Te kaupapa kurī me te ture ā-rohe| Dog Control Bylaw and Dog policy

At the 25 September Council meeting elected members voted in favour of the adoption of the revised Dog Control Bylaw and Dog Policy.

Council received 483 submissions from the community with 72% of submitters supporting the proposed changes.

The changes to the Bylaw and Policy will come into effect from 9 October 2024 and all dog owners will be notified via email, text or posted letter.

You can view the report that went to Council here – Dog Control Bylaw 2005 and Dog Policy Deliberations Report

To view the meeting recording go to - this link on Council’s YouTube channel

You can read the updated Dog Control Bylaw via this link - Dog Control Bylaw and also the updated Dog Policy

Thank you for taking part in this consultation.



Consultation closed 17 September 2024. 

Rotorua Lakes Council is currently reviewing its Dog Policy and Dog Control Bylaw and we would like to thank you for your feedback on the proposed changes.

We offered a range of options so you can provide feedback in a way that’s easiest for you:

  • Fill out a survey: You can provide your feedback on the online survey form.
  • Write to us: Send your feedback to Rotorua Lakes Council, 1061 Haupapa Street attention Dog Control Bylaw and Policy.
  • Phone us: Call us on 07 348 4199 between 8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.
  • Talk to us: Come and make a short verbal presentation to us. Call 07 348 4199 to arrange to come into the Council building and we will record your feedback.
  • Connect on Facebook: engage with us on Facebook @rotorualakescouncil and leave your feedback. Please note that comments and suggestions will be considered, discussed and form part of decision-making but receipt of feedback provided via social media cannot be acknowledged.

Council is required under the Dog Control Act to have a related Policy and Bylaw. To help keep our community safe, the Bylaw and Policy work together setting out rules in relation to the control and welfare of dogs, and give council authority to enforce those rules.

Council is proposing to make minor changes that improve clarity and ensure both the Policy and Bylaw align with national legislation. In addition, two further clauses are proposed in relation to DNA testing and desexing of offending dogs. The clauses are outlined below:

  • The ability for council to extract DNA profiles either through saliva or hair from impounded dogs to add to the dog DNA databank. Through the DNA banking database, council would be able to accurately identify dogs that have caused harm and prosecute their owners or disprove their involvement.
  • The ability for council to enforce the desexing of dogs where council has a record of the dog being out of control on any previous occasion within the previous 12-month period.

Click the link below to read more about the proposed changes.

Statement of proposal -Dog Bylaw and Dog Policy - PDF

Feedback closes on 17 September 2024.

At the 25 September Council meeting elected members voted in favour of the adoption of the revised Dog Control Bylaw and Dog Policy.

Council received 483 submissions from the community with 72% of submitters supporting the proposed changes.

The changes to the Bylaw and Policy will come into effect from 9 October 2024 and all dog owners will be notified via email, text or posted letter.

You can view the report that went to Council here – Dog Control Bylaw 2005 and Dog Policy Deliberations Report

To view the meeting recording go to - this link on Council’s YouTube channel

You can read the updated Dog Control Bylaw via this link - Dog Control Bylaw and also the updated Dog Policy

Thank you for taking part in this consultation.



Consultation closed 17 September 2024. 

Rotorua Lakes Council is currently reviewing its Dog Policy and Dog Control Bylaw and we would like to thank you for your feedback on the proposed changes.

We offered a range of options so you can provide feedback in a way that’s easiest for you:

  • Fill out a survey: You can provide your feedback on the online survey form.
  • Write to us: Send your feedback to Rotorua Lakes Council, 1061 Haupapa Street attention Dog Control Bylaw and Policy.
  • Phone us: Call us on 07 348 4199 between 8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.
  • Talk to us: Come and make a short verbal presentation to us. Call 07 348 4199 to arrange to come into the Council building and we will record your feedback.
  • Connect on Facebook: engage with us on Facebook @rotorualakescouncil and leave your feedback. Please note that comments and suggestions will be considered, discussed and form part of decision-making but receipt of feedback provided via social media cannot be acknowledged.

Council is required under the Dog Control Act to have a related Policy and Bylaw. To help keep our community safe, the Bylaw and Policy work together setting out rules in relation to the control and welfare of dogs, and give council authority to enforce those rules.

Council is proposing to make minor changes that improve clarity and ensure both the Policy and Bylaw align with national legislation. In addition, two further clauses are proposed in relation to DNA testing and desexing of offending dogs. The clauses are outlined below:

  • The ability for council to extract DNA profiles either through saliva or hair from impounded dogs to add to the dog DNA databank. Through the DNA banking database, council would be able to accurately identify dogs that have caused harm and prosecute their owners or disprove their involvement.
  • The ability for council to enforce the desexing of dogs where council has a record of the dog being out of control on any previous occasion within the previous 12-month period.

Click the link below to read more about the proposed changes.

Statement of proposal -Dog Bylaw and Dog Policy - PDF

Feedback closes on 17 September 2024.