{"title":"Whistler rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Whistler?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/whistler","name":"Whistler","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Resort Municipality of Whistler","url":"https://www.whistler.ca"},"short_answer":"Whistler's Animal Responsibility Bylaw has two classes, \"aggressive\" and \"vicious\", declared by an animal control officer in writing. Owners must pay an extra licence fee ($100 aggressive, $200 vicious), keep the dog on a short leash, and meet more conditions. Report a dog to Bylaw Services at 604-935-8280.","aliases":["aggressive dog whistler","vicious dog bylaw whistler","dog bite whistler","dangerous dog declaration whistler"],"cost":"Extra licence fee: $100 aggressive dog, $200 vicious dog. Impoundment fees: aggressive $300, vicious $500.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"604-935-8280","note":"Every day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; bylawservices@whistler.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Whistler RCMP (non-emergency, after hours)","value":"604-932-3044"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Dogs in Whistler, Resort Municipality of Whistler","url":"https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/"},{"title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Whistler dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Whistler dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Whistler","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Whistler bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/pemberton","name":"Pemberton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/squamish","name":"Squamish","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dangerous-dogs/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs/"},"facts":{"how_declared":{"label":"How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive","value":"An animal control officer decides and gives the owner written notice. Aggressive dog: without provocation showed aggressive behaviour (such as snarling, growling or threatening pursuit) or caused a minor injury. Vicious dog: caused a serious injury, has a known tendency to attack, caused minor injury more than once, aggressively pursued a person while at large, or is a 'dangerous dog' under the Community Charter. The owner may ask the Bylaw Supervisor to reconsider within 14 days.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 2; ss. 18, 22, 26, 29","quotes":["has without justifiable provocation displayed aggressive behaviour toward a person or animal","has without justifiable provocation caused a serious injury to a person or animal","Where an animal control officer determines that a dog meets the definition of a vicious dog","request in writing to the Bylaw Supervisor that they reconsider the decision of the animal control officer","\"dangerous dog\" has the meaning defined in the Community Charter"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Aggressive dog: within 30 days pay the extra licence fee, have the dog neutered or spayed and permanently identified; leash of 1 m max off the property; never at large; muzzled in off-leash areas. Vicious dog: also licensed as vicious by an owner over 19, $500,000 liability insurance, warning signs, muzzle off the property, no off-leash areas, kept indoors or in an enclosure.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"ss. 20, 21, 28, 32, 33","quotes":["Within 30 calendar days of receiving the notice of aggressive dog determination, the owner must:","keep the dog muzzled when in a designated off-leash area.","a policy of liability insurance not excluding damages for injuries caused by the dog and in an amount not less than $500,000","No person shall own or keep any vicious dog unless the dog is licensed as a vicious dog with the RMOW by an owner who is over 19 years of age.","post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry onto any premises where the dog is being kept, temporarily or permanently, warning that there is a vicious dog on the premises;","keep the dog securely confined indoors or confined outdoors in an enclosure;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"Aggressive dog: $100. Vicious dog: $200 (Schedule B). The bylaw calls these an additional licence fee, over and above any licence fee already paid that year (ss. 20(a), 28(a)).","short":"Vicious $200; aggressive $100 (extra fee)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"Schedule B (c), (d); ss. 20(a), 28(a)","quotes":["Aggressive Dog $100","Vicious Dog $200","pay to the RMOW the additional licence fee amount for an aggressive dog, over and above any licensing fees already paid for that dog in the calendar year;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Phone RMOW Bylaw Services at 604-935-8280 or email bylawservices@whistler.ca (9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Sunday). Bylaw officers respond to calls about dog bites and dangerous dog incidents. After hours, phone the RCMP non-emergency line at 604-932-3044.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/","title":"Dogs in Whistler, Resort Municipality of Whistler","section":"Animal control; Related Contact Info","quotes":["responding to calls about off-leash dogs, barking dogs (noise complaints), dog bites and dangerous dog incidents;","Bylaw Services 604-935-8280 bylawservices@whistler.ca Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m."]},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/bylaw-complaint-process/","title":"Bylaw Complaint Process | Resort Municipality of Whistler","section":"Related Contact Info","quotes":["After hours, phone RCMP non-emergency: 604-932-3044"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice (within 14 days / after 14 days). Aggressive dog improperly leashed or at large: $300 / $350. Aggressive dog not muzzled in off-leash area: $250 / $300. Vicious dog improperly leashed, at large, in off-leash area or not muzzled: $400 / $500. Vicious dog no warning sign: $150 / $200; not in enclosure: $200 / $250. Municipal tickets use the higher amount.","short":"Notice $400 vicious; $300 aggressive (paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Animal Responsibility","quotes":["Aggressive dog improperly leashed        21 (a)             $300   $350      Yes","Aggressive dog not muzzled in off-        21 (c)             $250   $300      Yes","Vicious dog improperly leashed            33 (a)             $400   $500      Yes","Vicious dog warning sign not posted       33 (e)             $150   $200      Yes","Vicious dog not in enclosure              33 (f)             $200   $250      Yes"]},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF)","section":"Schedule B2","quotes":["Aggressive dog improperly leashed                                         21 (a)     $350","Vicious dog improperly leashed                                              33 (a)     $500"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"Title","quotes":["ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2218, 2019"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf), an animal control officer decides whether a dog is aggressive or vicious and gives the owner written notice. An aggressive dog, without provocation, showed aggressive behaviour (such as snarling, growling or threatening pursuit) or caused a minor injury. A vicious dog caused a serious injury, has a known tendency to attack, caused minor injury more than once, aggressively pursued a person while at large, or is a \"dangerous dog\" under the Community Charter. The owner may ask the Bylaw Supervisor to reconsider within 14 days.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. To report a dog bite or dangerous dog, phone Bylaw Services at 604-935-8280 or email bylawservices@whistler.ca (every day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).\n2. After hours, phone the RCMP non-emergency line at 604-932-3044.\n3. If your dog is declared aggressive, within 30 days pay the extra licence fee, have the dog neutered or spayed, and have it permanently identified.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Aggressive dog: leash of 1 metre or less off your property, never at large, and muzzled in off-leash areas.\n- Vicious dog: all of the above, plus a vicious-dog licence held by an owner over 19, $500,000 liability insurance, warning signs, a muzzle off the property, no off-leash areas, and keeping the dog indoors or in an enclosure. An enclosure is a lockable pen at least 2 metres high and 2 metres wide, with a floor and roof.\n- A vicious dog whose owner does not comply can be seized, and after 14 days euthanized.\n- The owner of an aggressive dog may apply for relief from the rules after one year.\n- Bylaw notices (paid within 14 days / after 14 days): aggressive dog improperly leashed or at large $300 / $350; vicious dog improperly leashed, at large, in an off-leash area or not muzzled $400 / $500; vicious dog with no warning sign $150 / $200, or not in an enclosure $200 / $250. Municipal tickets use the higher amount.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/","title":"Dogs in Whistler, Resort Municipality of Whistler","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/bylaw-complaint-process/","title":"Bylaw Complaint Process | Resort Municipality of Whistler","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dangerous-dogs.json"}}