How many dogs or cats you can keep in Esquimalt

How many dogs or cats can I keep in Esquimalt?

Esquimalt, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Esquimalt, you may keep no more than 4 dogs over 4 months old on one property, and no more than 5 cats over 4 months old. A kennel (5 or more dogs) is not allowed on residential property.

Key facts

Dogs allowed	No more than 4 dogs over 4 months old on one property (except dogs kept only during business hours at a veterinary practice).Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 27(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep more than 4 dogs over the age of 4 months on one property, unless the dogs are kept only during business hours on premises where a registered veterinarian practices veterinary medicine.
Cats allowed	No more than 5 cats over 4 months old on any property.Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 23 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall own, possess or harbour more than 5 cats over the age of 4 months on any property within the Township.
Other animal limits	Dogs and cats have separate limits (4 dogs, 5 cats); no combined limit found. Ornamental birds: up to 10 per parcel. Rabbits and rodents: up to 10 over 12 weeks old per parcel. Urban hens: up to 7 on single or two-family residential parcels. Beehives: up to 3 per parcel. No farm animals, roosters or peafowl.Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 33, 35, 32, 40, 30 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep more than 10 ornamental birds on any parcel of land No person shall own, possess or harbour more than 10 rabbits or rodents over the age of no more than 7 Urban Hens may be kept on any parcel A maximum of 3 beehives may be kept on any parcel of land. No person shall keep a farm animal, rooster, or peafowl.
Exceptions	A kennel (5 or more dogs over 4 months old) is not allowed on residential property. The only exception to the 4-dog limit is dogs kept during business hours at a veterinary practice.Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 27(2), s. 2 "kennel" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person being the owner or occupier of any residential property within the Township shall permit such property to be used as or for a kennel. means any property in which 5 or more dogs over the age of 4 months are kept
Fine	Bylaw notice: more than 4 dogs $250 ($187 early, $312 late); more than 5 cats $250 ($187 early, $312 late); kennel on residential property $300 ($225 early, $375 late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026), Schedule N, s. 23, 27(1), 27(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 23 Possess more than 5 cats 250.00 187.00 312.00 27(1) Possess more than 4 dogs 250.00 187.00 312.00 27(2) Operate a kennel on residential property 300.00 225.00 375.00
Bylaw	Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as the "Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841".

How it works

The Animal Management Bylaw No. 2841 sets separate limits by animal. Dogs and cats are counted separately, and the bylaw states no combined limit.

Dogs: no more than 4 dogs over 4 months old on one property. The only exception is dogs kept during business hours at a veterinary practice.
Cats: no more than 5 cats over 4 months old on any property.
Rabbits and rodents: up to 10 over 12 weeks old per parcel.
Ornamental birds: up to 10 per parcel.
Urban hens: up to 7 on single or two-family residential parcels. See backyard chickens.
Beehives: up to 3 per parcel.
No farm animals, roosters or peafowl.

Good to know

A kennel (5 or more dogs over 4 months old) is not allowed on residential property, and the bylaw offers no kennel licence for residential lots.
Only animals over the stated ages count, so younger animals are not counted.
Every dog over 4 months old needs a dog licence.
To ask about your situation, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-414-7161.