---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Chilliwack
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?"
place: Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/chilliwack
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/chilliwack/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Chilliwack

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

**Short answer:** In Chilliwack, the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) bylaw allows up to 5 pets on a property, with no more than 3 dogs or 3 cats over four months old, unless zoning permits otherwise. The City's Zoning Bylaw allows 5 pets (no more than 3 of one species) in some uses and only 3 pets in some zones.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Fraser Valley Regional District, https://www.fvrd.ca)  
**Cost:** Ticket for excess pets: $100 (FVRD ticket schedule).  
**Where:**
- Phone: FVRD Animal Control, 1-844-495-2273
- Phone: City Hall main reception (ask about zoning), 604-792-9311 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.)

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** FVRD bylaw: no more than three dogs over four months old on any real property, within a total of 5 pets, 'except as permitted pursuant to applicable zoning or other regulations'. City Zoning Bylaw 5000: where urban or rural ancillary uses apply, up to 5 pets with no more than 3 of any one species; in some zones (for example the R4 zone, and non-single-detached uses in the SCR zone) pets are limited to 3 in total.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part D (Pets)](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: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, s. 4.06(6)(a)(ii)(A), (7)(a)(ii)(A)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of PETS not exceeding 5 in number, provided no more than 3 are of any one species"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, s. 7.06(10)(b), 8.08(10)(a)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of PETS not exceeding 3 in number, and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Cats allowed:** FVRD bylaw: no more than three cats over four months old per property, within the 5-pet total, unless zoning or other regulations permit otherwise. Zoning Bylaw: no more than 3 of any one species where 5 pets are allowed; 3 pets in total in some multi-unit zones.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part D (Pets)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, s. 4.06(7)(a)(ii)(A)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of PETS not exceeding 5 in number, provided no more than 3 are of any one"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Other animal limits:** FVRD bylaw: total of 5 pets per property. 'Pet' means a common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife, livestock or poultry. Livestock, poultry and animals needing an aviary or apiary may be kept only where zoning and other regulations permit; exotic animals are prohibited except as the bylaw allows. A person keeping four or more dogs has extra rules (for example no aggressive dogs kept with other dogs), and one keeping more than five dogs must provide an indoor kennel area and outdoor exercise area for each dog, pursuant to zoning.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Definitions; s. 33-35, 38](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“pet” means any common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife," … "livestock or poultry kept within a residence or on real property;" … "a person keeping four or more" … "every person who keeps" … "more than five dogs must include, for each individual dog, both an indoor kennel area and an" … "are not kept on any real property, except as permitted" … "No person shall possess or keep in any area, temporarily or permanently, any species"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Exceptions:** The FVRD limit yields to 'applicable zoning or other regulations'. Under Zoning Bylaw 5000, a hobby kennel (no more than 5 pets, non-commercial) is a conditional agricultural use in the RR zone; a breeding kennel (no more than 10 dogs and cats over 4 months) or commercial kennel may not be on a lot smaller than 1 ha. Part D counts 'dogs or cats over the age of 4 months' toward the 3-dog and 3-cat limits; the bylaw does not say whether younger animals count toward the 5-pet total.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part D (Pets)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf)
  - Official wording: "months, except as permitted pursuant to applicable zoning or other regulations."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, s. 2, 4.06, 7.03(10)(a)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "means any land, BUILDING or STRUCTURE used for keeping no more than 5 PETS for non-commercial" … "CONDITIONAL AGRICULTURAL uses shall be limited to the following:" … "where no more than 10 dogs and cats over the age of 4 months are kept on the PREMISES at any one" … "A BREEDING KENNEL or COMMERCIAL KENNEL shall not be permitted on a LOT smaller than 1ha"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Fine:** $100 under the FVRD bylaw notice schedule (Schedule A-3, 'Excess Pets', section D); $90 if paid early (within 14 days) and $110 if paid late (after 28 days).
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 (consolidated)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "D Excess Pets $100 $90 $110 Yes"
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 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: "the early payment penalty set out in columns A2 of each of the Schedules to this bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Bylaw:** FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (Part D), subject to City of Chilliwack Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000.
  - 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: "This bylaw may be cited as the “Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation" … "Bylaw No. 1206, 2013”."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, title](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "“ZONING BYLAW 2020, 5000”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05

## How it works

Two bylaws apply in Chilliwack. The FVRD's [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206](<https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf>) sets the pet limit for its service area, but it gives way to "applicable zoning or other regulations". The City's [Zoning Bylaw 5000](<https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624>) says what each zone allows. If your zone is stricter, follow the stricter rule.

## Good to know

- FVRD limit: 5 pets in total on a property, with no more than 3 dogs or 3 cats over four months old, unless zoning or other regulations permit otherwise.
- City Zoning Bylaw: where urban or rural ancillary uses apply, up to 5 pets with no more than 3 of any one species. Some zones, such as R4 and non-single-detached uses in the SCR zone, limit pets to 3 in total. Check your lot's zone.
- A "hobby kennel" (no more than 5 pets, non-commercial) is a conditional use in the RR zone. A breeding or commercial kennel may not be on a lot smaller than 1 ha.
- A "pet" in the FVRD bylaw excludes exotic animals, wildlife, livestock and poultry. Livestock and poultry are allowed only where zoning permits.
- Keeping four or more dogs brings extra rules, such as not keeping an aggressive dog with other dogs. Keeping more than five dogs requires an indoor kennel area and an outdoor exercise area for each dog, pursuant to zoning.
- To find your lot's zone, ask City Hall (604-792-9311) or use the City's online mapping.

## 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)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)

## Related questions

- [Chilliwack dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/dog-licence.md)
- [Chilliwack backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/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)
- [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/how-many-pets.md)
- [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/how-many-pets.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/how-many-pets.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/how-many-pets.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/how-many-pets.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/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)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=377) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624) (read 2026-11-05)
- [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Fraser Valley Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/how-many-pets/_