How many dogs or cats you can keep in View Royal
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
In the Town of View Royal, more than four dogs per dwelling unit needs a kennel licence, and no more than five cats over four months old may be kept on a parcel. Limits also apply to rabbits, rodents and hens.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | More than four dogs per dwelling unit on a parcel requires a kennel licence. Section 5.10 counts any dogs; section 6.0 counts only dogs over eight months old.Sources differ: The two sections differ on whether puppies count. Not resolved in the text.Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), s. 5.10, 6.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmore than four dogs without holding a valid kennel licence issued under this Bylaw. more than four (4) dogs over the age of eight (8) months |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | No more than five cats over four months old on any parcel.Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), s. 7.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall own, possess or harbour more than five (5) cats over the age of four (4) months |
| Other animal limits | Rabbits: no more than ten over 12 weeks old on a parcel, except as the Land Use Bylaw permits. Rodents: no more than ten over 12 weeks old. Hens: no more than four (R-1, R-1A, R-1B zones). Wild or exotic animals (Schedule D) may not be kept.Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), s. 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall own, possess or harbour more than ten (10) rabbits over the age of twelve (12) No person shall keep any more than ten (10) rodents over the age of twelve (12) weeks on any a) No more than four (4) hens may be kept on a property No person shall keep a “wild or exotic animal” anywhere within the Town. |
| Exceptions | A boarding kennel licence ($200) allows more than four dogs. Rabbits over ten are allowed where the Land Use Bylaw permits. The P-4 zone allows up to 50 chickens.Fees and Charges Bylaw 958 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), Schedule A, Kennel Fees; Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), s. 5.10, 8.1; Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), s. 4.4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKennel Fees Boarding Kennel licence $200.00 without holding a valid kennel licence issued under this Bylaw. except as permitted in the Land Use Bylaw a) No more than 50 chickens may be kept on a lot. |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: kennel licence missing $100 (ss. 5.10 and 6.0); more than five cats $50; more than ten rabbits $50; more than ten rodents $50; hen limit exceeded $100.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 643, Schedule 13 (PDF, to May 2026), Schedule 13, Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFailure to obtain a valid Kennel licence 5.10 $100. More than five Cats on parcel of land 7.0 $50. More than ten (10) rabbits on parcel of land 8.1 $50. More than ten (10) rodents on parcel of land 8.2 $50. Hen limit exceeded 8.0 (a) 886 $100. |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005.” |
How it works
Animal Control Bylaw 614 sets pet limits for View Royal, and the CRD enforces them.
Limits
- Dogs: more than four per dwelling unit on a parcel needs a kennel licence.
- Cats: no more than five over four months old on any parcel.
- Rabbits: no more than ten over 12 weeks old on a parcel, unless the Land Use Bylaw permits more.
- Rodents: no more than ten over 12 weeks old.
- Hens: no more than four in the R-1, R-1A and R-1B zones (see the backyard chickens answer).
- Wild or exotic animals listed in Schedule D of the bylaw may not be kept.
Good to know
- Sections 5.10 and 6.0 of the bylaw disagree on whether puppies count toward the dog limit: one counts any dogs, the other only dogs over eight months old. Ask the CRD before relying on the higher number.
- A boarding kennel licence ($200) allows more than four dogs. The P-4 zone allows up to 50 chickens under the Zoning Bylaw.
- Every dog over four months old still needs its own licence.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Esquimalt · Colwood · Victoria · Langford · Saanich · Highlands
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 643, Schedule 13 (PDF, to May 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 958 (PDF, consolidated September 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.