{"title":"Vernon rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"regional","owner_label":"Regional district","owner_body":{"name":"Regional District of North Okanagan","url":"https://www.rdno.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Vernon, aggressive and dangerous dogs are regulated by the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881. Such a dog must be in a secure fence or enclosure at home and muzzled on a leash of 1 metre or less in public. Report a dog at 250-541-3647.","aliases":["dangerous dog bylaw vernon","aggressive dog vernon","dog bite vernon","vicious dog vernon","dog attack vernon"],"cost":"Bylaw notice: no dangerous-dog sign $500; aggressive dog unsecured, unmuzzled or in a prohibited area $300 ($240 if paid within 14 days); dog bites a person $500 ($400 early). Municipal ticket: sign $500; each aggressive-dog offence $300; bite $500. Repeat and nuisance dogs pay double. No separate licence fee is listed.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"RDNO Dog Control (DOGS)","value":"250-541-3647"},{"type":"email","label":"RDNO Dog Control","value":"dogbylaw@rdno.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"Dog complaint form","value":"https://www.rdno.ca/dog-control/file-dog-complaint"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881 (PDF)","url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf"},{"title":"Dog Control, RDNO","url":"https://www.rdno.ca/dogcontrol"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Vernon dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Vernon dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dog-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/spallumcheen","name":"Spallumcheen","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lumby","name":"Lumby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/enderby","name":"Enderby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/dangerous-dogs/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs/"},"facts":{"how_declared":{"label":"How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive","value":"Aggressive: chases or approaches people menacingly, or has attacked, bitten or injured (or tried to) a person or domestic animal, or was designated aggressive by an officer, the BC SPCA, RCMP, a vet or a court. Dangerous: has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal. Animal Control Officers decide.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf","title":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) (PDF), Regional District of North Okanagan","section":"s. 5 (definitions), 56","quotes":["has attacked, bitten, or caused injury to, or attempted to attack, bite, or cause Injury to, a person or Domestic Animal, as determined by an Animal Control Officer;","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 animal as determined by an Animal Control Officer","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":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Dangerous dog: owner must post a warning sign. Aggressive or dangerous dog: in a secure fence or enclosure when outside the dwelling; in public (not in a closed vehicle) on a leash of 1 m at most and muzzled; never in sports fields, playgrounds, beaches, parkland, dog parks or school grounds.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf","title":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) (PDF), Regional District of North Okanagan","section":"s. 29-32, Schedule B","quotes":["An Owner of a Dangerous Dog shall post signage visible to the public","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":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":null,"status":"none","note":"The regional dog control bylaw lists no separate licence fee for these dogs.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf","title":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) (PDF), Regional District of North Okanagan"}]},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Submit an online dog complaint to RDNO Dog Control, or call 250-541-3647 (DOGS); email dogbylaw@rdno.ca. RDNO Dog Control Officers handle aggressive dog investigations.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/dogcontrol","title":"Dog Control, Regional District of North Okanagan","section":"Submit a Dog Complaint","quotes":["Report barking, off-leash, aggressive dog, dogs at large, lost or found dogs.","off-leash infractions, and aggressive dog investigations","Dog Control dogbylaw@rdno.ca 250-541-3647 (DOGS)"]},{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/dog-control/file-dog-complaint","title":"Submit a Dog Complaint, Regional District of North Okanagan","section":"File a dog complaint","quotes":["To report a Dog Control Bylaw concern, please submit an online report."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: no dangerous-dog sign $500; unsecured, unmuzzled or prohibited-area aggressive dog $300 ($240 if paid within 14 days); dog bites a person $500 ($400 early). Municipal ticket: sign $500; each aggressive-dog offence $300; bite $500. Repeat and nuisance dogs pay double.","short":"Notice $300 aggressive; $500 bite or no sign","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2909_C.pdf","title":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2909_C.pdf","section":"Schedule A, Appendix 4","quotes":["Failure to post Dangerous Dog 29 $500.00 $500.00 No","Unsecured Aggressive Dog 30 $300.00 $240.00 No","Aggressive Dog in prohibited area 32 $300.00 $240.00 No","Dog bites, inflicts injury, assaults or 21.b $500.00 $400.00 No"]},{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf","title":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) (PDF), Regional District of North Okanagan","section":"Schedule G","quotes":["Failure to post Dangerous Dog signage $500.00","Unsecured Aggressive Dog $250.00","Aggressive Dog in prohibited area $250.00","Dog bites, inflicts injury, assaults or otherwise attacks a person $500.00","Nuisance Dogs are charged double the applicable Fine"]},{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2908_C.pdf","title":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2908_C.pdf","section":"Bylaw 2908, Schedule E","quotes":["Failure to post Dangerous Dog signage 29 $500.00","Unsecured Aggressive Dog 30 $300.00","Aggressive Dog in prohibited area 32 $300.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (Regional District of North Okanagan)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf","title":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) (PDF), Regional District of North Okanagan","section":"s. 1","quotes":["Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nDog control for the City of Vernon is an RDNO service under [Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881](<https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf>). An aggressive dog chases or approaches people menacingly, has attacked, bitten or injured (or tried to) a person or domestic animal, or was designated aggressive by an officer, the BC SPCA, the RCMP, a veterinarian or a court. A dangerous dog has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal. Animal Control Officers decide.\n\n## Rules for the owner\n\n1. At home, keep an aggressive or dangerous dog in a secure fence or enclosure when it is outside the dwelling.\n2. In public, keep it on a leash of 1 metre or less and muzzled, unless it is in a closed vehicle.\n3. Never take it into sports fields, playgrounds, beaches, parkland, dog parks or school grounds.\n4. For a dangerous dog, post a warning sign. It must be at least 22.86 cm by 27.94 cm.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A released aggressive dog needs a signed Application for Release of Aggressive Dog.\n- The bylaw lists no separate licence fee for these dogs. Impound fees for aggressive dogs are $200, $500, then $1,000, plus boarding at $50 a day.\n- To report a dog, use the online complaint form, call 250-541-3647 or email dogbylaw@rdno.ca. Animal cruelty goes to the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722. In an emergency call 9-1-1.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2881_C.pdf","title":"Dog Control Bylaw No. 2881, 2021 (consolidated) (PDF), Regional District of North Okanagan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/dogcontrol","title":"Dog Control, Regional District of North Okanagan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/dog-control/file-dog-complaint","title":"Submit a Dog Complaint, Regional District of North Okanagan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2909_C.pdf","title":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2909_C.pdf","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2908_C.pdf","title":"https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2908_C.pdf","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dangerous-dogs.json"}}