{"title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Ashcroft","question":"How many dogs or cats can I keep in Ashcroft?","slug":"how-many-pets","place":{"path":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Ashcroft","url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca"},"short_answer":"In Ashcroft, you may keep no more than two dogs over 3 months old in a residential area, unless the property is zoned Rural Residential and you buy a kennel licence. The bylaws we read state no limit on cats.","aliases":["how many dogs ashcroft","pet limit ashcroft","kennel licence ashcroft","how many cats ashcroft"],"cost":"Kennel licence $150, plus the dog licences.","how_long":"The limits apply at all times.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office (ask about zoning and kennel licences)","value":"250-453-9161","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"bylaw@ashcroftbc.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Dog Control and Pound Operation Bylaw No. 832 (PDF)","url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Dog-Control-and-Pound-Operation-Bylaw-No.-832.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Ashcroft dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"backyard-chickens","title":"Ashcroft backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/backyard-chickens/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Ashcroft dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Ashcroft zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/logan-lake","name":"Logan Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lillooet","name":"Lillooet","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/merritt","name":"Merritt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sun-peaks","name":"Sun Peaks","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/how-many-pets/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets/"},"facts":{"dog_limit":{"label":"Dogs allowed","value":"No more than two dogs over 3 months old in a residentially zoned area, unless the property is zoned Rural Residential and a kennel licence has been bought.","short":"Max two dogs (more with kennel licence in rural zone)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Dog-Control-and-Pound-Operation-Bylaw-No.-832.pdf","title":"Dog Control and Pound Operation Bylaw No. 832, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 5.9","quotes":["No more than two (2) dogs over the age of three (3) months shall be kept in a residentially zoned area in the Village at one time, unless the property is zoned Rural Residential and a kennel license has been purchased for the property."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"cat_limit":{"label":"Cats allowed","value":null,"status":"none","note":"The Ashcroft bylaws that were read set no limit on cats.","sources":[]},"other_limits":{"label":"Other animal limits","value":"Hens: at most 4 per parcel (Good Neighbour Bylaw). Bees: 1 colony on parcels under 1,100 m², 2 on parcels 1,100 m² or larger. Pigeons and other homing birds may not be kept.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 7.2, 7.3, 7.4","quotes":["A maximum of four (4) hens may be kept per parcel for personal egg consumption only.","No more than two (2) colonies of bees are permitted on parcels 1,100 m² or larger.","No more than one (1) colony of bees is permitted on parcels smaller than 1,100 m².","is not permitted within the Village of Ashcroft."]},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 3.13","quotes":["Pigeon keeping is prohibited in all zones."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exceptions":{"label":"Exceptions","value":"Three or more dogs need a kennel licence ($150), and the kennel needs a building permit and must meet the bylaw's conditions (floor space, provincial rules, Code of Practice). More than two dogs in a residentially zoned area is allowed only on Rural Residential land with a kennel licence. Dogs under 3 months are not counted.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Dog-Control-and-Pound-Operation-Bylaw-No.-832.pdf","title":"Dog Control and Pound Operation Bylaw No. 832, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 5.9","quotes":["The following Kennel provisions apply to all dogs except those under three (3) months of age:","Every owner of three (3) or more dogs shall possess a valid and subsisting kennel license.","A building permit for the kennel has been obtained","No more than two (2) dogs over the age of three (3) months shall be kept in a residentially"]},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw-No.-887-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Fees-and-Charges.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 887, 2026, Schedule G, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"Schedule G","quotes":["Replacement of lost or damaged tag $5.00 Kennel $150.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Exceeding the permitted number of hens (s. 7.2): bylaw notice $130, or $91 if paid within 5 days and $169 after 30 days; $300 for a 2nd offence and $500 for a 3rd or later.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["The following contraventions are designated as ticketable offences under Bylaw No. 845.","Contravention Section Penalty Early Late 2nd 3rd+ Payment Payment Offence Offences (within 5 (after 30 days) days)","Exceeding permitted 7.2 $130 $91 $169 $300 $500 number of hens"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Dog Control and Pound Operation Bylaw No. 832, 2019 (dogs); Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025 (hens, bees, pigeons).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Dog-Control-and-Pound-Operation-Bylaw-No.-832.pdf","title":"Dog Control and Pound Operation Bylaw No. 832, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["Dog Control and Pound Operation Bylaw No. 832, 2019"]},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be cited as the \"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025\"."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Dog Control and Pound Operation Bylaw No. 832](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Dog-Control-and-Pound-Operation-Bylaw-No.-832.pdf) allows no more than two dogs over 3 months old in a residentially zoned area. Dogs under 3 months are not counted. The one exception is land zoned Rural Residential, where you may keep more with a kennel licence.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. If you want three or more dogs, check with the Village that your property is zoned Rural Residential.\n2. Buy a kennel licence ($150, plus the dog licences).\n3. Get a building permit for the kennel. It must meet the bylaw's conditions on floor space, provincial rules and the Code of Practice.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Cats: the bylaws we read set no limit on cats. Ask the Village if you are unsure.\n- Other animals: the [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf) allows at most 4 hens per parcel and one bee colony on a parcel under 1,100 m² or two on a larger one. Pigeons and other homing birds may not be kept. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 890](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) sets a different hen limit in the RR1 zone, so see the chickens answer.\n- Keeping more hens than allowed brings a bylaw notice of $130 ($91 if paid within 5 days, $169 after 30 days). A 2nd offence is $300 and a 3rd or later is $500.\n- We found no ticket amount for keeping too many dogs.","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Dog-Control-and-Pound-Operation-Bylaw-No.-832.pdf","title":"Dog Control and Pound Operation Bylaw No. 832, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw-No.-887-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Fees-and-Charges.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 887, 2026, Schedule G, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/how-many-pets/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/how-many-pets.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/how-many-pets.json"}}