---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in West Vancouver
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep in West Vancouver?"
place: West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/west-vancouver
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of West Vancouver
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in West Vancouver

**Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep in West Vancouver?

**Short answer:** West Vancouver allows up to three dogs and six cats per home. Each dog over six months must wear a current District tag.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of West Vancouver, https://westvancouver.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 604-925-7000

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** West Vancouver allows up to three dogs and six cats per home.
  - Source: [Dogs](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/dogs)
  - Official wording: "* no more than three dogs are allowed per home—and no more than six cats"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Cats allowed:** Up to six cats per home.
  - Source: [Dogs](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/dogs)
  - Official wording: "* no more than three dogs are allowed per home—and no more than six cats"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Other animal limits:** Not confirmed. Checked Dogs, Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008; not found there.
- **Exceptions:** The three-dog limit exempts the animal control facility and lawfully licensed pet stores, veterinary clinics, pet care establishments and dog-walking businesses.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, Section 6.3.1, number of dogs](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf)
  - Official wording: "6.3 Number of Dogs Allowed 6.3.1 No person may keep, or permit to be kept, more than three dogs on any parcel except at the Animal Control Facility, or in the lawful and licensed operation of a pet store, veterinary medical clinic, pet care establishment, or a Dog Walking Business."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Fine:** Keeping more than three dogs carries a $500 notice ($475 early, $500 late).
  - Source: [Consolidated Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4368, 2004, Animal Control and Licence schedule, section 6.3.1](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4368%20BYLAW%20NOTICE%20ENFORCEMENT%20BYLAW%204368%202004%20%28CONSOLIDATED%20UP%20TO%20AMENDMENT%20BYLAW%205315%202024%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Amendment Section Description Late Bylaw No. Penalty Payment Payment Available (*Maximum 50% Penalty Penalty Reduction in Penalty Amount Where Compliance Agreement is Shown as “Yes”)" … "Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008" … "4559, 2008 6.3.1 Keep more than three dogs $500.00 $475.00 $500.00 YES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, PDF p. 1, bylaw title and consolidation](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 Effective Date – June 2, 2008 Consolidated for Convenience Only This is a consolidation of the bylaws below. The amendment bylaws have been combined with the original bylaw for convenience only. This consolidation is not a legal document. Certified copies of the original bylaws should be consulted for all"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

When counting pets, check who the limit applies to and which animals it includes. A rule written for one person, one household or one property can produce different answers for people sharing a home. The three-dog limit exempts the animal control facility and lawfully licensed pet stores, veterinary clinics, pet care establishments and dog-walking businesses.

## Steps

1. Read the household limits in [Dogs](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/dogs). List the species and ages of the animals that would live at the address, including the ones already there.
2. Read the wording for that species. If the plan involves boarding, breeding or fostering, ask whether the address and activity fall under a separate provision.

## Good to know

- Keeping more than three dogs carries a $500 notice ($475 early, $500 late).
- Apply online or at West Vancouver Community Centre, Gleneagles Community Centre or the West Vancouver SPCA.
- Give the office the actual numbers when asking about an exception. A licence for an individual animal answers a different question from how many may be kept together.
- For a question about the limit for your combination of animals and whether an exception applies, call the Municipal Hall at 604-925-7000.
- Read the applicable provisions in [Consolidated Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4368, 2004 (PDF)](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4368%20BYLAW%20NOTICE%20ENFORCEMENT%20BYLAW%204368%202004%20%28CONSOLIDATED%20UP%20TO%20AMENDMENT%20BYLAW%205315%202024%29.pdf) and [Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 (PDF)](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf).

## Related questions

- [West Vancouver dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dog-licence.md)
- [West Vancouver dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [West Vancouver rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/how-many-pets.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/how-many-pets.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/how-many-pets.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/how-many-pets.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/how-many-pets.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Dogs](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/dogs) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Dog licences and 2026 fees](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/dog-licences) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Consolidated Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4368, 2004 (PDF)](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4368%20BYLAW%20NOTICE%20ENFORCEMENT%20BYLAW%204368%202004%20%28CONSOLIDATED%20UP%20TO%20AMENDMENT%20BYLAW%205315%202024%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 (PDF)](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf) (read 2026-11-09)
- [West Vancouver municipal office contact information](https://westvancouver.ca/contact) (read 2026-11-09)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of West Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/how-many-pets/_