How many dogs or cats you can keep in Lake Country
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.
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.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 14; Dog Licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Dog licences page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 Maximum of three dogs allowed per single family dwelling. |
|---|---|
| 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.Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 5.3.7; Animal, Bird and Poultry Regulation Bylaw 97-135 (consolidated), s. 2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingkeep, store, or board livestock or poultry on a lot in an urban residential zone except for Backyard Chickens in permitted zones. Animals, poultry and other birds shall be kept or contained on the owner’s lands. |
| 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.Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 15, 42; Dog Licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Kennel licence fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAny 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 A house or property where 4 to 20 dogs over the age of three months are kept. |
| Fine | Bylaw Notice $100 (early-payment column 25.00, late 25.00); Municipal ticket $100.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule A, Appendix 1; Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Schedule B, Appendix 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKeep more than 3 dogs 14 100.00 25.00 25.00 Y Keep more than 3 dogs 14 100.00 |
| Bylaw | Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (RDCO Dog Control covers Lake Country).Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, s. 2 (citation); Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan, Preamble · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingResponsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 District of Lake Country |
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
- Count dogs over 3 months old in your house or dwelling unit. Three is the most allowed.
- 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.
- 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
The same question in other places
Vernon · Coldstream · West Kelowna · Lumby · Peachland · Spallumcheen
Sources
- Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
- Animal, Bird and Poultry Regulation Bylaw 97-135 (consolidated), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
- Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated PDF), Regional District of Central Okanagan (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. How answers are checked.