How many dogs or cats you can keep in Princeton
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
In Princeton, you may keep no more than two dogs over eight weeks old on a property, unless you hold a business licence as a veterinarian, animal breeder, animal shelter or animal clinic. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than two dogs over eight weeks old on a property, unless the owner has a business licence as a veterinarian, animal breeder, animal shelter or animal clinic.Animal Control Bylaw No. 782, 2006, s. 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingshall not permit, suffer or allow more than two dogs over the age of eight weeks to be kept or harboured on such premises |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | None set. Princeton's Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats.Read: Animal Control Bylaw No. 782, 2006 |
| Other animal limits | Backyard hens: no more than four, and only where hens are a permitted use (RC zone). No other pet limits found.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2013, s. 6.5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo more than four backyard hens are permitted; |
| Exceptions | A business licence as a veterinarian, animal breeder, animal shelter or animal clinic under the Town's business bylaw lets a property have more than two dogs.Animal Control Bylaw No. 782, 2006, s. 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingwithout first having applied for and obtained a business licence for a veterinarian, animal breeder, animal shelter or animal clinic |
| Fine | $150 for more than two dogs.Animal Control Bylaw No. 782, 2006, Schedule C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingMore than two dogs 13 $150.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 782, 2006Animal Control Bylaw No. 782, 2006, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Animal Control Bylaw, No. 782, 2006” |
How it works
The Town's Animal Control Bylaw No. 782, 2006 says no more than two dogs over eight weeks old may be kept on a property. The exception is an owner who holds a business licence as a veterinarian, animal breeder, animal shelter or animal clinic. The bylaw sets no limit on cats, and no puppy or kitten age exception was found.
Good to know
- No limits on other pets were found. Backyard hens are limited by the Zoning Bylaw: no more than four, and only where hens are a permitted use (the RC zone). See the backyard-chickens answer.
- A ticket for keeping more than two dogs is $150.
- Every dog over eight weeks old also needs a licence (see the dog-licence answer).
- To ask about a particular situation, call Bylaw Services at 250-295-3135 or 778-720-6114.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Keremeos · Summerland · Hope · Penticton · Peachland · Merritt
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 782, 2006 (PDF), Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2013 (PDF), Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Services, Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
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. How answers are checked.