--- title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Lake Country question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep in Lake Country?" place: Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/lake-country category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: shared sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/how-many-pets/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/how-many-pets.json" --- # How many dogs or cats you can keep in Lake Country **Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep in Lake Country? **Short answer:** In Lake Country you may keep no more than 3 dogs over 3 months old in a house or dwelling unit, unless you run a licensed hobby or service kennel, vet clinic or similar business. No limit on cats or other pets was found in the bylaws read. **Who handles it:** More than one level of government **Cost:** Hobby or service kennel permit $125. Fine for exceeding the dog limit: bylaw notice $100; municipal ticket $100. **How long:** Not applicable. **Where:** - Phone: RDCO Dog Control, 250-469-6284 - Phone: District of Lake Country Bylaw Services, 250-766-6673 ## Key facts - **Dogs allowed:** No more than 3 dogs over 3 months old in a house or dwelling unit, unless the person runs a licensed hobby or service kennel, vet clinic or similar business. - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 14](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "No person shall keep, harbour, or have in possession more than 3 dogs over the age of" … "except as provided" … "for persons operating a Hobby Kennel, Service Kennel, veterinary clinic, or other dog" - Source: [Dog Licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Dog licences page](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/) - Official wording: "Maximum of three dogs allowed per single family dwelling." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cats allowed:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Other animal limits:** Livestock and poultry may not be kept on a lot in an urban residential zone, except backyard chickens (5 hens) in permitted zones. Animals, poultry and birds must be kept or contained on the owner's land (Bylaw 97-135). No limit on cats, rabbits or other pets was found. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 5.3.7](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated) - Official wording: "keep, store, or board livestock or poultry on a lot in an urban residential" … "zone except for Backyard Chickens in permitted zones." - Source: [Animal, Bird and Poultry Regulation Bylaw 97-135 (consolidated), s. 2(a)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/animal-bird-and-poultry-regulation-bylaw-97-235-consolidated) - Official wording: "Animals, poultry and other birds shall be kept or contained on the owner’s lands." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Exceptions:** Guide and service dogs living with the person they assist do not count. Hobby kennel permit allows 4 to 20 dogs (4 on 0.25-1 ha, 8 on 1-4 ha, 20 over 4 ha) where zoning allows kennels. Dogs under 3 months are not counted. - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 15, 42](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "Any dog registered under the Guide Animal Act and resides with a person for whom the" … "On properties with a lot area of 0.25 hectares to 1 hectare, a maximum of 4" … "On properties with a lot area greater than 4 hectares, a maximum of 20 dogs" - Source: [Dog Licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Kennel licence fees](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/) - Official wording: "A house or property where 4 to 20 dogs over the age of three months are kept." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine:** Bylaw Notice $100 (early-payment column 25.00, late 25.00); Municipal ticket $100. - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule A, Appendix 1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "Keep more than 3 dogs 14 100.00 25.00 25.00 Y" - Source: [Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule B, Appendix 1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/fknipfoc/bl1537-ticket-information-and-utilization-consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "Keep more than 3 dogs 14 100.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (RDCO Dog Control covers Lake Country). - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 2 (citation)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014" - Source: [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Preamble](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "District of Lake Country" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) sets the dog limit for Lake Country in its [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw 1343](). The District's own bylaws cover other animals. None of the bylaws read sets a limit on cats, rabbits or birds. ## Steps 1. Count dogs over 3 months old in your house or dwelling unit. Three is the most allowed. 2. To keep more, you need a hobby kennel permit (4 to 20 dogs) where zoning allows kennels: 4 dogs on 0.25 to 1 ha, 8 on 1 to 4 ha, and 20 on more than 4 ha. 3. Ask RDCO Dog Control at 250-469-6284 about the permit. ## Good to know - Dogs under 3 months old are not counted. Guide and service dogs living with the person they assist do not count either. - Livestock and poultry may not be kept on a lot in an urban residential zone, except backyard chickens (5 hens) in permitted zones. See the backyard chickens answer. - The District's animal bylaw says animals, poultry and birds must be kept or contained on the owner's land. - The bylaw notice for exceeding the dog limit is $100, and so is the municipal ticket. Every dog needs a licence; see the dog licence answer. ## Official forms and pages - [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) ## Related questions - [Lake Country dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dog-licence.md) - [Lake Country dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Lake Country backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/backyard-chickens.md) - [Lake Country rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dangerous-dogs.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md) - [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/how-many-pets.md) - [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/how-many-pets.md) - [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/how-many-pets.md) - [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/how-many-pets.md) - [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/how-many-pets.md) - [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/how-many-pets.md) ## Sources - [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Dog Licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/) (read 2026-11-06) - [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06) - [Animal, Bird and Poultry Regulation Bylaw 97-135 (consolidated), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/animal-bird-and-poultry-regulation-bylaw-97-235-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06) - [Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/fknipfoc/bl1537-ticket-information-and-utilization-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. 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