{"title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Houston","question":"How many dogs or cats can I keep?","slug":"how-many-pets","place":{"path":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Houston","url":"https://houston.ca"},"short_answer":"In Houston, no more than four dogs may be kept on any premises. Puppies under six months do not count. The bylaws set no limit on cats. Livestock is allowed only where the zoning rules allow it.","aliases":["how many dogs houston","dog limit houston bc","pet limit houston","how many cats houston"],"cost":"Keeping more than four dogs: bylaw notice $150 ($112.50 if paid within 14 days, $187.50 after 28 days). Municipal ticket schedule: $50.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Office","value":"3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays"},{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Office","value":"250-845-2238","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control, District of Houston","url":"https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/"},{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/"},{"title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1165, 2022 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144983/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Houston dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"backyard-chickens","title":"Houston backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Houston dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Houston bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kitimat","name":"Kitimat","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-james","name":"Fort St James","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/how-many-pets/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets/"},"facts":{"dog_limit":{"label":"Dogs allowed","value":"No more than four dogs on any premises owned or occupied by a person.","short":"Max four dogs","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Part 5, s. 25","quotes":["A person must not keep, permit or allow more than four dogs on any premises owned or occupied by such person."]},{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/","title":"Animal Control, District of Houston","section":"Dog Licensing","quotes":["A maximum of four (4) dogs is permitted on any residential property within the District."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"cat_limit":{"label":"Cats allowed","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Houston's Animal Control Bylaw and Zoning Bylaw set no limit on cats.","sources":[]},"other_limits":{"label":"Other animal limits","value":"Livestock may not be owned or kept anywhere in the District except as the zoning rules allow. Under Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, hens are allowed in the R1 zone and poultry, bees, dairy livestock and horses count as \"light agriculture\" in the rural zones.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Part 9, s. 57","quotes":["A person must not own or have custody of any livestock in any area of the municipality except as provided for by Development Bylaw No. 1040, 2013 as amended."]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 6.5 and definitions","quotes":["including but not limited to farming, horticulture, or the keeping of bees, poultry, dairy livestock, and horses"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exceptions":{"label":"Exceptions","value":"Puppies under six months old do not count, because the bylaw defines a dog as six months or older. The limit also does not apply to premises lawfully used, and holding a valid business licence, as a pet shop, vet clinic, groomer, breeder or dog boarding business that has paid the Kennel Licence fee.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144983/","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1165, 2022 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Amendment s. 5 (replacing s. 26)","quotes":["Sections 24 and 25 do not apply to any premises lawfully used and holding a valid business license for a","licensed dog boarding business having paid the Kennel Licence fee"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 1(12), (24); s. 25","quotes":["Dog means any domesticated animal of the \"canine\" genus which is six months or older irrespective of sex.","Puppy means any domesticated animal of the \"canine\" genus which is under the age of six months."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $150 ($112.50 if paid within 14 days, $187.50 after 28 days). Municipal ticket schedule: $50.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Keeping More than 4 Dogs","quotes":["Keepngi More than 4 s $150.00 $112.50 $187.50"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145065/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule B10, s. 25","quotes":["Keeping more than 4 dogs 25 $50.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, s. 25 (as amended by Bylaw No. 1165, 2022).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Part 5, s. 25","quotes":["Limit of Dog Ownership"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/) says no more than four dogs on any premises owned or occupied by a person. A dog is an animal six months or older, so younger puppies do not count.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The limit does not apply to premises lawfully used, and holding a valid business licence, as a pet shop, veterinary clinic, groomer, breeder or dog boarding business that has paid the Kennel Licence fee.\n- The Animal Control Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw set no limit on cats. Call 250-845-2238 if you need confirmation.\n- Livestock may not be kept anywhere in the District except as the zoning rules allow. Under [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/), hens are allowed in the R1 zone, and poultry, bees, dairy livestock and horses count as \"light agriculture\" in the rural zones. See the backyard-chickens answer.\n- The Animal Control Bylaw still refers to the old Development Bylaw No. 1040, which was repealed in 2026. The Zoning Bylaw replaced it.","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/","title":"Animal Control, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.ca/contact/","title":"Contact Us, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144983/","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1165, 2022 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149517/","title":"Development Bylaw Repeal Bylaw No. 1238, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145065/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/how-many-pets/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/how-many-pets.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/how-many-pets.json"}}