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How many dogs or cats you can keep in West Kelowna

How many dogs or cats can I keep?

West Kelowna, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Dogs allowedNo 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.RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), ss. 14, 15; Dog licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Dog licences page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Maximum of three dogs allowed per single family dwelling.
Cats allowedNo 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.RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000, s. 2.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
Other animal limitsPets (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.RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000, ss. 2.4, 2.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
ExceptionsMore 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.RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), ss. 14, 42; Dog licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Kennel licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Land use bylaws for each local government state whether or not a kennel is permitted and any other conditions that must be met.
FineMore 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.Sources differ: see the sources below.RDCO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated), Bylaw 1538, Schedule A, Appendix 1; RDCO Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated), Bylaw 1537, Schedule B, Appendix 1; City of West Kelowna Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated), Bylaw 0093, Schedule 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Keep more than 3 dogs 14 100.00 25.00 25.00 Y
Keep more than 3 dogs 14 100.00
Keep animals on undersize parcel 2.1.1 $200.00
Ticket offences for Regional District of Central Okanagan Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000.
BylawRegional 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).RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated), s. 2; RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000, s. 4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Regional District of Central Okanagan Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 2014
Regional District of Central Okanagan Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000

How it works

Dog numbers in West Kelowna are set by the RDCO's Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343, 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 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.

Steps

  1. Count dogs over three months old in your home. If you have 3 or fewer, license each one with the RDCO.
  2. 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.
  3. Ask RDCO Dog Control (250-469-6284) or City Bylaw Compliance about your property.

Good to know

  • Guide and service dogs registered under the Guide Animal Act do not count toward the 3-dog limit.
  • More than 3 dogs is also allowed for 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 hectare, 8 on 1 to 4 hectares, 20 over 4 hectares.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Cats: no limit and no licence is stated in the bylaws read.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Peachland · Lake Country · Summerland · Penticton · Vernon · Coldstream

Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. RDCO Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw No. 1343 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. RDCO Animal Control Bylaw No. 880, 2000 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Dog licences, Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-05)
  4. RDCO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1538 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. RDCO Ticket Information and Utilization Bylaw No. 1537 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  6. City of West Kelowna Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated) (PDF) (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.