How many dogs or cats you can keep in Tofino

How many dogs or cats can I keep in Tofino?

Tofino, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

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.Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 12(a), (b), (d); Schedule A; Zoning Bylaw No. 770, Zoning Bylaw No. 770, s. 2 Definitions (KENNEL) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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 KENNEL means any use, building or structure where five or more dogs and/or cats which are more
Cats allowed	None set. Tofino's Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw sets no limit on cats.Read: Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated)
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.Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 6(a), (b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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.
Exceptions	A kennel licence allows more than two dogs. Unweaned offspring are counted together with the mother as one animal.Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 11(c); s. 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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
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).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated), Schedule A (Animal Control Bylaw 6(a)); Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), Schedule 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Prohibited Animals in Dwelling Unit 6(a) Yes $100 $80 $120 50% 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.
Bylaw	District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001

How it works

The Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866 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 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)

The same question in other places

Ucluelet · Gold River · Port Alberni · Cumberland · Courtenay · Comox

Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
Zoning Bylaw No. 770 (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (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. How answers are checked.