{"title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Kitimat","question":"How many dogs or cats can I keep in Kitimat?","slug":"how-many-pets","place":{"path":"ca/bc/kitimat","name":"Kitimat","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":null,"short_answer":"In Kitimat a dwelling in a residential zone may have no more than 4 dogs, 6 cats, and 7 dogs and cats combined at any one time. Only animals apparently over 4 months old count. Registered backyard hens are allowed; other farm animals are not.","aliases":["kitimat pet limit","how many dogs kitimat","how many cats kitimat","kitimat animal bylaw"],"cost":"No cost. Too many dogs, cats or both: a bylaw notice is $100 ($50 if paid within 14 days; $150 late); a municipal ticket is $1,000 ($500 if paid within 30 days).","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"270 City Centre, Kitimat, BC V8C 2H7","note":"Office hours are not stated in the documents we read."},{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"250-632-8900"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)","url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Kitimat dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"backyard-chickens","title":"Kitimat backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-chickens/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Kitimat dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Kitimat bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-edward","name":"Port Edward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-rupert","name":"Prince Rupert","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/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 4 dogs at any one time on any dwelling in a residential zone.","short":"Max 4 dogs","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf","title":"Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.5.7.1","quotes":["No person shall keep, harbour or permit to remain on any dwelling","in a residential zone more than FOUR (4) Dogs at any one time"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"cat_limit":{"label":"Cats allowed","value":"No more than 6 cats at any one time on any dwelling in a residential zone.","short":"Max 6 cats","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf","title":"Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.5.7.2","quotes":["in a residential zone more than SIX (6) Cats at any one time"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_limits":{"label":"Other animal limits","value":"No more than 7 dogs and cats combined on a dwelling in a residential zone. Horses, mules, asses, cows, sheep, swine, reptiles, poultry and fur-producing animals (other than a pet rabbit) are not allowed in residential zones, unless otherwise permitted (registered hens may be kept: see backyard chickens).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf","title":"Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.5.7.3; s. 9.4.1.28-29 (Part 9, Division 4)","quotes":["an aggregate of","more than SEVEN (7) Dogs and Cats","No person shall keep any horse, mule, ass, cow, sheep, swine,","reptile, poultry or fur-producing animal other than a pet rabbit, in","the pets are not used or traded for commercial purposes in"]},{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-06-15-reg.pdf","title":"Council meeting agenda June 15, 2026 with Bylaw No. 2087, 2026 (PDF)","section":"Bylaw No. 2087, 2026, s. 3 (amends 9.4.1.28)","quotes":["poultry or fur-producing animal other than a pet rabbit, in any residential zone,","otherwise permitted elsewhere in the Kitimat Municipal Code."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exceptions":{"label":"Exceptions","value":"The limits count only dogs and cats apparently over 4 months old, so younger puppies and kittens are not counted. No kennel or licence exception is stated in the animal control rules.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf","title":"Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.5.1.1 (Cat, Dog); s. 5.5.7","quotes":["Cat shall mean any domesticated Animal of the feline species apparently over the","Dog shall mean any domesticated Animal of the canine species apparently over the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $100 ($50 if paid within 14 days; $150 late) for too many dogs, cats, or dogs and cats combined, or for keeping prohibited animals. Municipal ticket: $1,000 ($500 if paid within 30 days).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/part1-div3-municipalticket-20241202.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System, Part 1 Division 3 of the Kitimat Municipal Code (PDF)","section":"Part 5 and Part 9 tables","quotes":["Keeping excessive number of animals","5.5.7.3","Keeping prohibited animals","9.4.1.28"]},{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-05-19-reg.pdf","title":"Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026 (PDF)","section":"Schedules A and B, rows 82-84, 187","quotes":["82 Keeping More Than Four (4) Dogs in a Residential Zone 5.5.7.1 $ 100.00 $ 50.00 $ 150.00","187 Keeping prohibited animals 9.4.1.28 $ 100.00 $ 50.00 $ 150.00","82 Keeping More Than Four (4) Dogs in a Residential Zone 5.5.7.1 $1,000.00 $500.00","187 Keeping prohibited animals 9.4.1.28 $1,000.00 $500.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 5, Division 5 - Animal Control (Bylaw No. 2031, 2023), Subdivision 7; and Part 9, Division 4 - Residential Zoning","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf","title":"Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)","section":"Part 5 Div 5 Subdivision 7","quotes":["Subdivision 7 - Number of Cats and Dogs"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nPart 5, Division 5 of the [Kitimat Municipal Code](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf) limits pets on any dwelling in a residential zone at any one time: no more than 4 dogs, no more than 6 cats, and no more than 7 dogs and cats combined. Only dogs and cats apparently over 4 months old count, so young puppies and kittens are not counted.\n\nHorses, mules, asses, cows, sheep, swine, reptiles, poultry and fur-producing animals (other than a pet rabbit) are not allowed in residential zones unless otherwise permitted. The exception is registered hens, covered in the backyard chickens answer.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Count the dogs and cats over 4 months old at your dwelling.\n2. If you are over a limit, rehome or reduce before a complaint is made.\n3. Licence every dog (see the dog licence answer).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The animal control rules state no exception for kennels, puppies or kittens.\n- Too many dogs, cats or both, or keeping a prohibited animal: a bylaw notice is $100 ($50 if paid within 14 days; $150 late); a municipal ticket is $1,000 ($500 if paid within 30 days).\n- Questions: Municipal Hall, 250-632-8900.","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf","title":"Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-06-15-reg.pdf","title":"Council meeting agenda June 15, 2026 with Bylaw No. 2087, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-05-19-reg.pdf","title":"Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda copy of May 19, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/part1-div3-municipalticket-20241202.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System, Part 1 Division 3 of the Kitimat Municipal Code (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/how-many-pets/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/how-many-pets.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/how-many-pets.json"}}