White Rock rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?

White Rock, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In White Rock, the City can classify a dog as aggressive after an incident under its Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw. The owner must confine it, keep it leashed and muzzled in public, and pay a $200 yearly licence. A dog deemed dangerous cannot be kept in the city.

Key facts

How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive	Aggressive dog (bylaw s. 3): has attacked, bitten or injured a person or animal, or been found aggressive by an officer or court; the Director decides, with appeal in 10 days. Dangerous dog (Community Charter s. 49): has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or an officer believes it is likely to seriously injure a person.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), ss. 3, 26-28; Community Charter, section 49, Province of BC, Community Charter s. 49(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A dog that has attacked, bitten or caused injury, with or without provocation, to a dog that, while running at large, has bitten or caused injury to a domestic a dog that has been found to be dangerous or aggressive by the animal control a letter shall be sent to the owner of the dog the owner of the dog may appeal the classification, in writing, within 10 days to the Director (a) has killed or seriously injured a person, (c) an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.
Rules for owners	On the owner's premises: keep the dog securely confined indoors or in an enclosure (at least 1.8 m high, solid floor, wire or steel mesh sides and roof). Off the premises: on a leash no longer than 3 m, under a competent person's immediate control, and muzzled. The owner must also let the City implant a microchip and pay the $60 microchip fee.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), ss. 3, 29; Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording keep the dog securely confined indoors or in an enclosure On a leash or tether not exceeding three metres in length; Muzzled to prevent it from attacking and/or biting a person or other animal. Permit the City to implant a microchip a structure at least 1.8 metres in height having a solid floor and wire Microchip Implant $ 60.00
Licence fee	$200 a year for an aggressive dog licence (Schedule A); the lower altered-dog rate is not available to an aggressive dog.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), Schedule A; s. 19 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Aggressive Dog $200.00 The owner of a dog that is not an aggressive dog or a nuisance dog
How to report	Contact Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146 or bylaw@whiterockcity.ca to report a bite.2026 Good Neighbour Guide, Being a Responsible Pet Owner; Animal Control, Inquiries & Complaints · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording If you or your pet has been bitten, report it immediately. Contact Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146 or email Bylaw@whiterockcity.ca. contact Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146 or email bylaw@whiterockcity.ca
Fine	Failure to confine an aggressive dog: $500. Failure to keep an aggressive dog on a leash: $500. Failure to muzzle an aggressive dog: $250. Failure to comply with an order for an aggressive dog: $500.Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 2011, No. 1929 (consolidated), Schedule B3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Failure to confine an aggressive dog Failure to keep an aggressive dog on leash Failure to muzzle an aggressive dog $250.00 Failure to comply with an order for an aggressive dog
Bylaw	Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025)Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as "Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, 2012, No. 1959."

How it works

Two terms apply. Under the Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, a dog is aggressive if it has attacked, bitten or injured a person or animal, or been found aggressive by an officer or court. The Director decides, and the owner can appeal within 10 days. A "dangerous dog" is defined by section 49 of the provincial Community Charter: one that has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or that an officer believes is likely to seriously injure a person.

Good to know

At home, an aggressive dog must be securely confined indoors or in an enclosure at least 1.8 metres high with a solid floor and wire or steel mesh sides and roof.
Off the property, it must be on a leash of no more than 3 metres, under a competent person's immediate control, and muzzled.
The owner must let the City implant a microchip and pay the $60 microchip fee.
The licence is $200 a year; the lower spayed or neutered rate is not available. Impound fee: $600 (altered) or $1,000 (unaltered).
Tickets: $500 for failing to confine, $500 for failing to leash, $250 for failing to muzzle, and $500 for failing to comply with an order. A court fine can be $1,000 to $10,000.
A dog deemed dangerous in White Rock or elsewhere may not be kept in the city (the newer wording of section 4).
To report a bite, contact Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146 or bylaw@whiterockcity.ca.