Can I Take My Dog to the Fairmont Empress in Victoria?
By Anna Hakim & Perry Fanthorpe, Happy Homes Team at eXp Realty
Fairmont Empress Dog Policy:
Yes, the Fairmont Empress is genuinely dog-friendly. Pets stay free: no pet fee, and the room comes with a welcome kit sized to your dog, including a bed, water and feeding bowls, treats, a welcome card, and a toy. You sign a pet waiver form at check-in, and then the whole Inner Harbour is at the door.
The Empress sits at 721 Government Street on the waterfront, steps from the legislature grounds and a ten-minute walk from Beacon Hill Park. For locals it is the obvious staycation pick with a dog, and it answers a question we get from clients every season: yes, you can bring the dog.
What does the Empress pet policy actually include?
The official policy is simple and unusually generous: pets stay free. That means no pet fee at check-out, and the hotel sets the room up before you arrive. Dogs get a bed sized to them, water and feeding bowls, treats, a welcome card, and a toy. Cats get the same treatment, but this is a dog guide, so we will stay on topic.
The bed being sized to your dog matters more than it sounds. Ziggy is a Rottweiler, and he does not fit in a generic "small pet" bed, so the fact that the hotel asks and delivers the right size is the difference between a happy dog and a dog who sleeps on the floor anyway.
Can I leave my dog alone in the room?
No. Pets may not be left unattended in the room, so plan the day around your dog. If you want afternoon tea at Q in the lobby, one of you does tea while the other walks the dog around the harbour. If you want dinner out, book a patio or take turns.
This is the rule that surprises people, because the tea lobby is the whole reason many guests book the Empress. Realistic planning beats a surprise at check-in: the hotel is not a daycare, and the policy exists to keep rooms safe and neighbours quiet.
Does my dog get to come to afternoon tea?
No. Indoor food and beverage spaces follow standard food-service rules, so dogs stay out of the tea lobby and the dining rooms. Service animals are the exception. BC food premises regulations do not allow pets where food is prepared or served, and the Empress does not bend that for guests.
The workaround is easy. Book tea for two, and take turns: one of you enjoys the scones while the other takes the dog on the legislature loop, then swap. The grounds across the street are a short circuit, and leashed dogs are welcome on the legislature grounds year-round.
Where can I walk my dog around the Empress?
There is a lawn in front of the hotel set aside for pet relief, which is exactly what you need at 7 AM on a cold November morning. For real walks, the Inner Harbour loop starts at the hotel steps: along the waterfront, past the causeway and the floatplane docks, and around to the Fisherman's Wharf side if you have the legs for it.
Beacon Hill Park is about ten minutes on foot, and its south end has a designated off-leash meadow. The whole stretch from the Empress down to Dallas Road is one of the best dog walks in the city, and we have a full downtown walking routes guide with the distances and leash details.
Is a staycation here worth it with a dog?
For locals, yes, and the fall and winter months are the sweet spot. The harbour views, the heated lobby, and the location make it a genuinely different night than staying home, and your dog gets the same treatment you do instead of being left with a sitter.
Book ahead and say you are bringing a pet. Designated pet rooms are a subset of the inventory, and on weekends with events on the harbour they go fast. Ask for a higher floor away from the elevators if your dog startles at hallway noise.
Common questions about the Fairmont Empress dog policy
Can I bring two dogs to the Empress?
Yes. Up to two pets of any size are welcome in designated pet rooms, with no added fee. Both dogs get the welcome kit, and you sign one pet waiver form at check-in.
Is there really no pet fee?
Correct. The hotel waives pet fees, so the welcome kit and the room setup are included in your room rate. Confirm when you book so the policy is on your reservation.
Where does my dog go to the bathroom?
A lawn in front of the hotel is set aside for pet relief, and Beacon Hill Park is a ten-minute walk away. Bring bags; the harbourfront is heavily used and the city fines for leaving waste.
Does the Empress allow dogs in the dining rooms?
No. Food-service rules keep pets out of indoor dining and the tea lobby. Service animals are the exception. Plan a walk-and-tea swap with your partner or a friend.
In this part of the city, the harbourfront is a daily dog loop, not a holiday. If a home within walking distance of the water, the park, and this stretch of Government Street sounds right, our James Bay neighbourhood guide covers what living here actually means with a dog. Or book a call with the Happy Homes Team and we will help you find the right walk-to-park setup.
By Anna Hakim & Perry Fanthorpe
Happy Homes Team at eXp Realty, Victoria BC
Last updated: October 2, 2026
Anna and Perry are Greater Victoria Realtors, AI Certified through KREM Institute, and dog parents to Ziggy the Rottweiler and Sahara the Lab mix. They have stayed at the Empress with their dogs and factor harbourfront walkability into every downtown neighbourhood recommendation they make.