How many dogs or cats you can keep in Colwood
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
In Colwood, the Animal Control Bylaw limits dogs and cats to four in total per dwelling unit, but its wording is inconsistent: it bars "four or more" dogs or cats and also any combination "greater than four". Ask Bylaw Services how it is applied. The fine is $100.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | Bylaw s. 6.2 says no one may keep four or more dogs per dwelling unit on any parcel in the City (so three at most). It also bars any dog and cat combination greater than four, while the fine schedule says 'more than 4'. The wording is inconsistent; confirm with Bylaw Services.Sources differ: Bylaw s. 6.2 prohibits 'four (4) or more Dogs' and also 'any combination ... greater than four (4)'; Schedule B and the BNE/MTI schedules say 'more than 4'. A dog or cat is an animal over four months old.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 6.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person may Keep four (4) or more Dogs, four (4) or more Cats or any combination of Dogs or Cats greater than four (4) per dwelling unit at any one time on any parcel of land in the Keeping more than 4 Dogs/Cats |
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| Cats allowed | Same rule as dogs: no one may keep four or more cats per dwelling unit (s. 6.2), though the fine schedule reads 'more than 4 Dogs/Cats'.Sources differ: Cat means a cat over four months old (s. 3.0). See dog_limit note on the inconsistent wording.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 6.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person may Keep four (4) or more Dogs, four (4) or more Cats or any combination of Dogs |
| Other animal limits | Dogs and cats combined: no more than four per dwelling unit (s. 6.2). Pigeons: no more than 25 pairs or 50 in total per parcel (s. 11.1). Chickens: up to four, only on lots of 550 m² to under 4,000 m² with a detached one-family dwelling (Land Use Bylaw 2.1.19). Farm animals only as part of a farm operation allowed by the Land Use Bylaw (s. 12.1).Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 6.2, 11.1, 12.1; Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.19(1)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingor Cats greater than four (4) per dwelling unit at any one time No person shall keep more than 25 pairs of Pigeons, or a total of 50 Pigeons on any parcel of land within the City; Except if the Keeping of the Farm Animals is part of a Farm Operation is limited to four (4); but not less than 550 m2 (5,920 ft2) in any residential zone |
| Exceptions | The limit does not apply to a kennel, dog or cat groomer or dog or cat daycare where the Land Use Bylaw permits it on the parcel. Anyone who already kept four or more dogs or cats when the bylaw was adopted (2014) may keep them for the lives of those animals.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 6.3, 6.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe limitation in paragraph 6.2 does not apply to a Kennel, dog or cat groomer or dog or cat may continue to do so for the duration of the lives of those Dogs or Cats. |
| Fine | Keeping more than 4 dogs/cats: bylaw notice $100 ($80 within 14 days, $120 after 28 days); municipal ticket $100. Unlawful kennel: $500.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026), Schedule B, Animal Control Bylaw; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), Schedule 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKeeping more than 4 dogs/cats Keeping more than 4 dogs/cats 6.2 $100.00 $80.00 $120.00 Keeping more than 4 Dogs/Cats Keeping more than 4 Dogs/Cats 6.2 $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (kennels and zoning: Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989)Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 1.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014”. |
How it works
Colwood's Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533 limits dogs and cats per dwelling unit on a parcel, but the wording in section 6.2 is inconsistent. It bars "four or more" dogs per dwelling unit (so three at most), and "four or more" cats, and also any dog and cat combination "greater than four". The fine schedules say "more than 4". Ask Bylaw Services for the limit that applies to you before taking in another animal.
Good to know
- The limit does not apply to a kennel, dog or cat groomer, or dog or cat daycare, where the Land Use Bylaw No. 151 permits it on the parcel.
- Anyone who already kept four or more dogs or cats when the bylaw was adopted (2014) may keep them for the lives of those animals.
- Fine for keeping too many: a bylaw notice is $100 ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $100. An unlawful kennel is $500.
- Pigeons: no more than 25 pairs or 50 in total per parcel.
- Chickens: up to four, only on lots of 550 m² to under 4,000 m² with a detached one-family dwelling. See the backyard chickens answer.
- Farm animals are allowed only as part of a farm operation permitted by the Land Use Bylaw.
- Every dog still needs a licence; see the dog licence answer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
View Royal · Esquimalt · Langford · Victoria · Metchosin · Highlands
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.