How many dogs or cats you can keep in Summerland
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.
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.Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024, ss. 13, 14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno 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 |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | None set. None of the Summerland bylaws reviewed set a limit on cats.Read: Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024; Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028; Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (consolidated to March 3, 2026) |
| 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.Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028, s. 1(b), (c), (d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno 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 |
| 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.Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028, s. 1(a); Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (consolidated to March 3, 2026), s. 7.14.2; Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024, ss. 13, 14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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; To allow for a Commercial Kennel, a Lot must have a minimum Lot Area of 4.0 ha. more than three (3) dogs over the age of four (4) months old. |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375 (consolidated to Dec 9, 2025), Schedule A, Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw s. 13; Animal & Pound Bylaw s. 1; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to Dec 9, 2025), Schedules 1 and 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHarbour 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 Harbour more than 3 dogs 13. $250.00 Exceeding allowed number 1(a) $150.00 Keeping animal other than pet 1(a) $250.00 |
| Bylaw | Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw No. 2017-024 (dogs); Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw No. 93-028 (other animals).Dog Licencing, Owner Responsibility; Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028, page footer · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPlease consult the Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw No. 2017-024 for more information. Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw No. 93-028 |
How it works
The Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024 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 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
The same question in other places
Penticton · Peachland · West Kelowna · Keremeos · Lake Country · Princeton
Sources
- Responsible Dog Owner Bylaw 2017-024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (consolidated to March 3, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375 (consolidated to Dec 9, 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to Dec 9, 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licencing, District of Summerland (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. How answers are checked.