---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Clearwater
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?"
place: Clearwater, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/clearwater
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Clearwater
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Clearwater

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

**Short answer:** Clearwater's Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on the number of dogs or cats. It does limit poultry and rabbits combined, from 4 head on a lot under 1,012 m² to 50 head on a lot over 2 ha, and requires a lot of at least 4,000 m² for horses and farm animals.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Clearwater, https://www.districtofclearwater.com)  
**Cost:** No fee. Ticket for too many poultry or rabbits: $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days).  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District of Clearwater, 250-674-2257

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** None set. Clearwater's Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on the number of dogs.
- **Cats allowed:** None set. Clearwater's Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on the number of cats.
- **Other animal limits:** Poultry and rabbits combined, only where animals are explicitly permitted as accessory to residential use: under 1,012 m² 4 head; 1,012 m² to 4,047 m² 10 head; 4,047 m² to 2 ha 20 head; over 2 ha 50 head. Horses and farm animals need a lot of at least 4,000 m².
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 148, 2016, s. 7.1 and s. 8.1](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28337/)
  - Official wording: "maximum number of poultry or rabbits, or combination thereof, that may be kept on a lot" … "Less than 1,012 m2 (1/4 acre)" … "4 head" … "unless said lot is" … "at least 4000 m2 (1 acre) in area"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exceptions:** The limits do not apply to normal farm practices in the Agricultural Land Reserve or agriculture use permitted as a principal use under the Zoning Bylaw.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 148, 2016, s. 3.3](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28337/)
  - Official wording: "The limits imposed in this Bylaw do not apply to normal farm practices as permitted activities"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: poultry or rabbits over the maximum number $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019, Schedule 7](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/)
  - Official wording: "Poultry or rabbits – exceeding maximum number"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Clearwater Animal Control Bylaw No. 148, 2016
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 148, 2016, s. 1](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28337/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “District of Clearwater Animal Control Bylaw No. 148, 2016”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District's [Animal Control Bylaw No. 148](<https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28337/>) sets no limit on how many dogs you may keep and does not mention cats. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 133](<https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/>) refers only to "a limited number of animals as set out in the Animal Control Bylaw".

## Other animals

Poultry and rabbits combined, where animals are explicitly permitted as an accessory use to a home:

- Lot under 1,012 m² (1/4 acre): 4 head
- 1,012 m² to 4,047 m²: 10 head
- 4,047 m² to 2 ha: 20 head
- Over 2 ha: 50 head

Horses and farm animals need a lot of at least 4,000 m² (1 acre).

## Good to know

- The limits do not apply to normal farm practices in the Agricultural Land Reserve, or to agriculture permitted as a principal use under the Zoning Bylaw.
- A municipal ticket for too many poultry or rabbits is $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days).
- See the chickens answer for coops and other livestock rules.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 148, 2016 (PDF), District of Clearwater](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28337/)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF), District of Clearwater](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/)

## Related questions

- [Clearwater backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Clearwater dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Clearwater bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/how-many-pets.md)
- [Chase](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chase/how-many-pets.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/how-many-pets.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 148, 2016 (PDF), District of Clearwater](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28337/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF), District of Clearwater](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF), District of Clearwater](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Clearwater. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/how-many-pets/_