How many dogs or cats you can keep in Hope
How many dogs or cats can I keep in Hope?
Short answer
In Hope, you can keep no more than three dogs and no more than three cats per property, and no more than five pets in total (dogs and cats combined). The District's page states no exceptions.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than three dogs per property.Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control, Dog Control & Licensing · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno more than three (3) dogs or three (3) cats per property |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | No more than three cats per property.Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control, Dog Control & Licensing · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno more than three (3) dogs or three (3) cats per property |
| Other animal limits | No more than five pets in total (dogs and cats combined) per property.Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control, Dog Control & Licensing · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno more than five (5) pets per property a combination within the limits, not to exceed 5 in total |
| Exceptions | Not confirmed. Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245 is a scan that could not be read, so exceptions are unconfirmed. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $50 surcharge after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $1,000. The schedules list one amount for any offence against the Dog Responsibility Bylaw.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026, Schedule A (BNE Bylaw No. 1627, 2026); Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026, Schedule A (MTI Bylaw No. 1628, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008 $200.00 $150.00 $50.00 Yes Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008 $1,000.00 |
| Bylaw | Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026, Schedule A (BNE Bylaw No. 1627, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008 $200.00 $150.00 $50.00 Yes |
How it works
The District of Hope's Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control page sets limits per property under the Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245:
- No more than three dogs.
- No more than three cats.
- No more than five pets in total, dogs and cats combined.
The bylaw itself is a scan with no readable text, so these limits come from the web page.
Steps
- Count the dogs and cats living on your property against the three limits above.
- Licence each dog. See the dog licence answer.
- If you are over a limit or unsure, call Bylaw Services at 604-869-5671 or email bylaw@hope.ca before a complaint is made.
Good to know
- The web page states no exceptions. It is not clear whether the limits apply to every type of property, because the bylaw could not be read.
- The Zoning Bylaw defines a kennel as keeping animals for commercial gain and allows kennels in some zones, but no pet-limit exception is stated. Ask the District if you breed or board animals.
- For any offence against the dog bylaw, a bylaw notice is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days) and a municipal ticket is $1,000. There is no separate amount for too many animals.
- Chickens, bees and other livestock are covered by zoning. See the backyard chickens answer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kent · Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Princeton · Abbotsford · Mission
Sources
- Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Responsibility Bylaw No. 1245, 2008 (scanned PDF, not readable), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
- Staff Directory, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.