … "is locked to prevent casual entry by another person, and" … "The owner of a dangerous dog must display a sign in the form prescribed in" … "WARNING DANGEROUS DOG ON PREMISES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** None set. Victoria's bylaw does not set a separate licence fee for a dangerous dog.
- **How to report:** Call Victoria Animal Control Services at 250.414.0233 or email vacs@shaw.ca.
  - Source: [Report a Bylaw Violation, Dog-Related Concerns](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/report-bylaw-violation)
  - Official wording: "To report an issue, call Victoria Animal Control Services at 250.414.0233 or email vacs@shaw.ca."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017): $500 for a dangerous dog unlawfully in a public or private place or a prohibited place (ss. 29(1), 29(3)), $375 within 14 days; $125 for no sign or removing one (s. 30), $93.75; $300 for breaking owner conditions (s. 31), $225. Municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071): $500 ($500), $125 ($100), $300 ($250) within 30 days.
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule C](https://www.victoria.ca/media/635)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog 29(1) $500.00 $500.00" … "Fail to display 30(1) $125.00 $100.00" … "Owner fails to comply 31 $300.00 $250.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B](https://www.victoria.ca/media/2923)
  - Official wording: "29(1) $500.00 $125.00 $125.00" … "31 Owner fails to comply with conditions $300.00 $75.00 $75.00" … "30(1) Fail to display dangerous dog sign $125.00 $31.25 $31.25"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 11-044
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), Title](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW BYLAW NO. 11-044 This consolidation is a copy of a bylaw consolidated under the authority of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Part 5 of the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044](<https://www.victoria.ca/media/554>) lets an animal control officer designate a dog dangerous if it bites a human or animal without provocation, has a known propensity to attack without provocation, or was already designated and endangers safety. The officer sets the length of the designation, based on the circumstances, and must tell the owner in writing.

To report a dog, call Victoria Animal Control Services at 250-414-0233 or email vacs@shaw.ca.

## Good to know

- In public or on private land, a dangerous dog must be held by a competent person on a leash of 2.4 metres or less and wear a humane basket muzzle.
- On the owner's own land it must be confined indoors, on a deck at least 3 metres high, or in a locked rear-yard pen approved by an animal control officer. Warning signs are required.
- It may not be on school grounds, within 30 metres of any playground apparatus, or in the no-dog places listed in the bylaw.
- The owner must allow photographs on demand, tell an officer within two working days of moving, selling or giving away the dog, or its death, and report immediately if the dog is loose or has bitten or attacked.
- A dangerous dog may be held up to 14 days after seizure.
- The bylaw does not set a separate licence fee for a dangerous dog.
- Fines, bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017): $500 for a dangerous dog unlawfully in a public or private place or a prohibited place ($375 if paid within 14 days); $125 for no sign or removing one ($93.75); $300 for breaking owner conditions ($225).
- Fines, municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071): $500; $125 ($100 if paid within 30 days); $300 ($250 if paid within 30 days).

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044, Part 5 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554)

## Related questions

- [Victoria dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dog-leash-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022) (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/554) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule C (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/635) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/2923) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Report a Bylaw Violation, City of Victoria](https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/report-bylaw-violation) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Victoria. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dangerous-dogs/_