How many dogs or cats you can keep in Cumberland
How many dogs or cats can I keep in Cumberland?
Short answer
In Cumberland you can keep no more than four dogs over three months old on a parcel of land. The Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats. Hens, bees and other animals are limited by the zoning bylaw.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than four dogs over three months of age on any parcel of land in the Village at one time.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo more than four (4) dogs over the age of three (3) months shall be kept on any parcel of land in the Village at one time. |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | None set. Cumberland's Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats. |
| Other animal limits | Hens: at most six female birds and no male birds per lot, in a rear yard only. Bees: at most two hives and two nucs per lot, on lots of at least 550 m².Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), Table 6.8(1) Urban Agriculture Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA maximum of six female birds and zero male birds are permitted per lot. The keeping of poultry is only permitted in a rear yard. Minimum Lot Area n/a 550.0 m² n/a A maximum of two hives and two nucs are permitted per lot. |
| Exceptions | Only in the R-3 zone, on lots larger than 0.4 ha, urban agriculture may include animals kept for food, fur or similar products, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits (not hogs, pigs or peacocks).Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), Table 10.2(1) footnote 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFor lots larger than 0.4 hectares, urban agriculture may include the keeping of animals used in the production of food, fur, or similar products, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and rabbits, but specifically excluding hogs, pigs and peacocks. Agriculture, Urban 1 S S S2 S S S |
| Fine | Keeping more than four dogs: $100 ($50 if paid early).Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025), Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingKeep more than four dogs 18 $100 $50 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (dogs); Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (hens, bees, livestock)Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw shall be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017”. This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Cumberland Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025”. |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061 allows no more than four dogs over three months of age on any parcel of land in the Village of Cumberland at one time. It sets no limit on cats. It has no kennel licence or puppy and kitten exception.
Good to know
- Keeping more than four dogs is a $100 ticket ($50 if paid early).
- Hens: at most six female birds and no male birds per lot, in the rear yard only.
- Bees: at most two hives and two nucs per lot, on lots of at least 550 m².
- These hen and bee limits come from the Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, which treats urban agriculture as a secondary use in residential zones.
- Only in the R-3 zone, on lots larger than 0.4 ha, may animals kept for food, fur or similar products (including horses, cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits, but not hogs, pigs or peacocks) be kept.
- See the chickens answer for more on hens and bees.
- To check a rule for your property, contact Bylaw Enforcement at 250-336-2291 or bylaw@cumberland.ca.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Courtenay · Comox · Campbell River · Powell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020) (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Village of Cumberland (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.