---
title: West Kelowna rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?"
place: West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/west-kelowna
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: regional
owner_body: Regional District of Central Okanagan
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# West Kelowna rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** In West Kelowna, the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) decides whether a dog is nuisance, aggressive or dangerous under Bylaw No. 1343. Aggressive dogs must be on a held leash or in a fenced yard; dangerous dogs must be muzzled and leashed or locked up. Report attacks to RDCO Dog Control at 250-469-6284.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Regional District of Central Okanagan, https://www.rdco.com)  
**Cost:** Licence: aggressive dog $100 a year if spayed or neutered, $150 if not; dangerous dog $500; nuisance dog $40 or $80. No early-payment discount applies. Municipal tickets: aggressive dog $300; dangerous dog $1,000.  
**How long:** An aggressive dog declaration ends after 36 months with no further convictions under s. 35; a nuisance dog declaration after 12 months.  
**Where:**
- Phone: RDCO Dog Control, 250-469-6284
- Phone: RDCO after-hours line (24/7, for a seriously injured stray or a dog attacking people or dogs), 604-815-6006
- Phone: Emergency, 9-1-1

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** An Animal Control Officer decides. Aggressive: a dog that has attacked, bitten, caused injury, or tried to, a person or domestic animal. Dangerous: a dog that has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal (Community Charter s. 49). Nuisance: at large or impounded 3 times, or 3 tickets, in 12 months.
  - Source: [RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), ss. 6, 9](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Animal Control Officer may determine whether a dog is “dangerous” or" … "Aggressive 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" … "Nuisance Dog means any dog that has been At Large or impounded three times in the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Aggressive dog outside the home: on a securely held leash, or in a fenced yard. Dangerous dog outside the home: on a leash with a muzzle tightly fastened, or in a locked enclosure. Dangerous dogs also need warning signs at the front and back of the property and a microchip within 15 days of declaration. Neither may enter parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds or beaches.
  - Source: [RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), ss. 37-41](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Owner shall allow a Dangerous Dog or an Aggressive Dog into any sports field," … "keep the Aggressive Dog controlled on a leash securely held; or" … "keep the Dangerous Dog controlled on a leash securely held and a muzzle tightly" … "An Owner of a Dangerous Dog shall post a sign visible to the public at the front and" … "be implanted within 15 days of Declaration"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Aggressive dog: $100 a year if spayed/neutered, $150 if not. Dangerous dog: $500. (Nuisance dog: $40 or $80.) No early-payment discount applies.
  - Source: [RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), Schedule B (d)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(d) Licensing for Nuisance, Aggressive, and Dangerous Dogs" … "Aggressive Dog $100 $150" … "Dangerous Dog $500 $500"
  - Source: [Dog licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Fee categories](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive dogs (spayed/neutered) $100" … "Aggressive dogs (not spayed/neutered) $150" … "Dangerous dogs $500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call RDCO Dog Control at 250-469-6284 or submit a service request online. After hours (24/7), for a seriously injured stray or a dog attacking people or dogs, call 604-815-6006. West Kelowna's Bylaw Compliance page sends dog matters to the RDCO.
  - Source: [Dog complaints, Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-complaints/)
  - Official wording: "For 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." … "Emergency (after-hours): 604-815-6006" … "A dog that is attacking other dogs or people"
  - Source: [Bylaw Compliance, Dogs](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-services/bylaw-compliance/)
  - Official wording: "Call 250-469-6284 for Regional District of Central Okanagan Dog Control."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal tickets: aggressive dog $300; dangerous dog $1,000; dangerous dog in a prohibited area $1,000 (aggressive $300); failing to control or enclose a dangerous dog $1,000 (aggressive $300); no sign or microchip on a dangerous dog $300.
  - Source: [RDCO Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated), Bylaw 1537, Schedule B, Appendix 1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/fknipfoc/bl1537-ticket-information-and-utilization-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive 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"
  - Source: [Bylaw enforcement, Regional District of Central Okanagan, RDCO bylaw enforcement page](https://www.rdco.com/your-government/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "All RDCO bylaws are included in the Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program except those involving Aggressive and Dangerous Dog incidents"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014
  - Source: [RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), s. 2](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In West Kelowna an RDCO Animal Control Officer decides, case by case, under the [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf). City staff do not make these decisions.

- **Nuisance dog:** at large or impounded 3 times, or 3 tickets, in 12 months.
- **Aggressive dog:** has attacked, bitten, caused injury, or tried to, a person or domestic animal.
- **Dangerous dog:** has seriously injured or killed a person or domestic animal (Community Charter s. 49).

## Steps

1. If there is an attack, get safe and call 9-1-1 if anyone is hurt or in danger.
2. Report it to RDCO Dog Control at 250-469-6284, or submit a service request online.
3. After hours, for a seriously injured stray or a dog attacking people or dogs, call 604-815-6006.

## Good to know

- Aggressive dog outside the home: on a securely held leash, or in a fenced yard.
- Dangerous dog outside the home: on a leash with a muzzle tightly fastened, or in a locked enclosure. It also needs warning signs at the front and back of the property and a microchip within 15 days of the declaration.
- Neither may enter parks, playgrounds, sports fields, school grounds or beaches.
- The RDCO may seize a dangerous dog for up to 21 days.
- Municipal tickets: aggressive dog $300; dangerous dog $1,000; no sign or microchip on a dangerous dog $300. The bylaw also sets a court penalty of $50 to $2,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf)

## Related questions

- [West Kelowna dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [West Kelowna dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog complaints, Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-complaints/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw enforcement, Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://www.rdco.com/your-government/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [RDCO Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/fknipfoc/bl1537-ticket-information-and-utilization-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Compliance, City of West Kelowna](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-services/bylaw-compliance/) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 Regional District of Central Okanagan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dangerous-dogs/_