Dog Control Orders

Dog Control Orders and Dog Fouling Requirements

Dog Control Orders are in place across the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough to help manage the use of public spaces and ensure that dogs are kept under control.

The Orders set out specific requirements in different areas. These include locations:

• where dogs are excluded,
• areas where dogs must be kept on a lead, and
• circumstances where a dog must be placed on a lead when directed to do so by an Enforcement Officer.

A Borough wide Order also applies to dog fouling. Anyone responsible for a dog must remove its fouling and dispose of it appropriately.

Full details of the Dog Control Orders, including the locations covered and the restrictions that apply, are available in the drop-down menu's below. 

Signage and Online Maps

The Council is introducing colour-coded signage at relevant Council sites to help dog owners and other members of the public understand the requirements that apply in each area.

Signage is being installed on a phased basis and, as a result, may not yet be in place at every location. However, the absence of signage does not remove or suspend the requirements of a Dog Control Order. Dog owners and anyone responsible for a dog are still required to comply with the restrictions that apply at each location.

The Council's interactive map provides information on the areas covered by the Orders and the restrictions that apply. Dog walkers are encouraged to check the maps before visiting an area and to familiarise themselves with the relevant requirements.

Dog owners and anyone responsible for a dog should ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Dog Control Orders, take account of any signage in place, and follow any direction given by an authorised Enforcement Officer.

Dog Control Map

Enforcement

Failure to comply with a Dog Control Order may result in enforcement action. A Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 may be issued for an offence. Alternatively, the matter may be referred for prosecution, where the maximum fine is currently £1,000.

Dog owners and anyone responsible for a dog are encouraged to check the applicable restrictions before visiting Council-managed areas and to ensure that their dogs are kept under proper control at all times.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Dog Control Orders: