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

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Courtenay

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Courtenay, no more than three dogs over six months old may be kept on any parcel of land at one time. The Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats. Livestock, horses and poultry are allowed only on agriculturally zoned property, and wild or exotic animals are banned.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Courtenay, https://www.courtenay.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-334-4441 ext. 5 (Seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.)
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@courtenay.ca

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than three dogs over six months old on any parcel of land at one time.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 14](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "No more than three dogs over the age of six months shall be kept on any parcel of land in the City at one time."
  - Source: [Dog licensing, Dog licensing page](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Each household may have up to three dogs."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** None set. Courtenay's Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats.
- **Other animal limits:** Outdoors, only dogs, cats, honeybees and hens may be kept unless the property is zoned agricultural. No livestock, horse, donkey or poultry except on agriculturally zoned property. Wild or exotic animals are banned.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 11, s. 12, s. 13](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep any animal except a dog or cat or honeybees or hens outdoors on any property within the City" … "No person shall keep any livestock, horse, donkey or poultry on any property within the City, other than on property zoned for agricultural use" … "No person shall sell, display, house or keep any wild or exotic animal"
  - Source: [Animal control, What you need to know](https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Livestock is only permitted on agriculturally zoned properties."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** The three-dog limit counts only dogs over six months old, so younger puppies are not counted. Livestock, horses, donkeys and poultry are allowed on agriculturally zoned property.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 14, s. 12](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "No more than three dogs over the age of six months shall be kept on any parcel of land in the City at one time." … "No person shall keep any livestock, horse, donkey or poultry on any property within the City"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: keeping more than three dogs $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late). Unlawful keeping of an animal $200 ($150 early; $250 late).
  - Source: [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A, Animal Control Bylaw](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf)
  - Official wording: "Keeping more than three dogs IV.14 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes" … "Unlawful keeping of animal IV.12 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 44](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Section 14 of Courtenay's [Animal Control Bylaw](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021) says no more than three dogs over six months old may be kept on any parcel of land at one time. Younger puppies do not count toward the limit. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.

## Good to know

- Outdoors, only dogs, cats, honeybees and hens may be kept unless the property is zoned agricultural. Hens are limited to six per lot and honeybees to two hives under the Zoning Bylaw. See the backyard chickens answer.
- Livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, swine), horses, donkeys and poultry are allowed only on agriculturally zoned property.
- Wild or exotic animals are banned; the bylaw lists them in Schedule B.
- A bylaw notice for keeping more than three dogs is $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late). Unlawful keeping of an animal is $200 ($150 early; $250 late).

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal control, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/animal-control)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 1897 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021)

## Related questions

- [Courtenay dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dog-licence.md)
- [Courtenay backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Courtenay rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/how-many-pets.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/how-many-pets.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/how-many-pets.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/how-many-pets.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/how-many-pets.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal control, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog licensing, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/dog-licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021) (PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/animal-control-bylaw-no1897-consolidated-version-jul-2021) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf) (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 Courtenay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/how-many-pets/_