{"title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in West Kelowna","question":"How many dogs or cats can I keep?","slug":"how-many-pets","place":{"path":"ca/bc/west-kelowna","name":"West Kelowna","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"regional","owner_label":"Regional district","owner_body":{"name":"Regional District of Central Okanagan","url":"https://www.rdco.com"},"short_answer":"In West Kelowna, no more than 3 dogs over three months old may be kept in a house or dwelling unit, under the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) dog bylaw. No fixed number is set for cats, only pets \"in a reasonable number\" that do not bother neighbours.","aliases":["dog limit west kelowna","cat limit west kelowna","how many dogs can i have","kennel licence rdco"],"cost":"Hobby kennel permit $125. More than 3 dogs: RDCO bylaw notice $100 or municipal ticket $100. Too many animals on a small lot: City $200; RDCO's own schedules list $150 first offence and $250.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"RDCO Dog Control","value":"250-469-6284"},{"type":"phone","label":"RDCO dog licences","value":"250-469-6344"},{"type":"phone","label":"City of West Kelowna Bylaw Compliance","value":"778-797-8810"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated PDF)","url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf"},{"title":"RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000 (PDF)","url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/pqxf2auy/bl0880-control-animals.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"West Kelowna dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"backyard-chickens","title":"West Kelowna backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/backyard-chickens/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/summerland","name":"Summerland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/penticton","name":"Penticton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/how-many-pets/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets/"},"facts":{"dog_limit":{"label":"Dogs allowed","value":"No more than 3 dogs over three months old in a house or dwelling unit. Guide and service dogs (registered under the Guide Animal Act) do not count toward the limit.","short":"Max 3 dogs","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"ss. 14, 15","quotes":["No person shall keep, harbour, or have in possession more than 3 dogs over the age of","Any dog registered under the Guide Animal Act and resides with a person for whom the"]},{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/","title":"Dog licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan","section":"Dog licences page","quotes":["Maximum of three dogs allowed per single family dwelling."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"cat_limit":{"label":"Cats allowed","value":"No fixed number is set. The Animal Control Bylaw allows pets 'in a reasonable number' if they are kept primarily within the household and do not create a nuisance to neighbours.","short":"No fixed number; a reasonable number","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/pqxf2auy/bl0880-control-animals.pdf","title":"RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000 (PDF)","section":"s. 2.4","quotes":["pets may be kept in a reasonable number on all parcels","primarily within the household to which they are associated and their","keeping does not create a nuisance to persons on adjacent parcels."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_limits":{"label":"Other animal limits","value":"Pets (all kinds) are allowed 'in a reasonable number', kept mainly in the household, without nuisance to neighbours. Livestock, poultry and rabbits are limited by lot size (see backyard-chickens). Pigeons: none under 400 m², up to 50 on lots 400 m² to 1 hectare.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/pqxf2auy/bl0880-control-animals.pdf","title":"RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000 (PDF)","section":"ss. 2.4, 2.7","quotes":["pets may be kept in a reasonable number on all parcels","On parcels of less than 400 m2 pigeon keeping will not be permitted.","On parcels greater than 400 m2 and less than 1 hectare in area not more than 50"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exceptions":{"label":"Exceptions","value":"More than 3 dogs are allowed only for a hobby kennel (4 to 20 dogs, with a Kennel Operation Permit and only where the zone permits it), a service kennel, a vet clinic, or a dog business that does not give overnight care. Hobby kennel caps: 4 dogs on 0.25 to 1 ha, 8 on 1 to 4 ha, 20 over 4 ha.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"ss. 14, 42","quotes":["except as provided","for persons operating a Hobby Kennel, Service Kennel, veterinary clinic, or other dog","On properties with a lot area of 0.25 hectares to 1 hectare, a maximum of 4","On properties with a lot area of 1 to 4 hectares, a maximum of 8 dogs may be","On properties with a lot area greater than 4 hectares, a maximum of 20 dogs"]},{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/","title":"Dog licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan","section":"Kennel licences","quotes":["Land use bylaws for each local government state whether or not a kennel is permitted and any other conditions that must be met."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"More than 3 dogs: RDCO bylaw notice $100 (early payment discount $25, late penalty $25); RDCO municipal ticket $100. Too many animals on a small lot (Animal Control Bylaw 880): City bylaw notice and ticket $200; RDCO's own schedules list $150 first offence and $250 for a municipal ticket.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf","title":"RDCO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Bylaw 1538, Schedule A, Appendix 1","quotes":["Keep more than 3 dogs 14 100.00 25.00 25.00 Y"]},{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/fknipfoc/bl1537-ticket-information-and-utilization-consolidated.pdf","title":"RDCO Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Bylaw 1537, Schedule B, Appendix 1","quotes":["Keep more than 3 dogs 14 100.00"]},{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/n4hdhy3i/b0093-bylaw-dispute-adjudication-consolidated.pdf","title":"City of West Kelowna Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Bylaw 0093, Schedule 3","quotes":["Keep animals on undersize parcel 2.1.1 $200.00","Ticket offences for Regional District of Central Okanagan Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":true},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014 (dogs); Regional District of Central Okanagan Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000 (other animals).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 2","quotes":["Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014"]},{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/pqxf2auy/bl0880-control-animals.pdf","title":"RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.2","quotes":["Regional District of Central Okanagan Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nDog numbers in West Kelowna are set by the RDCO's [Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf), not by the City. The limit is 3 dogs over three months old in a house or dwelling unit. For other pets, the RDCO [Animal Control Bylaw No. 880](https://www.rdco.com/media/pqxf2auy/bl0880-control-animals.pdf) allows pets \"in a reasonable number\" if they are kept mainly within the household and do not create a nuisance to neighbours. It sets no number for cats.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Count dogs over three months old in your home. If you have 3 or fewer, license each one with the RDCO.\n2. To keep more, you need a hobby kennel (4 to 20 dogs) with a Kennel Operation Permit ($125), and only where your zone allows it.\n3. Ask RDCO Dog Control (250-469-6284) or City Bylaw Compliance about your property.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Guide and service dogs registered under the Guide Animal Act do not count toward the 3-dog limit.\n- More than 3 dogs is also allowed for a service kennel, a vet clinic, or a dog business that does not give overnight care.\n- Hobby kennel caps: 4 dogs on 0.25 to 1 hectare, 8 on 1 to 4 hectares, 20 over 4 hectares.\n- Livestock, poultry and rabbits are limited by lot size (see backyard-chickens). Pigeons: none under 400 m²; up to 50 on lots of 400 m² to 1 hectare.\n- Fines: more than 3 dogs is a $100 RDCO bylaw notice (early-payment discount $25, late penalty $25) or a $100 RDCO municipal ticket. For too many animals on a small lot, the City's bylaw notice and ticket are $200, but the RDCO's own schedules list $150 first offence and $250 for a ticket. Confirm which applies with the City or RDCO.\n- Cats: no limit and no licence is stated in the bylaws read.","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/sueey4fq/bl1343-consolidated-regulate-license-control-responsible-dog-ownership-2023.pdf","title":"RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/media/pqxf2auy/bl0880-control-animals.pdf","title":"RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/living-here/dog-licences-and-control/dog-licences/","title":"Dog licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/vovoh2ok/bl1538-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-consolidated.pdf","title":"RDCO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/rdco-ca/media/fknipfoc/bl1537-ticket-information-and-utilization-consolidated.pdf","title":"RDCO Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/n4hdhy3i/b0093-bylaw-dispute-adjudication-consolidated.pdf","title":"City of West Kelowna Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/how-many-pets/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/how-many-pets.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/how-many-pets.json"}}