How many dogs or cats you can keep in Cranbrook
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
In the City of Cranbrook you may keep no more than 6 pets in a dwelling unit or on a residential parcel with one dwelling unit, and no more than 3 of them may be dogs and no more than 3 cats. Only one of the dogs may be a designated vicious dog.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than 3 dogs within a single dwelling unit or on a residential parcel with one dwelling unit (within an overall limit of 6 pets). Only one of them may be a vicious dog.Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 3.7(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingkeep or harbour more than six (6) PETS; and within the aforementioned six (6) PETS, no more than three (3) DOGS and no more than three (3) CATS; and for certainty, must not keep more than one (1) VICIOUS DOG within the aforementioned |
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| Cats allowed | No more than 3 cats within a single dwelling unit or on a residential parcel with one dwelling unit (within the overall limit of 6 pets).Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 3.7(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthree (3) DOGS and no more than three (3) CATS |
| Other animal limits | A combined limit of 6 pets per dwelling unit (or per residential parcel with one dwelling unit). 'Pet' means an animal kept for companionship that is lawfully kept on residential property; rabbits, mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and chinchillas count as rodents, which may be kept in an escape-proof enclosure that meets zoning setbacks.Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 3.7(a); s. 1.2.1 'Pet'; s. 6.3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingsix (6) PETS; and within the aforementioned six (6) PETS, no more than means an ANIMAL kept for companionship rather than utility, RODENTS may be kept on any PARCEL of land within the CITY provided that they are kept in a building, structure, pen or enclosure that prevents |
| Exceptions | The bylaw states no exception to the limit for puppies or kittens. A kennel (a place where four or more dogs, cats or other animals are kept for training, care, breeding, boarding or keeping for any purpose) needs a kennel licence under the Business Licence Bylaw.Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 1.2.1 'Kennel'; s. 3.6(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmeans any lands or premises on which four (4) or more DOGS No PERSON shall operate a KENNEL on any PARCEL of land within the unless a valid and subsisting KENNEL LICENCE has been issued as |
| Fine | Keeping pets in excess of the allowed number: bylaw notice $125 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $150 after 28 days); municipal ticket $100.https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/, Schedule A1, s. 3.7(a); Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B1, Schedule B1, s. 3.7(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording3.7(a) $125.00 $100.00 $150.00 Keep/Harbour Pets in Excess of Keep/Harbour Pets in Excess of Allowed Number 3.7(a) $100.00 |
| Bylaw | City of Cranbrook Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCity of Cranbrook Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 |
How it works
Section 3.7 of the City of Cranbrook's Animal Control Bylaw 3845 sets a combined limit of 6 pets per dwelling unit, or per residential parcel with one dwelling unit. Within that, no more than 3 dogs and no more than 3 cats. The bylaw does not say how the limit applies to a parcel with more than one dwelling unit; ask Bylaw Services.
Good to know
- A "pet" is an animal kept for companionship that is lawfully kept on residential property. Rabbits, mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and chinchillas count as rodents, which must be kept in an escape-proof enclosure that meets the zoning setbacks.
- The bylaw states no exception to the limit for puppies or kittens.
- A "kennel" is a place where four or more dogs, cats or other animals are kept for training, care, breeding, boarding or keeping for any purpose. It needs a kennel licence under the Business Licence Bylaw. The bylaw does not say whether that lifts the pet limit, so confirm first.
- Poultry, bees and farm animals follow the Zoning Bylaw; see the backyard-chickens answer.
- Keeping too many pets: bylaw notice $125 ($100 if paid within 14 days, $150 after 28 days), or a municipal ticket of $100.
- To ask about your situation, call Animal Control at 250-489-9598.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kimberley · Fernie · Canal Flats · Sparwood · Creston · Elkford
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 3845, 2016 (consolidated to February 27, 2023) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4049, 2021, Schedule A1 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B1 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control, City of Cranbrook (read 2026-11-05)
- https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/ (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.