---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Tofino
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep in Tofino?"
place: Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tofino
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Tofino
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Tofino

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

**Short answer:** In Tofino, the animal bylaw sets no flat cap on dogs: an owner of more than two dogs needs a kennel licence ($100 a year). It sets no limit on cats. Other animals are allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw permits.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tofino, https://tofino.ca)  
**Cost:** Kennel licence $100 a year (half price if bought after August 31).  
**How long:** not applicable  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Office, 250-725-3229 (Ask about kennel licences and zoning)

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** The Animal Control Bylaw sets no flat cap: an owner of more than two dogs needs a kennel licence ($100 a year; an extra one for each dog over five), with 24 square feet per dog. Zoning defines a KENNEL as five or more dogs and/or cats; no zone lists it as a permitted use.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 12(a), (b), (d); Schedule A](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/)
  - Official wording: "Every owner of more than two dogs shall possess a valid and subsisting kennel license." … "Every owner of more than five (5) dogs shall possess an additional valid and subsisting kennel license for each dog over and above the first five (5) dogs." … "24 square feet of floor space is provided for each dog" … "Kennel License $100.00"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 770, Zoning Bylaw No. 770, s. 2 Definitions (KENNEL)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/)
  - Official wording: "KENNEL means any use, building or structure where five or more dogs and/or cats which are more"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Cats allowed:** None set. Tofino's Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw sets no limit on cats.
- **Other animal limits:** No animals other than domesticated dogs and cats or other small domesticated animals may be housed inside a dwelling unit. All other animals are permitted only as the Zoning Bylaw allows.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 6(a), (b)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/)
  - Official wording: "No animals other than domesticated dogs and cats or other small-domesticated animals may be housed within their owner's or harbourer's dwelling unit." … "All other animals will be permitted in accordance with the District of Tofino Zoning bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exceptions:** A kennel licence allows more than two dogs. Unweaned offspring are counted together with the mother as one animal.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 11(c); s. 12](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/)
  - Official wording: "All unweanded offspring of an animal together with the female parent shall be deemed to constitute a single animal for the purpose of this bylaw." … "A kennel license shall be obtained by applying to the District and paying the prescribed kennel license fee set out in Schedule"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** No ticket amount is listed for keeping more than two dogs without a kennel licence (s. 12). Housing a prohibited animal in a dwelling unit (s. 6(a)): bylaw notice $100 ($80 within 14 days; $120 after 60 days); municipal ticket $100 ($50 if paid within 7 business days).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated), Schedule A (Animal Control Bylaw 6(a))](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/)
  - Official wording: "Prohibited Animals in Dwelling Unit 6(a) Yes $100 $80 $120 50%"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), Schedule 6](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Prohibited Animals in Dwelling Unit 6(a) $100.00" … "Fines as set out in all Schedules with the exception of Schedule 7 are reduced by 50% if the fine is paid within 7 business days of the date of issuance of the Municipal Ticketing Information."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 1](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/)
  - Official wording: "District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/>) sets no flat limit on dogs in Tofino. An owner of more than two dogs (over four months old) needs a kennel licence, with 24 square feet per dog. The kennel licence is $100 a year, plus an extra licence for each dog over five. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.

## Good to know

- The District's [Zoning Bylaw No. 770](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/>) defines a kennel as five or more dogs and/or cats. No zone lists a kennel as a permitted use, so whether a licensed kennel is allowed on your lot depends on zoning. Ask the District before you rely on a kennel licence.
- Unweaned offspring count together with the mother as one animal.
- The Animal Control Officer may suspend or revoke a kennel licence if the bylaw is broken.
- Only domesticated dogs and cats or other small domesticated animals may be housed inside a dwelling unit. All other animals are permitted only as the Zoning Bylaw allows.
- Housing a prohibited animal in a dwelling: a bylaw notice is $100 ($80 within 14 days; $120 after 60 days). A municipal ticket is $100 ($50 if paid within 7 business days).
- No ticket amount is listed for keeping more than two dogs without a kennel licence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866 (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/)

## Related questions

- [Tofino dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dog-licence.md)
- [Tofino dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Tofino backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Tofino zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Ucluelet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/how-many-pets.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/how-many-pets.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/how-many-pets.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/how-many-pets.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/how-many-pets.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 770 (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Tofino. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/how-many-pets/_