#2026/124Northern Ireland updates dangerous dog exemption rules
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This order removes the need for owners of exempted dangerous dogs in Northern Ireland to hold third-party liability insurance. From 1 July 2026, the insurance condition is dropped from the older dangerous dog exemption scheme and from the 2024 scheme. From 1 November 2026, exemption certificate holders must make sure the dog does not come into close contact with a child under 12 in a private place unless either the dog or the child is supervised by someone over 18. Owners should update their compliance checks and councils should adjust exemption certificate conditions and enforcement guidance.
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Key Changes
- Removes the third-party liability insurance requirement for exempted dangerous dogs
- Repeals the insurance provisions in the 1991 and 2024 exemption schemes
- Adds a new supervision rule for close contact between exempted dogs and children under 12 in private places
Obligations
What this law requires
From 1 November 2026, holders of exemption certificates must ensure that an exempted dangerous dog does not come into close contact with a child under 12 in any private place unless either the dog or the child is supervised by a person over 18.
From 1 July 2026, district councils must no longer require exemption certificate holders under the 1991 scheme to satisfy the council that compliant third-party insurance remains in force.
From 1 July 2026, officers and district councils must no longer require exemption certificate holders under the 2024 scheme to prove or produce confirmation that compliant third-party insurance is in force.
From 1 November 2026, district councils must include the new child-contact supervision condition in exemption certificate requirements under the amended 1991 and 2024 schemes.