How many dogs can you have in Oakville?
No more than three dogs over six months of age on any one premises you own or occupy.
Guide
Oakville animal control by-law
How many dogs and cats, what counts as at large, picking up, biting dogs and the penalty.
Summary
An Oakville household may keep no more than three dogs over six months old, and no more than six dogs and cats combined counting dogs over six months and cats over three months. A dog is 'at large' anywhere off the owner's property and not under a person's control. The owner must remove a dog's excrement from any land in Oakville, forthwith. The administrative penalty is $300.
How many animals you may keep
Is there a limit on dogs and cats together?
Yes, and it is the rule most people miss. No premises may keep more than six animals in any combination of dogs over six months old and cats over three months old.
The restriction does not apply to the operator of a pet shop or a boarding kennel licensed under the Licensing By-law, or to a person approved by the Humane Society.
Can I keep pigeons in Oakville?
Only one, unless you provide and maintain suitable lofts or cages and are a member in good standing of a recognised pigeon club whose sole objects are racing or showing pigeons. Keeping pigeons for consumption as food is prohibited.
Off the property
What does 'at large' mean for a dog in Oakville?
The by-law defines at large as being found in any place other than the owner's property and not under the control of any person. A dog on a sidewalk under control is not at large; the same dog loose is.
Leash length itself is set by the Parks By-law for parks: no longer than two metres.
What can I do about a dog loose on my property?
The by-law contemplates an animal running at large and trespassing on private property, or running at large on public property, being delivered into the custody of an Animal Control Officer.
Picking up after a dog
Do I have to pick up after my dog in Oakville?
Yes. The owner and keeper of every dog must forthwith remove, or have removed, any excrement the dog leaves on land within the Town of Oakville.
The duty is not limited to parks or sidewalks — it reads as any land within the Town.
Biting and dangerous dogs
What happens after a dog bites someone in Oakville?
The owner must affix a biting dog identification tag, provided by the Humane Society, to the dog's collar at all times.
What is a 'potentially dangerous dog' order?
Where an Animal Control Officer has reason to believe a dog is potentially dangerous, the officer may issue and serve on the owner an Animal Control Order declaring it so. The by-law defines a potentially dangerous dog as one that, absent a mitigating factor, approaches or behaves in the way the definition sets out.
This is a municipal order and separate from provincial proceedings about a dog.
Penalties
What is the fine under the Oakville animal control by-law?
A penalty notice carries an administrative penalty of $300, or the amount in the Town's rates and fees schedule if revised, with a further notice available where the same person contravenes the same provision again.
Sources
Town of Oakville
By-law 2018-006, animal control, consolidated to 28 March 2022