How many dogs or cats you can keep in Houston
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
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.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than four dogs on any premises owned or occupied by a person.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 5, s. 25; Animal Control, Dog Licensing · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA person must not keep, permit or allow more than four dogs on any premises owned or occupied by such person. A maximum of four (4) dogs is permitted on any residential property within the District. |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | None set. Houston's Animal Control Bylaw and Zoning Bylaw set no limit on cats. |
| Other animal limits | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 9, s. 57; Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 6.5 and definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA 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. including but not limited to farming, horticulture, or the keeping of bees, poultry, dairy livestock, and horses |
| Exceptions | 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.Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1165, 2022, Amendment s. 5 (replacing s. 26); Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, s. 1(12), (24); s. 25 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingSections 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 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. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $150 ($112.50 if paid within 14 days, $187.50 after 28 days). Municipal ticket schedule: $50.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Keeping More than 4 Dogs; Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019, Schedule B10, s. 25 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingKeepngi More than 4 s $150.00 $112.50 $187.50 Keeping more than 4 dogs 25 $50.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, s. 25 (as amended by Bylaw No. 1165, 2022).Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 5, s. 25 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingLimit of Dog Ownership |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112 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.
Good to know
- 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.
- The Animal Control Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw set no limit on cats. Call 250-845-2238 if you need confirmation.
- Livestock may not be 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. See the backyard-chickens answer.
- The Animal Control Bylaw still refers to the old Development Bylaw No. 1040, which was repealed in 2026. The Zoning Bylaw replaced it.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Telkwa · Granisle · New Hazelton · Terrace · Kitimat · Fort St James
Sources
- Animal Control, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact Us, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1165, 2022 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Development Bylaw Repeal Bylaw No. 1238, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
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.