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

# Osoyoos rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In Osoyoos, the Animal Control Officer can designate a dog aggressive or vicious. Owners must muzzle and leash it (leash no longer than 1.2 m) in public, keep permanent ID on it and buy a special licence: $150 for aggressive, $500 for dangerous.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Osoyoos, https://www.osoyoos.ca)  
**Cost:** Aggressive dog licence $150; dangerous dog licence $500 (no separate fee listed for vicious). Fines: bylaw notice $250 to $500; municipal ticket $250 to $1,000.  
**How long:** Permanent ID within 14 days of notice (aggressive) or 7 days (vicious).  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control, 8707 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V0 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays)
- Phone: Town Hall (Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control), 250-495-6515
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@osoyoos.ca

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** The Animal Control Officer designates a dog aggressive (aggressive behaviour or minor injury, without provocation) or vicious (repeated minor injury, serious injury, or likely to injure) and sends written notice. A dangerous dog (Community Charter s. 49) has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or is likely to seriously injure a person.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, s. 2 (definitions), 48, 53, 54](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/)
  - Official wording: "has displayed Aggressive Behaviour toward a person or domestic animal;" … "has caused a serious injury to a person or domestic animal;" … "“DANGEROUS DOG” has the same meaning as defined in the Community Charter." … "Officer shall deliver written notice of the designation to the owner of that dog." … "written representation to the" … "uphold the designation of the dog as a vicious dog;"
  - Source: [Community Charter, section 49, Province of BC, Community Charter s. 49(1)](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03)
  - Official wording: ""dangerous dog" means a dog that" … "(a) has killed or seriously injured a person," … "(c) an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive or vicious dog: muzzled and on a leash of no more than 1.2 m (not retractable) in public; never at large; kept out of off-leash areas; permanent ID and a photo given to the Town; special licence. A vicious dog also needs warning signs at every entrance and secure confinement, indoors or in a locked enclosure inside locked fencing.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, s. 49, 52](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/)
  - Official wording: "when in a public place, muzzle the dog in a manner as to prevent it from being able" … "e) post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry onto any premises where the dog is" … "securely confined indoors or confined outdoors in an enclosure located within" … "i) obtain a vicious dog licence;" … "g) obtain an aggressive dog licence;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Aggressive dog licence $150; dangerous dog licence $500. Schedule A lists no separate fee for a vicious dog licence, though s. 19 requires one.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, Schedule A s. 6, 7; s. 19](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive dogs $ 150.00" … "Dangerous dogs $ 500.00" … "aggressive dog or vicious dog licence, provided that the aggressive dog or vicious dog"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing, Dog License Fees](https://www.osoyoos.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control-licensing)
  - Official wording: "| Spayed Female or Neutered Male Dogs | $30.00 | Dangerous Dogs | $500.00 | Replacement Tag Fee | $7.50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Email bylaw@osoyoos.ca or phone Town Hall (Animal Control / Bylaw Enforcement) at 250.495.6515. The complainant must give their name, address and phone number, and their link to the issue.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement | Osoyoos | Canada's warmest welcome](https://www.osoyoos.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Submit a Bylaw concern by emailing bylaw@osoyoos.ca" … "the Town requires the complainant provide their name, address, and phone number"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Bylaw Enforcement contact, Contact](https://www.osoyoos.ca/contact-us/contact-directory/animal-control-bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Town Hall Office/Bylaw Enforcement" … "250.495.6515 Fax 250.495.2400"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: aggressive dog not muzzled or leashed $250 first offence, $500 after; dangerous dog not confined $500; no warning sign $100. Municipal ticket: aggressive $250 rising to $1,000; dangerous dog not muzzled or leashed $500 to $1,000. Schedules still cite repealed Bylaw 1316.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025, Schedule A, Animal Control](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/)
  - Official wording: "28(1)(a) Aggressive Dog not muzzled – 1st $250 $250 $260 No" … "30(4)(b) Dangerous Dog not properly confined $500 $450 $500 No" … "30(4)(d) Fail to post warning sign for $100 $80 $110 No" … "Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1316, 2016" … "Dangerous Dog not properly confined"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011, Schedule 6](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/82635/)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dog not muzzled – 1st offence 30 (4) a) $250 $250" … "Dangerous Dog not muzzled – 1st offence 30 (4) a) $500 $500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, s. 1](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/)
  - Official wording: "Animal Care and Control Bylaw No.1393, 2026."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the Town of Osoyoos's [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/), the Animal Control Officer designates a dog aggressive (aggressive behaviour or minor injury, without provocation) or vicious (repeated minor injury, serious injury, or likely to injure) and sends the owner written notice. A dangerous dog under [Community Charter section 49](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03) is one that has killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or is likely to seriously injure a person.

The owner of a vicious dog has 14 days from the notice to make written representations. The Town may uphold the designation, rescind it or change it to aggressive. An aggressive dog's owner may apply after one year to remove the designation if there were no further incidents and a training course was completed. A dog designated aggressive twice, or that shows aggression again, is deemed vicious.

## Owner rules

- In public: muzzled and on a leash of no more than 1.2 m, not retractable. Never at large, and never in off-leash areas.
- Permanent ID and a photo given to the Town; a special licence.
- A vicious dog also needs warning signs at every entrance and secure confinement, indoors or in a locked enclosure inside locked fencing. An enclosure is at least 2 m in height, width and length.
- Tell the officer within 7 days if the dog dies, moves or changes owner, and tell any new owner of the designation.

## Steps to report a dog

1. Email bylaw@osoyoos.ca or call Town Hall at 250-495-6515.
2. Give your name, address, phone number and your connection to the issue.
3. In an emergency, call 911. The RCMP non-emergency line is 250-495-7236.

## Good to know

- Bylaw notice fines: aggressive dog not muzzled or leashed $250 first offence, $500 after; dangerous dog not confined $500; no warning sign $100; dog attack or chase $500. Municipal ticket fines: aggressive $250 rising to $1,000; dangerous dog not muzzled or leashed $500 to $1,000; attack or chase $1,000. Both schedules still cite the repealed Bylaw 1316.
- A dog owner involved in a bite or attack must give contact details to the other party or report to the Animal Control Officer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/)
- [Animal Control and Licensing, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control-licensing)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Ambulance & Police | Osoyoos | Canada's warmest welcome](https://www.osoyoos.ca/services/ambulance-police) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Community Charter, section 49, Province of BC](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/82635/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control and Licensing, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control-licensing) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control and Bylaw Enforcement contact, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/contact-us/contact-directory/animal-control-bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Enforcement | Osoyoos | Canada's warmest welcome](https://www.osoyoos.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Osoyoos. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/dangerous-dogs/_