How many dogs or cats you can keep in Duncan

How many dogs or cats can I keep in Duncan?

Duncan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Dogs allowed	No more than 3 dogs over 8 weeks old on any property (Guide Animals excluded).Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 3.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 3.1.1, 6.6.1, 6.6.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 3.1.1, 3.1.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 3.1.1, 3.1.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), Schedule A, Animal Care and Control Bylaw s. 3.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019, s. 1 (Title) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019”.

How it works

The Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197 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 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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

North Cowichan · North Saanich · Lake Cowichan · Sidney · Central Saanich · Highlands

Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Control, City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 3197, 2019 (PDF), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017, consolidated to August 24, 2026 (PDF), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), City of Duncan (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.