How many dogs or cats you can keep in Dawson Creek
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
Dawson Creek's Animal Responsibility Bylaw 4420 sets no general limit on dogs or cats per home. A limit of two dogs and cats combined applies only to someone given an "animal number restriction": a person with more than two dogs and cats who commits three bylaw contraventions within 12 months.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | The bylaw sets no general limit on dogs per home. A limit of two dogs and cats combined applies only to someone given an 'animal number restriction': a person with more than two dogs and cats at home who commits three bylaw contraventions within 12 months.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 4.13, 4.14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingowns or keeps any combination of dogs and cats that number greater than two (2) at that person's residence; and commits three (3) contraventions of this Bylaw within a twelve (12) month period; must not keep a combination of dogs and cats that number more than two (2) at that person's residence |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | Same as dogs: no general limit; the two-animal combined limit (dogs and cats together) applies only under an animal number restriction.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 4.13, 4.14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust not keep a combination of dogs and cats that number more than two (2) at that person's residence |
| Other animal limits | Hens: no more than 6 per parcel. Bees: no more than 4 colonies per parcel (typically 2 colonies and 2 nucleus colonies). Livestock (horses, goats, sheep, pigs and similar) may not be kept in the City except on farm, ALR or agriculturally zoned land.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 16.1.b, 18.1.f, 10.1, 3.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingkeep no more than six (6) hens per parcel of land; keep a maximum of four (4) colonies per parcel This is typically two (2) colonies and two (2) nucleus colonies; no person shall keep any livestock within the boundaries of the City. Zoned to allow agricultural, intensive agricultural, paddock, or stable uses. |
| Exceptions | The two-animal limit does not apply to a licensed kennel or veterinary clinic. Operating a kennel needs a kennel licence plus a City business licence. Livestock is allowed only on ALR land, property classed as a farm, or land zoned agricultural, intensive agricultural, paddock or stable.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 4.14, 13.1, 3.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexcept as part of a licenced kennel or veterinary clinic. No person will operate a kennel in the City unless that person holds a kennel licence issued under this Bylaw. Classified as a farm under the Assessment Act; or |
| Fine | Keeping more animals than a restriction allows: bylaw notice $175 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $200 if paid late); municipal ticket $500.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B, Schedule B, s. 4.14; Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278, Schedule B, s. 4.14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording4420 4.14 Too many animals 175 150 200 Yes 4420 4.14 Too many animals 500 |
| Bylaw | Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 4420, 2019 |
How it works
Animal Responsibility Bylaw 4420 sets no general limit on dogs or cats in a Dawson Creek home. The two-animal combined limit applies only under an animal number restriction. That is given to a person with more than two dogs and cats at home who commits three bylaw contraventions within 12 months. The limit does not apply to a licensed kennel or veterinary clinic.
Good to know
- Running a kennel needs a kennel licence plus a City business licence.
- Hens: no more than 6 per parcel. Bees: no more than 4 colonies per parcel. See backyard-chickens.
- Livestock such as horses, goats, sheep and pigs may not be kept in the City except on ALR (Agricultural Land Reserve) land, property classed as a farm, or land zoned agricultural, intensive agricultural, paddock or stable.
- Keeping more animals than a restriction allows is a bylaw notice of $175 ($150 within 14 days; $200 late) or a municipal ticket of $500.
- The City has announced changes to animal services and licensing from December 2026; check with the City.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Pouce Coupe · Fort St. John · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge · Mackenzie · Prince George
Sources
- Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 4420, 2019 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278 (PDF) (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.