How many dogs or cats you can keep in Courtenay
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.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than three dogs over six months old on any parcel of land at one time.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 14; Dog licensing, Dog licensing page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo more than three dogs over the age of six months shall be kept on any parcel of land in the City at one time. Each household may have up to three dogs. |
|---|---|
| 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 11, s. 12, s. 13; Animal control, What you need to know · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 Livestock is only permitted on agriculturally zoned properties. |
| 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 14, s. 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 |
| 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).Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A, Animal Control Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKeeping 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 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 44 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996 |
How it works
Section 14 of Courtenay's Animal Control Bylaw 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
The same question in other places
Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Sources
- Animal control, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog licensing, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.