Kelowna rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Kelowna?
Short answer
Report a dog attack in Kelowna to regional Dog Control at 250-469-6284 or use its online complaint form. The regional district has a separate after-hours emergency line.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | An animal control officer determines whether a dog has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal under section 49 of the Community Charter.REGIONAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL OKANAGAN, Part 1, definition of Dangerous Dog · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wordingDangerous Dog means any dog that has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal as determined by an Animal Control Officer in accordance with section 49 of the Community Charter and its amendments. |
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| Rules for owners | Outside the home or a closed vehicle, use a securely held leash and fastened muzzle, or a locked enclosure inaccessible to children and the public. Post warning signs at the front and back of the property and provide proof of microchipping to the regional district. Park and sports-field exclusions also apply.REGIONAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL OKANAGAN, Sections 37 and 39–41 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wording37. No Owner shall allow a Dangerous Dog or an Aggressive Dog into any sports field, playground, public beach, swimming area, park, off-leash park, or school grounds at any time. 39. When a Dangerous Dog is outside its Owner’s House or Dwelling Unit and not kept within a closed vehicle, the Owner shall: (1) keep the Dangerous Dog controlled on a leash securely held and a muzzle tightly fastened; or (2) keep the Dangerous Dog within a locked Enclosure incapable of being accessed by the public or children and in accordance with Schedule ‘C’. 40. An Owner of a Dangerous Dog shall post a sign visible to the public at the front and back of his or her property warning that a Dangerous Dog resides on the property in accordance with Schedule ‘F’ of this Bylaw. 41. An Owner of a Dangerous Dog shall obtain a microchip and provide the Regional |
| Licence fee | An aggressive dog costs $100 if altered or $150 if unaltered. A dangerous dog costs $500 regardless of alteration. No early discount applies.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule B(d), annual licence fees by designation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wording(d) Licensing for Nuisance, Aggressive, and Dangerous Dogs Bylaw 1394 (no early discounted rate applies) Altered Unaltered Nuisance Dog $ 40 $ 80 Aggressive Dog $100 $150 Dangerous Dog $500 $500 |
| How to report | Report attacks to regional Dog Control at 250-469-6284 or online. For an attack in progress after hours call 604-815-6006 or 1-888-670-2417.Dog complaints, General complaints / After-hours emergencies · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wordingFor general complaints, including dog attacks, dogs at large or off-leash dogs, please call Dog Control at 250-469-6284 or submit a service request. Our after-hours emergency line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Use this number outside of regular hours if you find: * A seriously injured stray dog * A dog that is attacking other dogs or people Emergency (after-hours): 604-815-6006 Toll-free: 1-888-670-2417 |
| Fine | On a regional municipal ticket, failure to control or enclose a dangerous dog is $1,000, compared with $300 for an aggressive dog. Missing mandatory dangerous-dog signage or microchipping is $300.Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Responsible Dog Ownership schedule, sections 35–41 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wording34 150.00 a fence Aggressive Dog 35 300.00 Dangerous Dog 36 1,000.00 Dog in prohibited area, dangerous dog 37 1,000.00 Dog in prohibited area, aggressive dog 37 300.00 Fail to control/enclose dangerous dog 39, 39.1, 39.2 1,000.00 Fail to control/enclose aggressive dog 38, 38.1, 38.2 300.00 Fail to post signage, or microchip – dangerous dog 40 & 41 300.00 |
| Bylaw | Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343.REGIONAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL OKANAGAN, PDF p. 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wordingRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP BYLAW NO. 1343 |
How it works
Describe what the dog did and where it happened. Details such as pursuit, a bite, an injury or the presence of another animal help an officer distinguish the incident you saw from a description of the dog's temperament. For an attack in progress after hours call 604-815-6006 or 1-888-670-2417.
Steps
- For the local definition and reporting information, consult Dog complaints. Write down the location, time and sequence of events. Identify what you saw yourself and how an officer can reach any witnesses.
- Use the reporting information below or the animal-control contact in the linked rules. If you receive a designation, read the conditions before taking the dog into a public place.
Good to know
- Outside the home or a closed vehicle, use a securely held leash and fastened muzzle, or a locked enclosure inaccessible to children and the public. Post warning signs at the front and back of the property and provide proof of microchipping to the regional district. Park and sports-field exclusions also apply.
- An aggressive dog costs $100 if altered or $150 if unaltered. A dangerous dog costs $500 regardless of alteration. No early discount applies.
- On a regional municipal ticket, failure to control or enclose a dangerous dog is $1,000, compared with $300 for an aggressive dog. Missing mandatory dangerous-dog signage or microchipping is $300.
- An animal control officer determines whether a dog has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal under section 49 of the Community Charter.
- Read the applicable provisions in Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (PDF) and Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (PDF).
The same question in other places
West Kelowna · Lake Country · Peachland · Coldstream · Vernon · Summerland
Sources
- Dog complaints (read 2026-11-09)
- REGIONAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL OKANAGAN (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
- Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
- Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
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.