How many dogs or cats you can keep in Lake Cowichan
How many dogs or cats can I keep in Lake Cowichan?
Short answer
In Lake Cowichan, no more than two dogs are allowed on any parcel, except at a licensed veterinary clinic. The Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats. Only canines over four months old count as dogs.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than two dogs on any parcel, except in the lawful and licensed operation of a veterinary medical clinic.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 6.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo Owner shall keep, or permit to be kept, more than two (2) dogs on any parcel except in the lawful and licenced operation of a |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | None set. Lake Cowichan's Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats. |
| Other animal limits | Backyard hens: no more than 6 per property. 'Restricted animals' (horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, roosters, turkeys, geese, ducks and other fowl) may not be kept on a parcel under 2 acres.Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 10.2; Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 2.1; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 12.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person may keep more than 6 hens on a property. RESTRICTED ANIMAL shall mean any horse, mule, cattle, ass, swine, on any parcel of land within the Town having an area of less than two (2) acres. |
| Exceptions | A veterinary medical clinic may keep more than two dogs. Only canines over four months old count as dogs, so younger puppies are not counted. The Zoning Bylaw defines a kennel as three or more dogs on a parcel and bars kennels unless it specifically permits one.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 6.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, definitions and Restricted Uses · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingexcept in the lawful and licenced operation of a veterinary medical clinic. DOG shall mean any animal of the canine species over the age of four months, regardless of sex; KENNEL means the keeping of three (3) or more dogs on a parcel Unless specifically permitted by this bylaw, no parcel shall be used for: |
| Fine | None set. The Animal Control Bylaw lists no ticket amount for keeping more than two dogs. |
| Bylaw | Town of Lake Cowichan Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (as amended by Bylaw No. 1052-2021); Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (kennel definition).Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Town of Lake Cowichan Animal KENNEL means the keeping of three (3) or more dogs |
How it works
The Town's Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (as amended by Bylaw No. 1052-2021) limits dogs to two per parcel. A veterinary medical clinic that is lawfully licensed is the one exception. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.
Good to know
- Only canines over four months old count as dogs, so younger puppies are not counted.
- The Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 defines a kennel as three or more dogs on a parcel and bars kennels unless the zone specifically permits one.
- Backyard hens: no more than 6 per property, with conditions. See the backyard chickens answer.
- Horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, roosters, turkeys, geese, ducks and other fowl are "restricted animals" and may not be kept on a parcel under 2 acres.
- The bylaw lists no ticket amount for keeping more than two dogs. Ask Town Hall at 250-749-6681 how it is enforced.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Duncan · North Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich · Highlands
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.