--- title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Abbotsford question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?" place: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/abbotsford category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: regional owner_body: Fraser Valley Regional District sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/how-many-pets/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/how-many-pets.json" --- # How many dogs or cats you can keep in Abbotsford **Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep? **Short answer:** In Abbotsford, the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) Animal Control bylaw allows no more than 3 dogs and no more than 3 cats over four months old on a property, within a total of 5 pets, unless zoning or other regulations permit more. **Who handles it:** Regional district (Fraser Valley Regional District, https://www.fvrd.ca) **Cost:** Fine for excess pets: $100 FVRD bylaw notice ($90 if paid within 14 days, $110 if paid more than 28 days after). **Where:** - Phone: FVRD Animal Control, 1-844-495-CARE ## Key facts - **Dogs allowed:** No more than 3 dogs on a property, within a total of 5 pets, unless zoning or other regulations permit more. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "A person must not keep or allow to be kept on any real property more than a total of 5" … "pets consisting of not more than three dogs or not more than three cats over the age of 4" … "months, except as permitted pursuant to applicable zoning or other regulations." - Source: [Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide (2021), Animal Control](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Abbotsford%20Good%20Neighbour%20Guide.pdf) - Official wording: "Residents are limited to 5 pets per property including not more than 3 dogs or 3 cats." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cats allowed:** No more than 3 cats over the age of 4 months, within a total of 5 pets, unless zoning or other regulations permit more. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "A person must not keep or allow to be kept on any real property more than a total of 5" … "pets consisting of not more than three dogs or not more than three cats over the age of 4" … "months, except as permitted pursuant to applicable zoning or other regulations." - Source: [Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide (2021), Animal Control](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Abbotsford%20Good%20Neighbour%20Guide.pdf) - Official wording: "Residents are limited to 5 pets per property including not more than 3 dogs or 3 cats." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Other animal limits:** Combined limit of 5 pets per property. 'Pet' means a common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife, livestock or poultry. Exotic animals listed in Schedule D are banned unless permitted by municipal regulation. Livestock and poultry are not allowed unless zoning permits. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part B, D, H, I; s. 35, 38](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "means any common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife," … "livestock or poultry kept within a residence or on real property;" … "No person shall possess or keep in any area, temporarily or permanently, any species" … "livestock or poultry or animals typically requiring the presence of an aviary or apiary are not kept on any real property, except as permitted" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Exceptions:** Zoning or other regulations can permit more than the FVRD limit. A Breeding and Boarding Kennel (four or more dogs or cats) is a permitted use in the A1 and Rural Residential zones. Four or more dogs trigger extra care rules. The limit counts cats over 4 months old; the bylaw is unclear whether younger puppies count. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part D; s. 33](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "except as permitted pursuant to applicable zoning or other regulations." … "a person keeping four or more dogs on a property must not cause or permit:" … "pets consisting of not more than three dogs or not more than three cats over the age of 4" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 120 Definitions](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400120) - Official wording: "group of pens or cages for the breeding or boarding, including Pet Daycare, of four" … "more dogs or cats" - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400210, s. 210.1.3](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400210) - Official wording: "Breeding and Boarding Kennel" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR), s. 310.1.12](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400310) - Official wording: "Breeding and Boarding Kennel" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine:** $100 for excess pets (FVRD bylaw notice; $90 if paid within 14 days, $110 if paid more than 28 days after). - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), Schedule A-3, Part D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "D Excess Pets $100 $90 $110" - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), s. 5.2, 5.3](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "received by the Registry within 14 days of a person receiving or being presumed to have" … "payment is received more than 28 days after a person received or is presumed to have" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (Part D, Pets) - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part A and D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation" … "Bylaw No. 1206, 2013" … "D. PETS" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The FVRD [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206]() applies in Abbotsford. A property may have no more than 3 dogs and no more than 3 cats over the age of 4 months, within a combined limit of 5 pets, unless zoning or other regulations permit more. "Pet" means a common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife, livestock or poultry. ## Good to know - Exotic animals listed in Schedule D of the bylaw are banned unless a municipal regulation permits them. - Livestock and poultry are not allowed unless zoning permits them. See the backyard chickens answer. - A Breeding and Boarding Kennel (four or more dogs or cats) is a permitted use in the A1 and Rural Residential zones. Four or more dogs also trigger extra care rules in the bylaw. - The bylaw wording is unclear on whether puppies under 4 months count toward the limit. Ask FVRD Animal Control at 1-844-495-CARE. - Excess pets bring a $100 bylaw notice ($90 if paid within 14 days, $110 if paid more than 28 days after). ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated, PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) ## Related questions - [Abbotsford dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dog-licence.md) - [Abbotsford backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/backyard-chickens.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md) - [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/how-many-pets.md) - [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/how-many-pets.md) - [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/how-many-pets.md) - [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/how-many-pets.md) - [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/how-many-pets.md) - [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/how-many-pets.md) ## Sources - [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide (2021) (PDF)](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Abbotsford%20Good%20Neighbour%20Guide.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 120 Definitions](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400120) (read 2026-11-05) - [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400310) (read 2026-11-05) - [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400210](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400210) (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. 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