Animal control officers

Strong job outlook

Overview

Animal control officers

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Animal control officers

  • Respond to citizen complaints concerning stray domestic animals, livestock and wildlife

  • Issue warnings and citations to owners

  • Impound lost, homeless and dangerous animals.

  • By-law enforcement officers

  • Enforce municipal and provincial regulations

  • Investigate complaints

  • Issue warnings and citations to commercial and residential property owners and occupants.

  • Commercial transport inspectors

  • Inspect commercial vehicles to ensure compliance with regulations governing load restrictions, the transportation of hazardous materials and public safety.

  • Garbage collection inspectors

  • Investigate complaints concerning infractions of garbage collection by-laws.

  • Liquor licence inspectors

  • Conduct inspections of licensed establishments

  • Advise licensees on laws and regulations

  • Report contravention of laws and regulations to provincial liquor control boards and agencies.

  • Parking control officers

  • Enforce parking by-laws on city streets, regional roads and municipal properties.

  • Taxi inspectors

  • Inspect taxicabs for mechanical reliability, cleanliness, licensing and meter accuracy

  • Investigate public complaints, issue citations and prepare reports

  • Give evidence to city councils, taxi commissions and in court.

  • Zoning inspectors

  • Investigate properties in violation of zoning and related by-laws, after receiving requests for licence clearances pertaining to zoning and related by-laws, and on receipt of building permit applications.

  • By-law enforcement officers may specialize in the enforcement of one specific by-law.

Job titles

  • animal control inspector
  • animal control officer
  • animal control supervisor
  • by-law enforcement officer
  • by-law enforcement officers supervisor
  • commercial transport inspector

Employment prospects

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2023 edition
The labour market information for this career is aggregate data for By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers

Annual salary

Low

$62,568

Median

$72,996

High

$91,683

Job openings

Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.

Strong job outlook

British Columbia

284

expected job openings (5-year forecast)

Education and training

Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is required.

  • Completion of a college program or courses in law and security or other related field or experience in a related administrative or regulatory occupation is usually required.

  • Zoning inspectors or zoning enforcement officers may require a college diploma as a civil engineering or architectural technologist or technician and several years of experience in enforcement and/or building construction or a related field.

Certification requirements

  • No certification requirements

Post-secondary programs in B.C.

No post-secondary education required

No post-secondary education required. You can work in this career without post-secondary education. Some on the job training may be provided. With additional training or experience, you may be able to progress into higher level, supervisory or management positions.

Beneficial post-secondary programs (not required)

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