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

# Whistler rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Resort Municipality of Whistler, https://www.whistler.ca)  
**Cost:** Extra licence fee: $100 aggressive dog, $200 vicious dog. Impoundment fees: aggressive $300, vicious $500.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-935-8280 (Every day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; bylawservices@whistler.ca)
- Phone: Whistler RCMP (non-emergency, after hours), 604-932-3044

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, s. 2; ss. 18, 22, 26, 29](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, ss. 20, 21, 28, 32, 33](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** 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)).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, Schedule B (c), (d); ss. 20(a), 28(a)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** 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.
  - Source: [Dogs in Whistler, Animal control; Related Contact Info](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Bylaw Complaint Process | Resort Municipality of Whistler, Related Contact Info](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/bylaw-complaint-process/)
  - Official wording: "After hours, phone RCMP non-emergency: 604-932-3044"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Responsibility](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005, Schedule B2](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive dog improperly leashed 21 (a) $350" … "Vicious dog improperly leashed 33 (a) $500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, Title](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2218, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

## Steps

1. 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.).
2. After hours, phone the RCMP non-emergency line at 604-932-3044.
3. 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.

## Good to know

- Aggressive dog: leash of 1 metre or less off your property, never at large, and muzzled in off-leash areas.
- 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.
- A vicious dog whose owner does not comply can be seized, and after 14 days euthanized.
- The owner of an aggressive dog may apply for relief from the rules after one year.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dogs in Whistler, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Whistler dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-licence.md)
- [Whistler dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Whistler](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/how-many-pets.md)
- [Whistler bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Pemberton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Squamish](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Dogs in Whistler, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Complaint Process | Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/bylaw-complaint-process/) (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 Resort Municipality of Whistler. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dangerous-dogs/_