How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fernie

How many dogs or cats can I keep in Fernie?

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

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.

Key facts

Dogs allowed	No more than three dogs on any property, except as otherwise permitted under a zoning bylaw.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 14.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep more than three (3) Dogs on any Property except as otherwise permitted under a zoning bylaw.
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.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, Definition of KENNEL; R-SS permitted uses · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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).Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, Definition of "Kennel"; Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2 "Unrestricted Animals" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. means domestic cats and other domestic animals not listed as kept as pets, provided they are kept indoors in a residential dwelling unit.
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.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, RR zone, permitted uses; Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, A-1 zone, permitted uses; Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 14.7, 2.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording kennels, subject to subsection (2)(c), on the following chart; species which is two or more months in age. 4. Private Aerodrome 5. Equestrian Centre 6. Kennel 3. Accessory Uses 1. Uses, buildings and structures accessory to a permitted use. except as otherwise permitted under a zoning bylaw. Agricultural Animals are permitted on parcels that are zoned for agricultural use.
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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 15.2; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, Appendix 7, Part 3 Restricted Animals · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Keeping of restricted animal 3.1 $450.00
Bylaw	Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021

How it works

Section 14.7 of the Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 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 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

The same question in other places

Sparwood · Cranbrook · Elkford · Kimberley · Canal Flats · Creston

Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Services, City of Fernie (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.