Lake Country rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Lake Country?
Short answer
In Lake Country, the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) Dog Control handles aggressive and dangerous dogs. An Animal Control Officer decides how a dog is classed. Report a dog at 250-469-6284. Owners face strict rules on leashing, enclosures, signs and higher fees.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | An Animal Control Officer decides. Aggressive: a dog that has attacked, bitten, injured or tried to attack, bite or injure a person or domestic animal. Dangerous: a dog that has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal. Nuisance: at large or impounded 3 times in 12 months, or repeatedly charging a fence.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 6, 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAggressive dog means any dog that has attacked, bitten, or caused injury or attempted Dangerous Dog means any dog that has seriously injured or killed a person or The Animal Control Officer may determine whether a dog is “dangerous” or Nuisance Dog means any dog that has been At Large or impounded three times in the |
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| Rules for owners | Aggressive dog outside the home: on a securely held leash or in a fenced yard to Schedule C. Dangerous dog: leash and tightly fastened muzzle, or a locked enclosure; warning signs at front and back of the property; microchip within 15 days of the declaration. Both banned from parks, beaches, playgrounds, sports fields and school grounds.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 37-41 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingkeep the Aggressive Dog controlled on a leash securely held; or keep the Dangerous Dog controlled on a leash securely held and a muzzle tightly shall post a sign visible to the public at the front and be implanted within 15 days of Declaration |
| Licence fee | Aggressive dog $100 (spayed or neutered) or $150 (not). Dangerous dog $500. Nuisance dog $40 or $80. No early discount applies.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule B (d); Dog Licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Nuisance, aggressive and dangerous dog licence fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingLicensing for Nuisance, Aggressive, and Dangerous Dogs Aggressive Dog $100 $150 Dangerous Dog $500 $500 Nuisance dogs (spayed/neutered) $40 Nuisance dogs (not spayed/neutered) $80 Aggressive dogs (spayed/neutered) $100 Aggressive dogs (not spayed/neutered) $150 Dangerous dogs $100 Aggressive dogs (not spayed/neutered) $150 Dangerous dogs $500 Definitions: - Nuisance dogs: Any dog that has been at large or impounded three times in the last 12 months or whose owner has been issued a Bylaw Offence Notice or Municipal Ticket three times in the last 12 months, or a dog that is menacing by repeatedly charging or lunging at a fence. |
| How to report | Call RDCO Dog Control at 250-469-6284 or submit a service request. After hours, for a dog attacking people or other dogs: 604-815-6006 (24 hours).Dog Complaints, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Dog complaints page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFor general complaints, including dog attacks, dogs at large or off-leash dogs, please call Dog Control at 250-469-6284 Emergency (after-hours): 604-815-6006 A dog that is attacking other dogs or people |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: aggressive dog $300; dangerous dog $1,000; dangerous dog in prohibited area $1,000 (aggressive $300); failing to control or enclose a dangerous dog $1,000 (aggressive $300); no signs or microchip for a dangerous dog $300. Bylaw notice lists $300 for the aggressive-dog and sign/microchip rows. RDCO says these are not in adjudication.Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule B, Appendix 1; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule A, Appendix 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAggressive Dog 35 300.00 Dangerous Dog 36 1,000.00 Fail to control/enclose dangerous dog 39, 39.1, 39.2 1,000.00 Fail to post signage, or microchip – dangerous dog 40 & 41 300.00 Dog in prohibited area, 37 300.00 25.00 25.00 Y aggressive Fail to control/enclose 38, 38.1, 300.00 25.00 25.00 Y aggressive dog 38.2 Fail to post signage or 40 & 41 300.00 25.00 25.00 Y microchip dangerous dog |
| Bylaw | Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (RDCO Dog Control covers Lake Country).Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 2 (citation); Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Preamble · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingResponsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 District of Lake Country |
How it works
The RDCO enforces its Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw 1343 in Lake Country. An Animal Control Officer decides a dog's class. Aggressive means a dog that has attacked, bitten or injured, or tried to attack, bite or injure, a person or domestic animal. Dangerous means a dog that has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal. Nuisance means a dog at large or impounded 3 times in 12 months, or one that repeatedly charges a fence.
Steps
- To report a dog, call RDCO Dog Control at 250-469-6284 or submit a service request on the RDCO website.
- After hours, for a dog attacking people or other dogs, call 604-815-6006 (24 hours). For an emergency call 9-1-1.
- If your dog is classed aggressive, keep it on a securely held leash or in a fenced yard that meets Schedule C when outside the home.
- If your dog is classed dangerous, keep it on a leash with a tightly fastened muzzle, or in a locked enclosure. Post warning signs at the front and back of the property, and microchip the dog within 15 days of the declaration.
Good to know
- Aggressive and dangerous dogs are banned from parks, beaches, playgrounds, sports fields and school grounds.
- A dangerous dog's enclosure must be at least 1.83 m high, 1.22 m wide and 2.44 m long (Schedule C).
- Municipal ticket amounts: aggressive dog $300; dangerous dog $1,000. Failing to control or enclose a dangerous dog is $1,000 (aggressive $300). No signs or microchip for a dangerous dog is $300.
- RDCO says aggressive and dangerous dog incidents are not in the adjudication program.
- Bear and wildlife reports go to the Conservation Officer Service, 1-877-952-7277.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kelowna · Vernon · Coldstream · West Kelowna · Lumby · Peachland
Sources
- Burning Permit | District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
- Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Complaints, Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
- Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
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.