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

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Duncan

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Duncan you may keep no more than 3 dogs over 8 weeks old and no more than 5 cats over 12 weeks old on a property, and no more than 6 companion animals in total. Guide animals do not count toward the limits.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Duncan, https://duncan.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Coastal Animal Control Services, 250-748-3395
- Phone: City Hall, 250-746-6126

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than 3 dogs over 8 weeks old on any property (Guide Animals excluded).
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 3.1.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "not more than 3 Dogs over the age of 8 weeks and not more than 5 Cats over the age of 12 weeks, excluding Guide Animals"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** No more than 5 cats over 12 weeks old on any property (Guide Animals excluded). Outdoor cats must be spayed or neutered and carry identification.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 3.1.1, 6.6.1, 6.6.3](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "not more than 3 Dogs over the age of 8 weeks and not more than 5 Cats over the age of 12 weeks, excluding Guide Animals" … "Every Owner of a Cat that is permitted to go outside must have the Cat spayed or neutered."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other animal limits:** No more than 6 companion animals in total per property, including those dogs and cats. Also at most 6 rabbits and 4 guinea pigs; no mammals with hooves, mink or chinchilla; no poultry or roosters other than up to 6 hens.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 3.1.1, 3.1.2](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "No person may keep, or allow to be kept on any Property, more than 6 Companion Animals" … "more than 6 rabbits;" … "more than 4 guinea pigs;" … "any mammal with hooves; or" … "any mink or chinchilla."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** Guide Animals do not count toward the limits. Up to 90 racing pigeons are allowed for members of a pigeon racing club if each bird wears a valid club band. Up to 6 hens are allowed under the hen rules.
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 3.1.1, 3.1.3](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "excluding Guide Animals" … "a person may keep on a Property up to 90 racing pigeons for the purpose of pigeon racing, if that person is a member of a pigeon racing club"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $100 for each of keeping more than 3 dogs, more than 5 cats, or more than 6 companion animals ($85 if paid within 14 days, $115 if paid more than 28 days after receiving it). No municipal ticket amount is listed.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), Schedule A, Animal Care and Control Bylaw s. 3.1.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059)
  - Official wording: "Keep more than 3 dogs $100.00 $85.00 $115.00 YES" … "Keep more than 5 cats $100.00 $85.00 $115.00 YES" … "Keep more than 6 companion animals $100.00 $85.00 $115.00 YES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 1 (Title)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229) sets pet limits per property in the City of Duncan. The limits count the animals on the whole property, not per person.

## Good to know

- Dogs: no more than 3 over 8 weeks old.
- Cats: no more than 5 over 12 weeks old. Outdoor cats must be spayed or neutered and carry identification.
- Total: no more than 6 companion animals, including those dogs and cats.
- Other animals: up to 6 rabbits and 4 guinea pigs. No mammals with hooves, no mink or chinchilla, and no poultry or roosters other than up to 6 hens (see the backyard chickens answer).
- Exceptions: guide animals do not count. Members of a pigeon racing club may keep up to 90 racing pigeons if each bird wears a valid club band.
- No kennel licence or larger-limit permit appears in the bylaw. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322) lists a kennel as a use prohibited in all zones except as otherwise stated.
- Keeping more than 3 dogs, more than 5 cats or more than 6 companion animals is a bylaw notice of $100 for each ($85 if paid within 14 days, $115 after 28 days), under [Bylaw No. 3200](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059).

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/city-hall/finance/animal_control/)
- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059)

## Related questions

- [Duncan dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/dog-licence.md)
- [Duncan backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/backyard-chickens.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/how-many-pets.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/how-many-pets.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/how-many-pets.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/how-many-pets.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/city-hall/finance/animal_control/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/60229) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017, consolidated to August 24, 2026 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Duncan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/how-many-pets/_