---
title: Coldstream rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Coldstream?"
place: Coldstream, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/coldstream
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: regional
owner_body: Regional District of North Okanagan
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Coldstream rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Coldstream, the RDNO Dog Control Bylaw covers aggressive and dangerous dogs. An Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is aggressive or dangerous. Outside the home these dogs must be secured, and in public they must be on a leash of 1 metre or less and muzzled. Report to RDNO Dog Control at 250-541-3647.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Regional District of North Okanagan, https://www.rdno.ca)  
**Cost:** No separate licence fee for aggressive or dangerous dogs found (one $25 licence fee). Impound fees for aggressive dogs are $200, $500, then $1,000. Tickets (municipal ticket / bylaw notice): see Good to know.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: RDNO Dog Control, 250-541-3647
- Email: RDNO Dog Control, dogbylaw@rdno.ca
- Online: RDNO Dog Control (online complaint form), https://www.rdno.ca/dog-control
- Phone: BC SPCA (animal cruelty), 1-855-622-7722

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer decides. An aggressive dog is one with a known tendency to chase or menace people, has attacked or bitten (or tried to) a person or animal, or has been designated aggressive by the officer, BC SPCA, RCMP, a veterinarian, another local government or a court. A dangerous dog has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal.
  - Source: [RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated), s. 5 definitions, s. 56](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "has attacked, bitten, or caused injury to, or attempted to attack, bite, or cause Injury to, a" … "has been designated or found to be an Aggressive Dog by an Animal Control Officer, the BC SPCA, the RCMP," … "means any Dog that has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic" … "The Animal Control Officer may determine whether a Dog is a Nuisance Dog, Aggressive Dog, or Dangerous Dog for the purposes of the Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Outside the home the dog must be kept in a secure fence or enclosure. In a public place it must be on a leash of 1 metre at most and muzzled. It is banned from sports fields, playgrounds, beaches, parkland, off-leash parks and school grounds. Owners of dangerous dogs must post signs on all sides of the property next to a public place.
  - Source: [RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated), s. 29, 30, 31, 32, Schedule B](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the Aggressive Dog or Dangerous Dog must be kept within a secure Fence or Enclosure." … "wearing a Muzzle securely fastened." … "No Owner shall allow an Aggressive Dog or a Dangerous Dog into any sports field, playground, public beach, swimming area, Parkland, off-Leash Dog Park, or school grounds at any time." … "posted on all sides of the property adjacent to a Public Place;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** None set. The bylaw's schedule has one annual licence fee and no separate fee for aggressive or dangerous dogs.
- **How to report:** Report an aggressive dog or bite to RDNO Dog Control through its online complaint form, by email at dogbylaw@rdno.ca or by phone at 250-541-3647 (DOGS). Animal cruelty concerns go to the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722; in an emergency call 9-1-1.
  - Source: [Dog Control, Regional District of North Okanagan, Submit a Dog Complaint; Contact(s)](https://www.rdno.ca/dog-control)
  - Official wording: "Report barking, off-leash, aggressive dog, dogs at large, lost or found dogs." … "dogbylaw@rdno.ca 250-541-3647 (DOGS)" … "must be directed to the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722. In an emergency situation, call 9-1-1."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket / bylaw notice (early payment): no dangerous-dog sign $500 / $500 (no discount); unsecured aggressive dog $300 / $300 ($240); aggressive dog not muzzled and leashed, or in a prohibited place $300 / $300 ($240); dog bites a person $500 / $500 ($400); attacks another animal $200 / $200 ($160). Nuisance dogs and repeat offences are charged double.
  - Source: [RDNO Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 2908, Schedule E (Bylaw 2908)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2908_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Failure to post Dangerous Dog signage 29 $500.00" … "Unsecured Aggressive Dog 30 $300.00" … "Dog bites, inflicts injury, assaults or otherwise 21.b $500.00" … "21.d $200.00 assaults or otherwise attacks any other animal" … "Nuisance Dogs are charged double the applicable Fine."
  - Source: [RDNO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2909, Appendix 4 (Bylaw 2909)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2909_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unsecured Aggressive Dog 30 $300.00 $240.00 No" … "Aggressive Dog in prohibited area 32 $300.00 $240.00 No" … "Failure to post Dangerous Dog" … "Nuisance Dogs are charged double the applicable Penalty." … "Failure to post Dangerous Dog 29 $500.00 $500.00 No signage" … "Dog bites, inflicts injury, assaults or 21.b $500.00 $400.00 No otherwise attacks a person"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021
  - Source: [RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated), s. 1](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as “Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [RDNO Dog Control Bylaw 2881](<https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf>), an Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is aggressive or dangerous.

- **Aggressive:** the dog has a known tendency to chase or menace people, has attacked or bitten (or tried to) a person or animal, or has been designated aggressive by the officer, the BC SPCA, the RCMP, a veterinarian, another local government or a court.
- **Dangerous:** the dog has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal.

## Steps

1. Report an aggressive dog or a bite to RDNO Dog Control through its online complaint form, by email at dogbylaw@rdno.ca or by phone at 250-541-3647.
2. Report animal cruelty to the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722. In an emergency call 9-1-1.
3. If you own a dog that has been designated, keep it in a secure fence or enclosure outside the home. In a public place keep it on a leash of 1 metre or less and muzzled.
4. To get an impounded aggressive dog back, hand in a signed Application for Release of Aggressive Dog.

## Good to know

- These dogs are banned from sports fields, playgrounds, beaches, parkland, off-leash parks and school grounds.
- Owners of dangerous dogs must post signs on all sides of the property next to a public place.
- Impound fees for aggressive dogs are $200, $500, then $1,000. The bylaw's schedule lists one annual licence fee and no separate fee for aggressive or dangerous dogs.
- Tickets, as municipal ticket / bylaw notice (early payment): no dangerous-dog sign $500 / $500 (no discount); unsecured aggressive dog $300 / $300 ($240); aggressive dog not muzzled and leashed, or in a prohibited place $300 / $300 ($240); dog bites a person $500 / $500 ($400); attacks another animal $200 / $200 ($160).
- Nuisance dogs and repeat offences are charged double.

## Official forms and pages

- [RDNO Dog Control page](https://www.rdno.ca/dog-control)
- [RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Dog Control, Regional District of North Okanagan](https://www.rdno.ca/dog-control) (read 2026-11-06)
- [RDNO Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 2908 (PDF)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2908_C.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [RDNO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2909 (PDF)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2909_C.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Regional District of North Okanagan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/dangerous-dogs/_