---
title: View Royal rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: View Royal, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/view-royal
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# View Royal rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** Under the Town of View Royal's Animal Control Bylaw 614, a dangerous dog must be kept indoors or in a secure pen, and in public must be muzzled on a leash of 4 feet or less. An aggressive dog must always be leashed and kept out of off-leash parks. The CRD enforces the bylaw.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Annual licence: dangerous dog $200; aggressive dog $100 (Fees and Charges Bylaw 958). Warning sign $10. Municipal tickets $100 to $200.  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Animal Control, 250-478-0624 (After hours 1-833-931-3585 for true and immediate public safety concerns)
- Email: CRD Animal Services, animalservices@crd.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** Dangerous dog: killed or seriously injured a person; killed or seriously injured a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property; an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person; or a court found it dangerous. Aggressive dog: acted aggressively or caused a minor injury without justifiable provocation.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 4, s. 2 definitions](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/614%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20May%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "has killed or seriously injured a person;" … "an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously" … "has been found by a court to be a Dangerous Dog." … "“aggressive dog” means a dog that acted aggressively or caused Minor Injury to a person or"
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Dangerous dogs](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
  - Official wording: "Some investigations may result in issuing an aggressive dog or dangerous dog designations."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Dangerous dog: kept indoors or in a secure enclosed pen in the rear yard that keeps children out; in public only on a leash not over 4 feet (1.2 m), held by a competent person, and muzzled; warning sign at each entrance. Aggressive dog: always on leash, contained, and never in off-leash parks.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 4, s. 4.0, 4.1, 4.3, 4.7](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/614%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20May%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "securely confined either indoors or in an enclosed pen" … "Leash that does not exceed four (4) feet (1.2" … "which dog is muzzled by a properly fitted humane device." … "The Owner of a Dangerous Dog must display at each entrance to the property and building in or" … "An Aggressive Dog must be on Leash at all times, contained on the property or in the home so it"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Annual licence: dangerous dog $200; aggressive dog $100. A dangerous dog sign costs $10. (Sources differ: The CRD licensing page (fees in effect as of June 11, 2025) shows a dangerous dog licence at $100 regular ($95 early, $120 late); the Town Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958 (consolidated to Sept 2026) sets $200. Bylaw followed. The Town animal control page also lists dangerous-dog impound fees ($100, $250, $500); the Fees bylaw lists only the dog impound fees ($75, $100, $150).)
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 958 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), Schedule A, Animal Control](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/958%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20Sept%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog $200.00" … "Aggressive Dog $100.00" … "Dangerous Dog Sign $10.00"
  - Source: [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District, Licensing Fees](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous dog license | $95 | $100 | $120"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624 or use the CRD online complaint form. After hours, call 1-833-931-3585 only for a true and immediate public safety concern. The CRD needs your name, address and phone number and does not investigate anonymous reports.
  - Source: [Animal Control, intro](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/municipal/animal-control.html)
  - Official wording: "After hours, they can be reached at 1-833-931-3585 for incidents involving a true and immediate public safety concern."
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, How to report a dog bite or attack](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
  - Official wording: "Contact our office at 250.478.0624 or complete an online complaint form." … "Please note we require your name, address and phone number to move forward with any complaint."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: dangerous dog not confined, not leashed and muzzled, or on private property without consent $200 each; no warning sign $100. Failing to report an at-large dog, an attack, or an ownership change within 48 hours $200 each. Aggressive dog off leash, uncontained or in an off-leash park $200. Bite or attack $100.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 643, Schedule 13 (PDF, to May 2026), Schedule 13, Animal Control](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/643%20MTI%20Bylaw%20No.%20643,%202007%20-%20May%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog not confined 4.0 $200." … "Dangerous Dog not Leashed and muzzled 4.1 $200." … "Dangerous Dog on private property without 4.2 $200." … "Failure to display Dangerous Dog sign 4.3 $100." … "Failure to advise Poundkeeper or Animal 4.4 $200." … "Dog allowed to Bite, attack, terrorize or 5.1 $100." … "Aggressive Dog in Off-Leash Dog park" … "Control Officer with forty-eight (48) hours of $200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005 (Part 4, Dangerous and Aggressive Dogs, as amended by Amendment Bylaw No. 1165, 2026)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 4, s. 1, Part 4](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/614%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20May%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005.”" … "PART 4 – DANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE DOGS"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Animal Control Bylaw 614](<https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/614%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20May%202026.pdf>) sorts risky dogs into two groups. A dangerous dog has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property; an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person; or a court found it dangerous. An aggressive dog acted aggressively or caused a minor injury without justifiable provocation. A designation applies across all CRD municipalities.

## Dangerous dog rules

- Keep it indoors or in a secure enclosed pen in the rear yard that keeps children out.
- In public: on a leash of no more than 4 feet (1.2 m), held by a competent person, and muzzled.
- Put a warning sign at each entrance. It costs $10.
- It cannot be on private property without the occupier's consent.

## Aggressive dog rules

- Always on a leash and contained, and never in an off-leash park.
- After six months the designation can be lifted once, with proof of training by a certified trainer.

## Good to know

- Tell an Animal Control Officer at once if the dog is loose or has bitten or attacked. Report an ownership change or death within 48 hours (a $200 ticket if you do not).
- Municipal tickets: dangerous dog not confined, not leashed and muzzled, or on private property without consent $200 each; no warning sign $100; aggressive dog off leash, uncontained or in an off-leash park $200; a bite or attack $100.
- Licence: $200 for a dangerous dog, $100 for an aggressive dog. The CRD licensing page lists a lower dangerous dog fee, so confirm with the CRD.
- To report a dog, call CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624 or use the CRD online complaint form. Give your name, address and phone number; the CRD does not investigate anonymous reports.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/614%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20May%202026.pdf)
- [CRD Animal Complaints (aggressive and dangerous dogs)](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)

## Related questions

- [View Royal dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [View Royal dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dog-licence.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 4](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/614%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20May%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, Town of View Royal](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/municipal/animal-control.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 643, Schedule 13 (PDF, to May 2026)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/643%20MTI%20Bylaw%20No.%20643,%202007%20-%20May%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Licensing for Dogs, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 958 (PDF, consolidated September 2026)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/958%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20Sept%202026.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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs/_