---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Penticton
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?"
place: Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/penticton
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Penticton
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Penticton

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

**Short answer:** Penticton's Animal Control Bylaw No. 2021-02 has a rule against keeping excessive companion animals, but no readable City page or bylaw states the number of dogs or cats. The bylaw is a scanned image. Ask Animal Care and Control at 250-492-3801.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Penticton, https://www.penticton.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Care and Control, 250-492-3801
- Email: Animal Care and Control, dogs@penticton.ca

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** Not confirmed. Penticton's Animal Control Bylaw is a scanned image that could not be read.
- **Cats allowed:** Not confirmed. Penticton's Animal Control Bylaw is a scanned image that could not be read.
- **Other animal limits:** Bees: no more than 2 beehives on a parcel under 1,000 m², 4 on a parcel of 1,000 to 2,000 m², 6 on a parcel over 2,000 m². Bees only on properties with a single detached dwelling, with a beekeeping permit.
  - Source: [Beekeeping, Where Beekeeping is Allowed](https://www.penticton.ca/animalcare-control/beekeeping)
  - Official wording: "Two beehives on a parcel of less than 1,000 square metres (0.25 acres)" … "Four beehives on a parcel that is between 1,000 square metres" … "Six beehives on a parcel that is over 2,000 square metres" … "Bees may only be kept on properties with a single detached dwelling."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** A commercial kennel needs a business licence. The kennel limit and any exception for young animals are not stated in the documents that could be read.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2014-07, Appendix 2 Animal Control (consolidated October 2026), Appendix 2, Other Permits](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2014-07%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20-%20CONSOLIDATED%20PACKAGE%20-%20October%202026_1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Commercial Kennel Operation Permit"
  - Source: [Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2012-5021 (consolidated June 2026), Schedule B2](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/MTI%20Bylaw%205021%20-%20consolidated%20for%20website%20-%20June%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fail to obtain a business licence for commercial 24.1(a) $600.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Keeping of excessive companion animals (s. 5.1): bylaw notice $200 ($175 if paid within 14 days, $225 late); municipal ticket $400.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2012-5037 (consolidated June 2026), Schedule A, Appendix 2](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2012-5037%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20%28Consolidated%20Package%20-%20June%202026%29_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Keeping of excessive 5.1 $200.00 $175.00 $225.00 Yes"
  - Source: [Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2012-5021 (consolidated June 2026), Schedule B2](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/MTI%20Bylaw%205021%20-%20consolidated%20for%20website%20-%20June%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Keeping of excessive companion animals 5.1 $400.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2021-02
  - Source: [Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2012-5021 (consolidated June 2026), Schedule B2](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/MTI%20Bylaw%205021%20-%20consolidated%20for%20website%20-%20June%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control Bylaw No. 2021-02"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Penticton's ticket schedules list an offence called "keeping of excessive companion animals" (section 5.1 of [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2021-02](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2021-02%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)). The bylaw is a scanned image with no readable text, and no City web page states a limit on dogs or cats per home. So this page cannot give a number.

## Steps

1. Call Animal Care and Control at 250-492-3801 or email dogs@penticton.ca and ask for the limit for your type of home.
2. Licence every dog older than three months (see the dog licence answer).

## Good to know

- Excessive companion animals: a bylaw notice is $200 ($175 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $400.
- Keeping a prohibited animal: a bylaw notice is $450; a municipal ticket is $900.
- A commercial kennel needs a business licence. The kennel limit is not stated in the documents that could be read.
- The only dog number the City states is for off-leash areas: no more than 3 dogs per person.
- Bees: 2 hives on a parcel under 1,000 m², 4 on 1,000 to 2,000 m², 6 over 2,000 m², with a beekeeping permit. Hens need a permit; see the backyard chickens answer.
- Spayed or neutered cats may roam free with a collar, microchip or tattoo, according to the Animal Services page.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2021-02 (PDF, scanned image)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2021-02%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Penticton dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/dog-licence.md)
- [Penticton backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/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)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/how-many-pets.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/how-many-pets.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/how-many-pets.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/how-many-pets.md)
- [Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/how-many-pets.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Services, City of Penticton](https://www.penticton.ca/animalcare-control/animal-services) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Off-Leash Dog Parks & Beaches, City of Penticton](https://www.penticton.ca/parks-recreation/parks/dogs-parks) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2012-5037 (PDF) (consolidated June 2026)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2012-5037%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20%28Consolidated%20Package%20-%20June%202026%29_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2012-5021 (PDF) (consolidated June 2026)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/MTI%20Bylaw%205021%20-%20consolidated%20for%20website%20-%20June%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Beekeeping, City of Penticton](https://www.penticton.ca/animalcare-control/beekeeping) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2014-07, Appendix 2 Animal Control (consolidated October 2026)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2014-07%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20-%20CONSOLIDATED%20PACKAGE%20-%20October%202026_1.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Penticton. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/how-many-pets/_