HCC §4-4-33

Repeated failure to control a dangerous dog and its penalties

Read the official text at hawaiicounty.gov ↗

This section makes it a crime for a dog owner to repeatedly fail to control a dangerous dog. If the owner was convicted of a similar violation within the past five years involving the same dog, and the dog then attacks without provocation causing serious injury or death to an animal or bodily injury to a person, the owner faces penalties. The penalties include fines, jail, probation, restitution, or having the dog destroyed.

The ordinance, as written (Hawaiʻi County) — Habitual negligent failure to control a dangerous dog;

A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by Hawaiʻi County is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.

penalties. (a) A dog owner commits the offense of habitual negligent failure to control a dangerous dog, if the person was convicted of a violation of section 4-4-32 within five years prior to the present incident, the prior violation involved the same dog, and the dog owner negligently failed to take reasonable measures to prevent the dog from attacking, without provocation, a person or animal and such attack results in: (1) The maiming or causing of serious injury to or the destruction of an animal; or (2) Bodily injury to a person. (b) A person convicted under this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and sentenced to one or both of the following procedures, terms and conditions provided in chapter 706, part II, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes: (1) A fine of not less than $200 nor more than $2,000; (2) A period of imprisonment of up to one year, or in lieu of imprisonment, a period of probation of not more than one year in accordance with the procedures, terms and conditions provided in chapter 706, part II, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes; (3) Restitution to any individual who has suffered bodily injury or property damage as a result of an attack by the dog; or (4) The dog shall be humanely destroyed. (2022, ord 22-36, sec 10; am 2022, ord 22-36, sec 10.)

Read the official text at hawaiicounty.gov ↗as published Jul 16, 2026our copy taken Aug 21, 2026

Published by the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the County Clerk.

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.