How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fort St. John
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
In Fort St. John you may keep no more than three dogs on a parcel or in a dwelling. The Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats. Keeping more than three dogs is a $200 bylaw notice.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than three dogs on a parcel or within a dwelling.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 16; Animal Control, Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person may Keep more than three Dogs on a parcel or within a dwelling. maximum of three (3) dogs per household |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | None set. Fort St. John's Animal Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats. |
| Other animal limits | No fowl (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and similar birds) may be kept in the city. Livestock may be kept only as part of an agricultural use permitted by the Zoning Bylaw. Animals listed in Schedule B (such as exotic mammals, large snakes, venomous animals) are prohibited.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 45, 48, 50 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall Keep Fowl within the city limits. No person shall Keep Livestock, unless the keeping is part of an agricultural use of land permitted No person shall Keep an Animal listed in Schedule “B” |
| Exceptions | No kennel, zoning or puppy-age exception is stated. Visitors for up to two consecutive weeks, or 30 days a year, are exempt from Part Two, which includes the three-dog limit (s. 15). RCMP dogs are exempt (s. 72). Animals in vet hospitals, SPCA pounds or school research facilities are not covered (s. 71).Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 71 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingin a veterinary hospital under the care of a licensed veterinarian in a public or BC SPCA pound not exceeding thirty days in a calendar year; is exempt from this Part. Part Two of this Bylaw shall not apply to Dogs owned by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: keeping more than three dogs is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 on days 31–60). A compliance agreement is available.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), Schedule C; Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024), Bylaw Infractions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKeep more than three dogs $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Keep more than 3 dogs $200 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to include Bylaw 2584, 2023)Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021”. |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw says no more than three dogs may be kept on a parcel or within a dwelling. It defines "animal" so that it excludes domestic cats, and we found no limit on cats in the bylaw, the brochure or the City's Animal Control page. The bylaw states no kennel, zoning or puppy-age exception to the dog limit.
Good to know
- A bylaw notice for keeping more than three dogs is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 on days 31–60). A compliance agreement may be available.
- Visitors for up to two consecutive weeks, or 30 days a year, are exempt from this part of the bylaw. RCMP dogs are exempt.
- No fowl (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and similar birds) may be kept in the city. Livestock is allowed only as part of an agricultural use permitted by the Zoning Bylaw. Animals listed in Schedule B, such as exotic mammals, large snakes and venomous animals, are prohibited.
- No limit on other small pets, such as rabbits, caged birds or fish, was found.
- To ask about a particular situation, such as a kennel or a breeder, call Bylaw Services at 250-787-8150.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge · Mackenzie · Prince George
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control, City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control brochure (revised January 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.