Coldstream rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
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.
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.RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated), s. 5 definitions, s. 56 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinghas 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. |
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| 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.RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated), s. 29, 30, 31, 32, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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; |
| Licence fee | None set. The bylaw's schedule has one annual licence fee and no separate fee for aggressive or dangerous dogs.Read: RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) |
| 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.Dog Control, Regional District of North Okanagan, Submit a Dog Complaint; Contact(s) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingReport 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. |
| 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.RDNO Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 2908, Schedule E (Bylaw 2908); RDNO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2909, Appendix 4 (Bylaw 2909) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFailure 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. 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 |
| Bylaw | Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw shall be cited as “Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021” |
How it works
Under the RDNO Dog Control Bylaw 2881, 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
- 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.
- Report animal cruelty to the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722. In an emergency call 9-1-1.
- 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.
- 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
The same question in other places
Vernon · Lumby · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Kelowna
Sources
- RDNO Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Control, Regional District of North Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
- RDNO Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 2908 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- RDNO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2909 (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. How answers are checked.