How many dogs or cats you can keep in Sidney
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.
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.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.1(c), 4.3(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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; |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | Four cats over four months of age per parcel.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 4.4(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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. |
| 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.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, ss. 5.0(b), 5.1, 5.3(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 |
| Exceptions | None set. Sidney's animal bylaw gives no kennel, litter or age exception to the dog and cat limits.Read: Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010 |
| 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).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239, Schedule C, Animal Licence & Control Bylaw, ss. 4.3(c), 4.4(b); Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180, Schedule 2, ss. 4.3(c), 4.4(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHarbouring More Part IV, Section $130.00 $100.00 $160.00 Than Four (4) Cats 4.4 (b) 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 |
| Bylaw | Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 1.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010 |
How it works
The Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965 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
The same question in other places
North Saanich · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · View Royal · Langford
Sources
- Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180 (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. How answers are checked.