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

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Saanich

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

**Short answer:** In Saanich you may keep no more than five dogs over four months old on any parcel. The same limit of five applies to cats over four months old, unless the parcel is larger than 2.02 ha (5 acres). More than five dogs without a permit is a $150 bylaw notice or municipal ticket.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**Cost:** More than five dogs without a permit: bylaw notice $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days); municipal ticket $150 if paid within 30 days, $200 after.  
**How long:** The limits apply at all times.  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624
- Phone: Saanich Bylaw Enforcement, 250-475-5456 (Monday to Friday, normal working hours)

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than five dogs over four months old on any parcel in Saanich.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 8.1](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no person shall keep more than five dogs over the age of four months on any parcel of land within the Municipality"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** No more than five cats over four months old on any parcel, unless the parcel is larger than 2.02 ha (5 acres).
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 31](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "keep or harbour more than five cats over the age of four months on any parcel of land" … "Except where the area of the parcel of land exceeds 2.02 ha (5 acres)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other animal limits:** Pigeons: 25 pairs. Bantams: five (more only on parcels over 0.4 ha in an A zone). Beehives: four on RS-zoned lots. Hens and other poultry have their own limits (see backyard chickens). Farm animals: no more than two on an RS lot, which must be over 0.65 ha.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 4, 39.1, 45, 48.2](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall not keep or harbour more than two farm animals" … "no person shall keep more than five bantams on any parcel" … "No person shall keep more than 25 pairs of pigeons" … "No person shall keep more than four hives"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** The five-dog limit does not apply to kennel operators (kennel use needs a lot over 0.4 ha and zoning that permits it) or to people solely breeding dogs under a Canadian Kennel Club-registered name. The cat limit does not apply to cat kennel operators.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 8.2, 32, 50.1](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Section 8.1 shall not apply to any person who operates a kennel" … "Section 31 shall not apply to any person who carries on a kennel operation for cats" … "has an area greater than 0.4 ha (one acre)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Dogs (more than 5 without a permit, s. 8.1): municipal ticket $150 if paid within 30 days, $200 after; bylaw notice $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days). No ticket amount is listed for the cat limit; a court conviction under the bylaw carries a minimum fine of $100.
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 8, s. 8.1](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Keeping more than 5 dogs without a permit 8.1 $150.00 $200.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525, Schedule 8, s. 8.1](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Keeping more than 5 dogs" … "$150.00"
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 72.1](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to a minimum fine of $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, title](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ANIMALS BYLAW, 2004, NO. 8556"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf) limits how many animals you can keep on one parcel.

- Dogs: no more than five over four months old.
- Cats: no more than five over four months old, unless the parcel is larger than 2.02 ha (5 acres).
- Pigeons: 25 pairs.
- Bantams: five (more only on parcels over 0.4 ha in an A zone).
- Beehives: four on RS-zoned lots.
- Farm animals: no more than two on an RS lot, which must be over 0.65 ha.
- Hens and other poultry have their own limits; see backyard chickens.

The five-dog limit does not apply to kennel operators (a kennel needs a lot over 0.4 ha and zoning that permits it) or to people solely breeding dogs under a Canadian Kennel Club-registered name. The cat limit does not apply to cat kennel operators.

## Steps

1. Count the dogs and cats over four months old on your parcel.
2. If you are over the limit, contact Saanich Bylaw Enforcement at 250-475-5456 before keeping the extra animals.

## Good to know

- More than five dogs without a permit: a bylaw notice is $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $150 if paid within 30 days and $200 after.
- No ticket amount is listed for the cat limit. A court conviction under the bylaw carries a minimum fine of $100.
- Every dog over four months old also needs a licence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Saanich dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dog-licence.md)
- [Saanich backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Saanich rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/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)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/how-many-pets.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/how-many-pets.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Complaint Process - District of Saanich | District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/bylaw-services/complaint-process.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

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