How many dogs or cats you can keep in Victoria

How many dogs or cats can I keep?

Victoria, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In the City of Victoria you may keep no more than six dogs and cats in total on one lot; dogs and cats count together. Dogs and cats under 12 weeks old are not counted. Rabbits, guinea pigs and poultry have their own limits.

Key facts

Dogs allowed	No more than six dogs and cats in total on a lot (dogs and cats count together). Each self-contained dwelling unit on a lot counts as a separate lot if no animals are kept on shared or common property or outside buildings.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), s. 25(1), (5) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person may have on a lot more than six dogs or cats, or any combination of dogs or cats greater than six, each self-contained dwelling unit on a lot shall be considered a separate lot
Cats allowed	Same combined limit: six dogs and cats in total per lot. The bylaw sets no separate cat limit.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), s. 25(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person may have on a lot more than six dogs or cats, or any combination of dogs or cats greater than six,
Other animal limits	Rabbits and guinea pigs: no more than four in total per lot. Poultry: no more than fifteen female chickens or other poultry per lot. Farm animals, roosters and peafowl may not be kept (with limited exceptions).Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), s. 25(2), (3); s. 27(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person may keep, or allow to be kept, at any one time, on a lot more than four rabbits or guinea pigs more than fifteen female chickens or other poultry A person must not keep a
Exceptions	Dogs and cats younger than 12 weeks are not counted. The dog/cat and rabbit/guinea pig limits do not apply to animals at a vet during business hours, at a groomer or animal daycare where zoning allows it, or at an animal shelter or veterinary hospital. Council may exempt a person or property by resolution in cases of undue hardship.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), s. 25(1), (4); s. 3A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording except for dogs and cats that are younger than the age of 12 weeks. Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to animals kept: Council may, by resolution, exempt a person or property from the application of that provision.
Fine	Bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017): $100 for keeping an excess number of dogs (s. 25); $75 if paid within 14 days, $125 if unpaid 15 days after receipt. Municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071): $100, or $75 if paid within 30 days. No ticket is listed for too many cats, rabbits or poultry.Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule C; Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Keep excess number 25 $100.00 $75.00 25 Keep excess number of dogs $100.00 $25.00 $25.00
Bylaw	Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 11-044Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 (consolidated to July 2022), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW BYLAW NO. 11-044 This consolidation is a copy of a bylaw consolidated under the authority of

How it works

The Animal Responsibility Bylaw 11-044 allows no more than six dogs and cats in total on a lot. Dogs and cats count together, and the bylaw sets no separate cat limit. Each self-contained dwelling unit on a lot counts as a separate lot if no animals are kept on shared or common property or outside buildings.

Good to know

Rabbits and guinea pigs: no more than four in total per lot.
Poultry: no more than fifteen female chickens or other poultry per lot. Farm animals, roosters and peafowl may not be kept, with limited exceptions.
Dogs and cats younger than 12 weeks are not counted.
The dog and cat limit and the rabbit and guinea pig limit do not apply to animals at a vet during business hours, at a groomer or animal daycare where zoning allows it, or at an animal shelter or veterinary hospital.
Council may exempt a person or property by resolution in cases of undue hardship.
Keeping too many dogs: a bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017) is $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if unpaid 15 days after receipt). A municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071) is $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days). No ticket is listed for too many cats, rabbits or poultry.