How many dogs or cats you can keep in Abbotsford
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.
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.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D; Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide (2021), Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA 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. Residents are limited to 5 pets per property including not more than 3 dogs or 3 cats. |
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| 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.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D; Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide (2021), Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA 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. Residents are limited to 5 pets per property including not more than 3 dogs or 3 cats. |
| 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.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part B, D, H, I; s. 35, 38 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmeans 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 |
| 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.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part D; s. 33; Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 120 Definitions; https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400210, s. 210.1.3; Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR), s. 310.1.12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexcept 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 group of pens or cages for the breeding or boarding, including Pet Daycare, of four more dogs or cats Breeding and Boarding Kennel Breeding and Boarding Kennel |
| Fine | $100 for excess pets (FVRD bylaw notice; $90 if paid within 14 days, $110 if paid more than 28 days after).FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), Schedule A-3, Part D; FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), s. 5.2, 5.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingD Excess Pets $100 $90 $110 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 |
| Bylaw | Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (Part D, Pets)FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part A and D · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 D. PETS |
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
The same question in other places
Mission · Township of Langley · Chilliwack · Langley City · Maple Ridge · Pitt Meadows
Sources
- FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide (2021) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 120 Definitions (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR) (read 2026-11-05)
- 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. How answers are checked.