---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Metchosin
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep in Metchosin?"
place: Metchosin, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/metchosin
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Metchosin
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Metchosin

**Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep in Metchosin?

**Short answer:** In Metchosin you may keep no more than 4 dogs over 8 months old on a parcel, unless you hold a licensed boarding kennel or a breeding kennel. The animal control bylaw sets no limit on cats.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Metchosin, https://www.metchosin.ca)  
**Cost:** Ticket for more than four dogs: $100 if paid within 30 days of being served, $150 after that.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4450 Happy Valley Road, Victoria, BC V9C 3Z3 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-474-3167

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than 4 dogs over 8 months old on a parcel or premises, unless it is a licensed boarding kennel or a breeding kennel (breeding purebred dogs only).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 6, 18, 24](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "more than four (4) dogs over the age of eight (8) months without holding a valid" … "A person must not keep or maintain more than four (4) dogs over the age of eight (8) months on"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** None set. Metchosin's animal control bylaw sets no limit on cats.
- **Other animal limits:** Land Use Bylaw: per 4,000 m² of lot area (pro-rated if smaller), 2 horses or cattle, or 8 pigs, sheep or goats, plus 24 rabbits, game birds or poultry. This applies in AR1, RR1, RR2, RR3 and RR4, and in the AG, AG1, UP, UP1, UP2 and RU zones on lots under 8,000 m². RR1-RR4 also allow beehives.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 259 (reference copy), ss. 56.1(5), 57(5)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "For each 4,000 m2 (.99 ac) of lot area or pro-rated portion thereof if less than 4,000 m2 (.99 ac) of lot area, the" … "(i) 2 horses or cattle, or" … "in addition to Paragraph (a) above, 24 rabbits, game birds or poultry." … "Notwithstanding the provisions and regulations of this zone, on lots having an area of less than 8,000 m2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** A boarding kennel is allowed only where the Land Use Bylaw permits it and with a business licence. A breeding kennel is solely for breeding purebred dogs; the Land Use Bylaw caps breeding kennels by zone (for example 10 dogs in AR1).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 19, 24](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "The owner or occupier of a parcel, must not use the parcel as a boarding kennel except:" … "unless the owner or occupier of the premises operates a breeding kennel which is"
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 259 (reference copy), s. 56.1(2)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "Breeding kennel of not more than 10 dogs, subject to Animal Control Bylaw including issuance"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket (Schedule 5): more than four dogs $100 if paid within 30 days of being served, $150 after that.
  - Source: [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, Schedule 5](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/)
  - Official wording: "2. More than four (4) dogs 6 $100 $150"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** District of Metchosin Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, s. 1](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the District of Metchosin Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District's [Animal Control Bylaw No. 692](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/) allows no more than 4 dogs over 8 months old on a parcel or premises. A licensed boarding kennel or a breeding kennel (for breeding purebred dogs only) is the exception. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.

## Good to know

- A boarding kennel is allowed only where the [Land Use Bylaw No. 259](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/) permits it, and it needs a business licence. The Land Use Bylaw also caps breeding kennels by zone, for example 10 dogs in the AR1 zone.
- Farm animals have their own limits by zone. In the AR1, RR1, RR2 and RR3 zones, for each 4,000 m² of lot (pro-rated for a smaller lot): 2 horses or cattle, or 8 pigs, sheep or goats, plus 24 rabbits, game birds or poultry. See the backyard chickens answer.
- Kennel licences are available through CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624.
- Every dog still needs a licence. See the dog licence answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 692](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/)

## Related questions

- [Metchosin dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-licence.md)
- [Metchosin dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Metchosin backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/backyard-chickens.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/how-many-pets.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/how-many-pets.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/how-many-pets.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/how-many-pets.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Regulation, District of Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/animal-regulation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Land Use Bylaw No. 259 (reference copy), District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/) (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 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Metchosin. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/how-many-pets/_