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

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fernie

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Fernie, no more than three dogs are allowed on any property unless zoning allows more. The animal bylaw sets no limit on cats, but the zoning bylaw treats four or more dogs or cats as a kennel, allowed only in the RR and A-1 zones.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fernie, https://www.fernie.ca)  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-423-2244
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylawservices@fernie.ca

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than three dogs on any property, except as otherwise permitted under a zoning bylaw.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 14.7](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep more than three (3) Dogs on any Property except as" … "otherwise permitted under a zoning bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** No cat limit in the Animal Responsibility Bylaw. The Zoning Bylaw counts four or more dogs or cats (two months or older) kept for any purpose as a kennel, a use allowed only in the RR and A-1 zones.
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, Definition of KENNEL; R-SS permitted uses](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "any compound, group of pens or cages or property in which four or more dogs or cats are, or" … "species which is two or more months in age." … "The following uses, and no other, are permitted in the R-SS zone."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other animal limits:** Zoning Bylaw: four or more dogs or cats (two months old or older) kept for any purpose count as a kennel. Other pets: domestic animals not listed as prohibited or restricted are allowed if kept indoors in a dwelling. Bees, female chickens and ducks are limited by zone (see backyard chickens).
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, Definition of "Kennel"](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "any compound, group of pens or cages or property in which four or more dogs or cats are, or" … "species which is two or more months in age."
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2 "Unrestricted Animals"](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "means domestic cats and other domestic animals not listed as" … "kept as pets, provided they are" … "kept indoors in a residential dwelling unit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** Zoning can allow more. Kennels are permitted in the Rural Residential (RR) zone (kennel setback 62 m from all property lines) and the Agricultural (A-1) zone. Agricultural animals are allowed on parcels zoned for agricultural use. The Zoning Bylaw's kennel definition counts only dogs and cats two months or older.
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, RR zone, permitted uses](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "kennels, subject to subsection (2)(c), on the following chart;" … "species which is two or more months in age."
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, A-1 zone, permitted uses](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "4. Private Aerodrome 5. Equestrian Centre 6. Kennel 3. Accessory Uses 1. Uses, buildings and structures accessory to a permitted use."
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 14.7, 2.2](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "except as otherwise permitted under a zoning bylaw." … "Agricultural Animals are permitted on parcels that are zoned for agricultural use."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No ticket is listed for s. 14.7 itself. 'Keeping of restricted animal' (s. 3.1; dogs are restricted animals) is a $450 municipal ticket and may apply. A bylaw ticket may not exceed $1,000; a court fine under the Offence Act is $500 to $10,000.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 15.2](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "a fine and penalty of not more than $1,000.00 if issued a ticket under the" … "not more than $10,000.00 and not less than $500.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, Appendix 7, Part 3 Restricted Animals](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199)
  - Official wording: "Keeping of restricted animal 3.1 $450.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Title](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Section 14.7 of the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) says no one may keep more than three dogs on any property in the City of Fernie, except as otherwise permitted under a zoning bylaw.

## Good to know

- **Cats:** the Animal Responsibility Bylaw sets no limit on cats. It treats domestic cats as unrestricted animals if they are kept indoors in a residential dwelling unit.
- **Kennels:** the [Zoning Bylaw](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505) counts four or more dogs or cats, two months old or older, kept for any purpose as a kennel. Kennels are allowed only in the Rural Residential (RR) zone, where a kennel must be 62 m from all property lines, and in the Agricultural (A-1) zone. No exemption for puppies or kittens was found.
- **Other pets:** domestic animals that are not listed as prohibited or restricted are allowed if kept indoors in a dwelling. Bees, female chickens and ducks are limited by zone (see the backyard chickens answer). Agricultural animals are allowed on parcels zoned for agricultural use.
- **Penalties:** no ticket is listed for the three-dog limit itself. A fourth dog may be charged as "keeping of restricted animal", a $450 municipal ticket. A bylaw ticket may not exceed $1,000; a court fine is $500 to $10,000.
- To check a specific property, call Bylaw Services at 250-423-2244.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
- [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)

## Related questions

- [Fernie dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence.md)
- [Fernie backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/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)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/how-many-pets.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/how-many-pets.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/how-many-pets.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/how-many-pets.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/how-many-pets.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/bylaw-services-business-licences.html) (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 Fernie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/how-many-pets/_