How many dogs or cats you can keep in Golden
How many dogs or cats can I keep in Golden?
Short answer
In Golden, the Town's pet bylaw allows no more than three dogs and three cats on a property. Dogs and cats under 4 months old do not count. Backyard hens or ducks are limited separately. A breach is a $70 bylaw notice.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than three dogs on any real property (separate from the cat limit). Dogs under 4 months old do not count.Sources differ: The bylaw says 'a total of three (3) Dogs and three (3) Cats', so up to 3 dogs plus up to 3 cats. The Town's page says 'no more than three cats or dogs', which can be read as 3 animals combined. The bylaw is followed.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 15.1, 15.2; Responsible Pet Ownership · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmore than a total of three (3) Dogs and three (3) Cats Dogs or Cats under the age of four (4) months No one may keep more than three cats or dogs over the age of four months within the Town of Golden. |
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| Cats allowed | No more than three cats on any real property (separate from the dog limit). Cats under 4 months old do not count.Sources differ: See the dog_limit note: the Town's page can be read as three cats and dogs combined; the bylaw wording is followed.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 15.1, 15.2; Responsible Pet Ownership · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmore than a total of three (3) Dogs and three (3) Cats Dogs or Cats under the age of four (4) months No one may keep more than three cats or dogs over the age of four months within the Town of Golden. |
| Other animal limits | Backyard hens or ducks: up to six per property, with Town registration. They do not count toward the dog and cat limit. No limit on other pets was found.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 7.3(b), 15.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingkeep no more than six (6) Backyard Hens on a property The restrictions in 15.1 do not apply to the keeping of Dogs or Cats under the age of four |
| Exceptions | More are allowed at a licensed veterinary clinic, the Animal Shelter, or a business with a Business Licence that cares for animals in a way the Zoning Bylaw allows. Dogs and cats under 4 months old are not counted.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 15.1, 15.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga. a Licensed veterinary clinic; a business with a Business Licence that provides care for Animals in a manner permitted by the Zoning Bylaw applicable to the land containing the business |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $70 ($50 if paid within 14 days; $90 after 28 days).Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, Schedule A, s. 15.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingToo many Animals (hens not included) $ 70.00 $ 50.00 $ 90.00 |
| Bylaw | Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal ControlBylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control |
How it works
Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 allows no more than three dogs and no more than three cats on any real property. The two limits are separate. Dogs and cats under 4 months old do not count.
Good to know
- The Town's page says "no more than three cats or dogs", which could be read as three animals combined. The bylaw wording is followed here, so confirm with Bylaw Enforcement.
- More animals are allowed at a licensed veterinary clinic, the Animal Shelter, or a business with a Business Licence that cares for animals in a way the Zoning Bylaw allows.
- Backyard hens or ducks: up to six per property with Town registration. They do not count toward the dog and cat limit.
- No limit on other pets was found in the bylaw.
- A breach is a $70 bylaw notice ($50 if paid within 14 days, $90 after 28).
- Call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-344-2271 ext. 234 with questions or to report a problem.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Revelstoke · Radium Hot Springs · Invermere · Nakusp · New Denver · Sicamous
Sources
- Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Responsible Pet Ownership, Town of Golden (read 2026-11-08)
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.