How many dogs or cats you can keep in Creston
How many dogs or cats can I keep in Creston?
Short answer
In Creston, no property may have more than four companion animals. Dogs, cats and potbellied pigs count together toward that limit. A bylaw notice for exceeding it is $150.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than four companion animals on any property, counting dogs, cats and potbellied pigs together.Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, ss. 5.1, 5.2; Pet Licences, Pet Licences page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall keep or allow to be kept on any real property more than four (4) companion animals, Section 5.1 of this Bylaw applies to dogs, cats and potbellied pigs. There is a maximum of four pets allowed per household. |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | Same combined limit: no more than four dogs, cats and potbellied pigs together on a property.Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, ss. 5.1, 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmore than four (4) companion animals, applies to dogs, cats and potbellied pigs. |
| Other animal limits | Hens: up to six per parcel in R1 or R5 zones, licensed. Horses: one per parcel zoned R-5 or Agricultural with at least one hectare. Many other animals are prohibited (Schedule A), including most ungulates and most birds.Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, ss. 11.1(b), 13(b), Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingkeep no more than one (1) horse per parcel of land zoned either Rural Residential (R-5) or keep no more than six (6) Hens per parcel of land, List of Prohibited Animals |
| Exceptions | More than four are allowed at a veterinary clinic, kennel or cattery, PAWS, a PAWS-approved rescue or foster home, an animal daycare or a grooming facility, if the zoning bylaw specifically permits that use.Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, s. 5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexcept in the lawful operation of a veterinary clinic, kennel/cattery (for breeding or boarding), the Creston Pet Adoption and Welfare Society (PAWS), rescue or foster home approved by PAWS, providing the use is specifically permitted |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $150 ($125 if paid within 14 days; $175 if paid late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw rows · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording1826 5.1 Possess more than 4 companion animals $150.00 $125.00 $175.00 YES |
| Bylaw | Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, 2015Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, title, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, 2015 |
How it works
The Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 allows no more than four companion animals on any property. Dogs, cats and potbellied pigs are counted together, so there is no separate dog limit or cat limit.
Steps
- Count your dogs, cats and potbellied pigs together. Keep the total at four or fewer.
- Licence each dog. See the dog licence answer.
- If you want more animals, check whether your use is one of the exceptions below.
Good to know
- More than four are allowed at a veterinary clinic, kennel or cattery, P.A.W.S., a P.A.W.S.-approved rescue or foster home, an animal daycare or a grooming facility, if the zoning bylaw specifically permits that use.
- A kennel is more than four dogs, or any number kept for breeding or boarding. A cattery is the same for cats.
- The bylaw gives no exception for puppies or kittens.
- Other animals have their own rules: up to six hens in the R1 or R5 zone with a licence, and one horse per parcel zoned R-5 or Agricultural. Many other animals, such as most birds and hoofed animals, are prohibited.
- Exceeding the limit is a bylaw notice of $150 ($125 if paid within 14 days, $175 if paid late).
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Salmo · Kimberley · Cranbrook · Fruitvale · Nelson · Montrose
Sources
- Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Pet Licences, Town of Creston (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
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.