---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Armstrong
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?"
place: Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/armstrong
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Armstrong
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Armstrong

**Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep?

**Short answer:** In the City of Armstrong, no more than two dogs may be kept in a residential dwelling unit. No official source we read sets a limit on cats, but companion animals must not become a nuisance.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Armstrong, https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca)  
**Cost:** Not applicable. A ticket for exceeding two dogs is $500 ($300 if paid within 30 days).  
**Where:**
- Phone: City Hall, 250-546-3023
- Email: City Hall, info@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than two dogs in a residential dwelling unit. The bylaw defines a dwelling unit as a single-family residential unit.
  - Source: [Dog Care and Control Bylaw No. 1873, 2021, s. 6(l)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/138896)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep or harbour more than two (2) dogs within a" … "residential dwelling unit"
  - Source: [Dog Care and Control Bylaw No. 1873, 2021, s. 2.1](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/138896)
  - Official wording: "Dwelling Unit means a single-family residential unit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** None set. Armstrong sets no number limit on cats.
- **Other animal limits:** Backyard hens: at most 6 (see backyard chickens). Backyard bees: at most 3 colonies and/or 3 nucleus hives. Companion animals (cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, birds, reptiles): no number limit found, but they must not become a nuisance. Livestock only on lots in an Agricultural zone or where the Zoning Bylaw expressly allows.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018, s. 7.4(c) and 6.4(d)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/161485)
  - Official wording: "maximum number of hens is no greater than six (6);" … "the Beekeeper shall keep not more than three (3) colonies and or three (3)"
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018, s. 5.1](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/161485)
  - Official wording: "No companion animal will become a nuisance animal to neighbours."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024, s. 3.3.1(g)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of livestock, except on a lot within an Agricultural zone or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** Unweaned offspring of a dog count together with the mother as a single dog. Livestock may be kept on lots in an Agricultural zone.
  - Source: [Dog Care and Control Bylaw No. 1873, 2021, s. 6(m)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/138896)
  - Official wording: "All unweaned offspring of a dog together with the female parent shall be" … "deemed to constitute a single dog for the purpose of this bylaw"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024, s. 3.3.1(g)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of livestock, except on a lot within an Agricultural zone or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Exceeding two dogs: $500, or $300 if paid within 30 days of receiving the ticket.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1889, 2022, Schedule 4](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165574)
  - Official wording: "Exceeding two dogs 6 (m) $500.00 $300.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1889, 2022, Schedule 4, s. 5(b)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165574)
  - Official wording: "Column 4 represents the fine payable if payment is received within 30 days"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Armstrong Dog Care and Control Bylaw No. 1873, 2021 (dogs); Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018 (hens, bees, nuisance animals); Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (livestock).
  - Source: [Dog Care and Control Bylaw No. 1873, 2021, s. 1 (Title)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/138896)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as "City of Armstrong Dog Care and Control Bylaw No. 1873,"
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018, s. 1.2](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/161485)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “City of Armstrong Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018”."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024, s. 3.3.1(g)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of livestock, except on a lot within an Agricultural zone or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Armstrong's [Dog Care and Control Bylaw](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/138896) allows no more than two dogs in a residential dwelling unit. Unweaned puppies count together with their mother as a single dog; the bylaw does not give an age. It defines a dwelling unit as a single-family residential unit. No kennel licence or other exception was found.

No official source we read sets a limit on cats. Other companion animals (cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, birds and reptiles) have no number limit either, but they must not become a nuisance.

## Good to know

- Under the [Good Neighbour Bylaw](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/161485), a companion animal must not become a nuisance animal.
- Backyard hens are limited to 6 and bees to 3 colonies and/or 3 nucleus hives; see the backyard chickens answer.
- Livestock is allowed only on lots in an Agricultural zone or where the [Zoning Bylaw](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358) expressly allows it.
- A ticket for exceeding two dogs is $500 ($300 if paid within 30 days). No fine for other animal-number limits was found.

## Official forms and pages

- [Keeping of Animals, City of Armstrong](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/departments/keeping-of-animals/)
- [Dog Care and Control Bylaw No. 1873, 2021 (PDF)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/138896)
- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018 (PDF)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/161485)

## Related questions

- [Armstrong dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/dog-licence.md)
- [Armstrong backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/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)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/how-many-pets.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/how-many-pets.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/how-many-pets.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/how-many-pets.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/how-many-pets.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Dog Care and Control Bylaw No. 1873, 2021 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/138896) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Keeping of Animals, City of Armstrong](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/departments/keeping-of-animals/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/161485) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1889, 2022, Schedule 4 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165574) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Armstrong. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/how-many-pets/_