---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Summerland
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?"
place: Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/summerland
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Summerland
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Summerland

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

**Short answer:** In Summerland you can keep up to three dogs over four months old per dwelling unit. Guide, service and RCMP dogs do not count. The bylaws reviewed set no limit on cats. Keeping more than three dogs is a $100 bylaw notice or a $250 municipal ticket.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Summerland, https://www.summerland.ca)  
**Cost:** More than three dogs: bylaw notice $100 ($90 within 14 days; $110 after 28 days); municipal ticket $250.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-494-6451 ext. 4 (bylaw@summerland.ca)
- Phone: Development Services (zoning), 250-494-1373 (devserv@summerland.ca)

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than three dogs over four months old per dwelling unit. Guide, service and RCMP service dogs are not counted.
  - Source: [Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024, ss. 13, 14](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/2017-024---responsible-dog-owner-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no person shall keep, harbor or have in their possession more than three (3) dogs over the age of four (4) months old." … "Guide Dogs, Service Dogs and RCMP Service Dogs, will not be considered when counting"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** None set. None of the Summerland bylaws reviewed set a limit on cats.
- **Other animal limits:** Backyard chickens: up to five hens. No more than four guinea-pigs, and no swine or male goats, unless the lot is assessed as farm land. Bee hives only on lots of 0.61 ha (1 1/2 acre) or more. Other animals only as in the exceptions.
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028, s. 1(b), (c), (d)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no more than five backyard chickens are kept per property;" … "No person shall keep swine, male goats, or more than four guinea-pigs on any" … "No person shall keep bee hives on a lot within the District which has an area of less than 0.61 hectares"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** Only dogs over four months old count toward the limit of three; guide, service and RCMP dogs are not counted. Other animals are allowed in the FG, A1 and A2 zones. In CR1 on sites over 0.2 ha: one large animal, three sheep, or up to 25 poultry or rabbits per 0.2 ha, in an approved fence or corral. A commercial kennel needs a lot of at least 4.0 ha.
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028, s. 1(a)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of animals other than household pets is prohibited in all zones with the exception of the" … "Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the CR1-Country Residential Zone, if the site exceeds 0.2 hectares (1/2 acre), animals may be kept provided that:" … "shall not exceed three (3) for each 0.2 hectares (1/2 acre) or fraction thereof;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (consolidated to March 3, 2026), s. 7.14.2](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "To allow for a Commercial Kennel, a Lot must have a minimum Lot Area of 4.0 ha."
  - Source: [Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024, ss. 13, 14](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/2017-024---responsible-dog-owner-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "more than three (3) dogs over the age of four (4) months old."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Dogs over three (s. 13): bylaw notice $100 ($90 within 14 days; $110 after 28 days); municipal ticket $250. Other animals over the allowed number: bylaw notice $50 ($40; $60); municipal ticket $150. Keeping an animal other than a pet: bylaw notice $100; municipal ticket $250.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375 (consolidated to Dec 9, 2025), Schedule A, Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw s. 13; Animal & Pound Bylaw s. 1](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/bneb-no-2000-375---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Harbour more than 3 dogs 13 $100.00 $90.00 $110.00" … "Exceeding allowed number 1(a) $ 50.00 40.00 60.00" … "Keeping animal other than pet 1(a) $100.00 90.00 110.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to Dec 9, 2025), Schedules 1 and 10](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/mti-system-bylaw-95-030---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Harbour more than 3 dogs 13. $250.00" … "Exceeding allowed number 1(a) $150.00" … "Keeping animal other than pet 1(a) $250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw No. 2017-024 (dogs); Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw No. 93-028 (other animals).
  - Source: [Dog Licencing, Owner Responsibility](https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/dog-licencing-control)
  - Official wording: "Please consult the Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw No. 2017-024 for more information."
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028, page footer](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw No. 93-028"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/2017-024---responsible-dog-owner-bylaw.pdf) sets the number of dogs allowed per dwelling unit in the District of Summerland. Only dogs over four months old count toward the limit of three, and guide, service and RCMP service dogs are not counted. The [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf) covers other animals.

## Good to know

- Dogs: no more than three over four months old per dwelling unit.
- Cats: none of the animal, dog, good neighbour or zoning bylaws reviewed sets a limit on cats.
- Other animals: up to five backyard hens, no more than four guinea pigs, and no swine or male goats unless the lot is assessed as farm land. Bee hives need a lot of 0.61 ha (1 1/2 acre) or more. See the backyard chickens answer.
- Other animals are allowed in the FG, A1 and A2 zones. In CR1 on sites over 0.2 ha, the bylaw allows one large animal, three sheep, or up to 25 poultry or rabbits per 0.2 ha, in an approved fence or corral.
- A commercial kennel under the Zoning Bylaw needs a lot of at least 4.0 ha. The dog bylaw gives no kennel exception to the three-dog limit, so ask Development Services before keeping more.
- Tickets: more than three dogs is a $100 bylaw notice or a $250 municipal ticket. Keeping more than the allowed number of other animals is a $50 bylaw notice or a $150 municipal ticket. Keeping an animal other than a pet is a $100 bylaw notice or a $250 municipal ticket.

## Official forms and pages

- [Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/2017-024---responsible-dog-owner-bylaw.pdf)
- [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Summerland dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/dog-licence.md)
- [Summerland backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/backyard-chickens.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/how-many-pets.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/how-many-pets.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/how-many-pets.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/how-many-pets.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/how-many-pets.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/2017-024---responsible-dog-owner-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (consolidated to March 3, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375 (consolidated to Dec 9, 2025) (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/bneb-no-2000-375---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to Dec 9, 2025) (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/mti-system-bylaw-95-030---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licencing, District of Summerland](https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/dog-licencing-control) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 District of Summerland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/how-many-pets/_