Whistler rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

Whistler, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, s. 2; ss. 18, 22, 26, 29 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, ss. 20, 21, 28, 32, 33 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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;
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)).Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, Schedule B (c), (d); ss. 20(a), 28(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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;
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.Dogs in Whistler, Animal control; Related Contact Info; Bylaw Complaint Process \| Resort Municipality of Whistler, Related Contact Info · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. After hours, phone RCMP non-emergency: 604-932-3044
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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Responsibility; Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005, Schedule B2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Aggressive dog improperly leashed 21 (a) $350 Vicious dog improperly leashed 33 (a) $500
Bylaw	Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2218, 2019

How it works

Under the Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 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

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

The same question in other places

Pemberton · Squamish · Lions Bay · Anmore · District of North Vancouver · Bowen Island

Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Dogs in Whistler, Resort Municipality of Whistler (read 2026-11-06)
Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Complaint Process | Resort Municipality of Whistler (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. How answers are checked.