How many dogs or cats you can keep in Chilliwack
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.
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.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part D (Pets); Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, s. 4.06(6)(a)(ii)(A), (7)(a)(ii)(A); Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, s. 7.06(10)(b), 8.08(10)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official 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. the keeping of PETS not exceeding 5 in number, provided no more than 3 are of any one species the keeping of PETS not exceeding 3 in number, and |
|---|---|
| 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.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part D (Pets); Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, s. 4.06(7)(a)(ii)(A) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wordingpets 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. the keeping of PETS not exceeding 5 in number, provided no more than 3 are of any one |
| 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.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Definitions; s. 33-35, 38 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official 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 |
| 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.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D, Part D (Pets); Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, s. 2, 4.06, 7.03(10)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wordingmonths, except as permitted pursuant to applicable zoning or other regulations. 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 |
| 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).FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 (consolidated); FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), s. 5.2, 5.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wordingD Excess Pets $100 $90 $110 Yes the early payment penalty set out in columns A2 of each of the Schedules to this bylaw |
| Bylaw | FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (Part D), subject to City of Chilliwack Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000.FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D; Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as the “Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013”. “ZONING BYLAW 2020, 5000” |
How it works
Two bylaws apply in Chilliwack. The FVRD's Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206 sets the pet limit for its service area, but it gives way to "applicable zoning or other regulations". The City's Zoning Bylaw 5000 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
The same question in other places
Harrison Hot Springs · Kent · Abbotsford · Mission · Hope · Township of Langley
Sources
- FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, consolidated text (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 (consolidated) (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. How answers are checked.