Kootenai County, ID Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- No breed rule
- County regulates individual dogs, not breeds
- Trigger
- Sheriff declaration after a bite or attack
- Enclosure size
- Minimum 5 by 10 foot locked pen
- Insurance
- Liability policy up to $500,000, county as insured
- Contest window
- 14 days to request a board hearing
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor; court may also order destruction
Summary
Kootenai County doesn't restrict dog breeds; instead it regulates individual dogs the sheriff declares "dangerous" or "at risk" after a bite or attack (Code 5.1.301). Once declared, an owner can face secure confinement, muzzling, warning signs, up to $500,000 in liability insurance, and mandatory identification under 5.1.302, with violations a misdemeanor that can end in the dog's destruction.
5.1.302: REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING OF DANGEROUS OR AT RISK DOGS: The owner of any dangerous or at risk dog shall license the dog, unless the owner is in possession of a valid kennel license, and shall maintain all vaccinations as required under the provisions of this chapter. In addition, the board or district court may order the owner of a dangerous or at risk dog to comply with any or all of the following requirements: A. The owner of a dangerous or at risk dog may be required to provide secure confinement of the dog indoors or in an enclosed and locked pen or structure located on the owner's premises. Any such pen or structure must have minimum dimensions of five feet by ten feet (5' x 10') and must have secure sides and a secure top attached to the sides... C. The owner of a dangerous or at risk dog may be required to display, in a prominent place on the owner's premises, a clearly visible warning sign stating "BEWARE OF DOG"... D. The owner of a dangerous or at risk dog may be required to provide proof to the clerk and sheriff that the owner has procured public liability insurance with a policy limit set by the board or district court, but not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Code current through: Ord. 633, passed December 23, 2025).
Full Breakdown
Kootenai County has no ordinance targeting specific breeds. 103 is any dog that, without justified provocation, has "inflicted death or serious injury on a person or domestic animal," or that was previously declared "at risk" and then bites again; an "AT RISK DOG" is one that bites without causing serious injury. 301, and the owner gets written notice within fourteen days along with the right to contest the declaration before the board. 302 then lists what the board or district court can order for a declared dog: secure indoor confinement or a locked pen at least five feet by ten feet with a secure top and sides buried two feet into the ground; a muzzle and a leash no longer than four feet whenever the dog leaves its enclosure; a clearly visible "BEWARE OF DOG" sign readable from the road plus a child-warning symbol; public liability insurance naming the county as an additional insured, up to a $500,000 policy limit; periodic sheriff inspections at a minimum $25 fee per animal; and identification, including photographs and, if ordered, an ear tattoo of the owner's last name and the last four digits of their social security number.
305). 303, the sheriff can order impoundment and destruction if the dog attacks again, or if the owner misses the fourteen day compliance window after a final declaration.
Violations & Fines
Violating any dangerous or at risk dog requirement is a misdemeanor under 5.1.306, punishable per Code 1-4-1, and a conviction lets the court also order the dog destroyed. Separately, the sheriff can order impoundment and destruction under 5.1.303 without a criminal conviction if the dog attacks again after being declared, or if the owner misses the fourteen day window to comply with 5.1.302's conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kootenai County ban pit bulls or other dog breeds?
What is required to keep a dog declared dangerous?
Can I contest a dangerous dog declaration?
What happens if a declared dangerous dog attacks again?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kootenai County
How Kootenai County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Kootenai County to another location·View the Idaho animal ordinances overview
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