--- title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Kent question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep in Kent?" place: Kent, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/kent category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: regional owner_body: Fraser Valley Regional District sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/how-many-pets/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/how-many-pets.json" --- # How many dogs or cats you can keep in Kent **Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep in Kent? **Short answer:** In Kent, a property can have no more than 3 dogs and 3 cats over four months old, within a combined limit of 5 pets. The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) sets this rule. Zoning can allow more, such as a licensed kennel. **Who handles it:** Regional district (Fraser Valley Regional District, https://www.fvrd.ca) **Cost:** Excess pets: FVRD bylaw notice of $100 ($90 if paid early, $110 if paid late). **How long:** Rules apply at all times. **Where:** - Phone: FVRD Animal Control, 1-844-495-CARE (Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) ## Key facts - **Dogs allowed:** No more than 3 dogs over four months old on a property, within a combined limit of 5 pets. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "more than a total of 5 pets consisting of not more than three dogs or not more than three cats over the age of 4 months" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cats allowed:** No more than 3 cats over four months old on a property, within a combined limit of 5 pets. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "not more than three dogs or not more than three cats over the age of 4 months" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Other animal limits:** No more than 5 pets in total on any real property. 'Pet' excludes exotic animals, wildlife, livestock and poultry, which have their own rules. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D; Part B](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "A person must not keep or allow to be kept on any real property more than a total of 5" … "any common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife, livestock or poultry kept within a residence or on real property" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Exceptions:** The limit does not apply where zoning allows more. Zoning allows a licensed kennel (six or more dogs or cats kept for a fee) in some zones, such as A, RR1, RR2, RR3 and RL, on a lot of at least 0.5 ha (1.2 acres). Animals under four months are not counted. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "except as permitted pursuant to applicable zoning or other regulations" - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.15.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "A kennel shall not be permitted on a lot smaller than 0.5ha (1.2 acres) in area." … "whatsoever and charges a fee, for certainty, shall specifically include any" - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), Definitions](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "where six (6) or more dogs or cats are" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine:** Bylaw notice $100 ($90 early, $110 late) for excess pets. - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1415, 2017 (consolidated), Schedule A-3, Animal Control, s. D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "Excess Pets $100 $90 $110" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013, Part D - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Title](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The FVRD runs animal control in Kent. Its [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206]() allows no more than 3 dogs and no more than 3 cats over four months old on a property, and no more than 5 pets in total. Animals under four months old are not counted. "Pet" does not include exotic animals, wildlife, livestock or poultry, which have their own rules. ## Good to know - The limit does not apply where zoning allows more. The [Zoning Bylaw 1219]() allows a licensed kennel (six or more dogs or cats kept for a fee) in some zones, such as A, RR1, RR2, RR3 and RL, on a lot of at least 0.5 ha (1.2 acres). - Having too many pets is a bylaw notice of $100 ($90 if paid within 14 days, $110 if paid after 28 days). - Each dog four months or older also needs a licence. See the dog licence answer. - Check which zone your lot is in with the District of Kent planning department at 604-796-2235. ## Official forms and pages - [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) ## Related questions - [Kent dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/dog-licence.md) - [Kent dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Kent backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/backyard-chickens.md) - [Kent bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/bylaw-fines.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md) - [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/how-many-pets.md) - [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/how-many-pets.md) - [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/how-many-pets.md) - [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/how-many-pets.md) - [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/how-many-pets.md) - [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/how-many-pets.md) ## Sources - [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [FVRD Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1415, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Kent](https://www.kentbc.ca/living-here/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-06) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Fraser Valley Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/how-many-pets/_