How many dogs or cats you can keep in Saanich
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.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than five dogs over four months old on any parcel in Saanich.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 8.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno person shall keep more than five dogs over the age of four months on any parcel of land within the Municipality |
|---|---|
| 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).Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 31 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingkeep 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) |
| 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.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 4, 39.1, 45, 48.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall 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 |
| 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.Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 8.2, 32, 50.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSection 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) |
| 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.Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 8, s. 8.1; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525, Schedule 8, s. 8.1; Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 72.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKeeping more than 5 dogs without a permit 8.1 $150.00 $200.00 Keeping more than 5 dogs $150.00 to a minimum fine of $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingANIMALS BYLAW, 2004, NO. 8556 |
How it works
The Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 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
- Count the dogs and cats over four months old on your parcel.
- 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
The same question in other places
Oak Bay · Esquimalt · Victoria · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood
Sources
- Complaint Process - District of Saanich | District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- 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. How answers are checked.