How many dogs or cats you can keep in White Rock

How many dogs or cats can I keep?

White Rock, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

White Rock's Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw allows no more than three dogs on any property, and no kennels. It sets no limit on cats. Exotic animals, livestock and poultry are banned.

Key facts

Dogs allowed	No more than three dogs on any real property. Dogs under four months old are not counted. A kennel (more than three dogs) is not allowed.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), ss. 3, 4, 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep or allow to be kept on any real property more than three dogs. No person shall keep, own or operate a kennel. excludes any dog under the age of four months
Cats allowed	The bylaw sets no limit on cats.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 3 'pet' · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording “pet” means any domestic animal other than livestock or poultry kept within a
Other animal limits	Exotic animals (Schedule D), livestock, poultry and aviaries are banned. Bees: no more than two colonies per lot, only on lots zoned RS1 or RS4, at least 15 feet from any property line.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 7, s. 45, Schedule D; Bee Keeping Bylaw 1992, No. 1313, s. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall possess or keep in any area, temporarily or permanently, any species individual or any exotic animal. any livestock, poultry, aviary, or apiary except as permitted pursuant to City of White Rock Bee Keeping Snakes, except those designated as wildlife by Provincial enactment No person shall keep more that two (2) colonies of bees on any lot. No person shall keep more that two (2) colonies of bees on any Beehives shall only be permitted on a property that is zoned RSl
Exceptions	The limit and the kennel ban do not apply to a City-authorized animal shelter, BC SPCA premises, a retail pet store, a veterinary hospital, or an educational institution's research or teaching premises.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The prohibitions in Sections 4 and 5 do not apply to: An animal control shelter authorized by the City; A retail pet store; A veterinary hospital under the control of a veterinarian registered
Fine	Operating a kennel (s. 5): $500. Keeping an exotic animal, livestock or poultry: $150 first offence, $250 second, $500 third and later. The ticket schedule has no separate line for the three-dog limit in s. 4. Court fine under the bylaw: $1,000 to $10,000.Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 2011, No. 1929 (consolidated), Schedule B3; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 53 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Operating a kennel $500.00 Keeping an exotic animal $150.00 1st shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).
Bylaw	Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025)Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw 2012, No. 1959 (consolidated April 2025), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as "Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw, 2012, No. 1959."

How it works

The City of White Rock limits dogs, not cats. The Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw says no more than three dogs may be kept on any real property. Dogs under four months old are not counted. A kennel (more than three dogs) is not allowed. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.

Good to know

The limit and kennel ban do not apply to a City-authorized animal shelter, BC SPCA premises, a retail pet store, a veterinary hospital, or an educational institution's research or teaching premises.
Exotic animals (listed in Schedule D of the bylaw), livestock, poultry and aviaries are banned. See the backyard chickens answer.
Bees: no more than two colonies per lot, only on lots zoned RS1 or RS4, at least 15 feet from any property line. Those zone names come from a 1992 bylaw and predate the 2024 Zoning Bylaw, so ask Bylaw Enforcement how this applies today.
Fines: operating a kennel $500. Keeping an exotic animal, livestock or poultry is $150, then $250, then $500. The ticket schedule has no separate line for the three-dog limit. A court fine under the bylaw can be $1,000 to $10,000.
Every dog needs a licence. See the dog licence answer.