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

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Sidney

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

**Short answer:** In Sidney you can keep no more than four dogs and four cats on a parcel of land. Hens (up to five, with a permit) are the only farm-type animal allowed. A bylaw notice for going over the limit is $130; a municipal ticket is $130.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Sidney, https://www.sidney.ca)  
**Cost:** Over the limit: bylaw notice $130 ($100 within 14 days, $160 after 28 days); municipal ticket $130 ($100 within 30 days).  
**How long:** not applicable  
**Where:**
- Phone: Town of Sidney Bylaw Enforcement, 250-544-4743
- Phone: CRD Animal Control, 250-478-0624

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** Four dogs per parcel. Section 4.1(c) counts dogs over four months old on any parcel; s. 4.3(c) says no more than four dogs on any property.
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.1(c), 4.3(c)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep more than four dogs over the age of four months on any parcel of land" … "No person shall keep more than four (4) dogs on any property;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** Four cats over four months of age per parcel.
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.4(b)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep shelter or harbour more than four (4) cats over the age of four (4) months on any parcel within the Town of Sidney."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other animal limits:** No farm animals, poultry or rabbits on any parcel (hens excepted). Hens: up to five with a permit. Bees: none on parcels under 750 m²; no more than two hives on parcels over 750 m². No combined cap on dogs and cats was found.
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, ss. 5.0(b), 5.1, 5.3(c)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep or harbour any farm animals, poultry, or rabbit on any parcel of land, excluding Hens." … "No person shall keep or harbour Bees on any parcel of land under 750 square metres" … "No person shall keep or harbour Bees in excess of two (2) beehives on any parcel of land over 750 square metres." … "A maximum of five (5) Hens are permitted to be kept on a property"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** None set. Sidney's animal bylaw gives no kennel, litter or age exception to the dog and cat limits.
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $130 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $160 after 28 days) for more than four dogs or more than four cats. Municipal ticket: $130 ($100 if paid within 30 days).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239, Schedule C, Animal Licence & Control Bylaw, ss. 4.3(c), 4.4(b)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2239-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Harbouring More Part IV, Section $130.00 $100.00 $160.00" … "Than Four (4) Cats 4.4 (b)"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180, Schedule 2, ss. 4.3(c), 4.4(b)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2180-MTI-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Harbouring More Than Part IV, Section 4.3 (c) $130.00 $100.00" … "Harbouring More Than Part IV, Section 4.4 (b) $130.00 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010
  - Source: [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 1.0](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf) sets the limits. Dogs: no more than four per parcel. One section counts dogs over four months old; another says no more than four dogs on any property. Cats: no more than four over four months of age per parcel. No combined cap on dogs and cats was found.

## Good to know

- Farm animals, poultry and rabbits are not allowed on any parcel. The only exception is hens: up to five, with a permit (see the chickens answer).
- Bees: none on parcels under 750 m²; no more than two hives on parcels over 750 m².
- The bylaw gives no kennel, litter or age exception to the dog and cat limits.
- Fines for more than four dogs or four cats: a bylaw notice is $130 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $160 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $130 ($100 if paid within 30 days).
- Every dog also needs a Town licence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/how-many-pets.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/how-many-pets.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/how-many-pets.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/how-many-pets.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/how-many-pets.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1965-Animal-Control.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2239-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-CON.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2180-MTI-consolidated.pdf) (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 Town of Sidney. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/how-many-pets/_