---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Mission
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?"
place: Mission, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/mission
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: regional
owner_body: Fraser Valley Regional District
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Mission

**Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep?

**Short answer:** In Mission, the FVRD animal control bylaw allows no more than three dogs or three cats over four months old, and no more than 5 pets in total, on a property, unless zoning or other regulations permit more. Four or more dogs for show, training, boarding or breeding need a City kennel business licence.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Fraser Valley Regional District, https://www.fvrd.ca)  
**Cost:** Kennel licence fee not stated on the City's page. Fine for too many pets: $100.  
**Where:**
- Phone: City Business Licencing, 604-820-3791
- Email: City Business Licencing, businesslicence@mission.ca
- Phone: City Bylaw Enforcement, 604-820-3727
- Phone: FVRD CARE Centre, 1-844-495-2273

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than three dogs or three cats over the age of 4 months, and no more than 5 pets in total, on any property, except as zoning or other regulations permit.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 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: "A person must not keep or allow to be kept on any real property 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:** Three cats over the age of 4 months, within a total of 5 pets, unless zoning or other regulations permit more.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 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:** Total of 5 pets per property. "Pet" means a common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife, livestock or poultry. Exotic animals in Schedule D are banned unless permitted by municipal regulation.
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part D; Part B (pet); Part I, s. 38](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a total of 5 pets" … "any common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife, livestock or poultry" … "No person shall possess or keep in any area, temporarily or permanently, any species individual or any exotic animal"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** Zoning or other regulations can permit more. In Mission a business licence is required for a Kennel (four or more dogs kept for show training, boarding or breeding, up to 50 per lot) or a Hobby Kennel (4 to 8 dogs, operator must live on the property).
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 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: [Kennels and Animal Daycares](https://www.mission.ca/business-building/business-licences/kennels-animal-daycares)
  - Official wording: "A business licence for the Home Occupation is required for both a “Kennel” and a “Hobby Kennel”." … "means a facility or property where four or more dogs are kept for show training purposes," … "between four (4) and eight (8) dogs"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $100 for excess pets (FVRD bylaw notice; $90 within 14 days, $110 after 28 days). For kennel licence holders with too many dogs (Kennel Bylaw 6198-2023): $250 bylaw notice ($175 early, $325 late), or $250 municipal ticket.
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 Animal Control, Schedule A-3, s. D](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "D Excess Pets $100 $90 $110 Yes"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 5700-2018, Schedule 17, s. 4(e)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5700-2018-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylawpdf)
  - Official wording: "Too many dogs 4(e) $250 $175 $325 No"
  - Source: [Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Schedule 24 (Kennel Bylaw 6198-2023)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/2646-1993-ticket-information-bylawpdf-0)
  - Official wording: "Too many dogs 4(e) $250"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (Part D, Pets); Mission Kennel Bylaw 6198-2023 for kennels
  - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Part A](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"
  - Source: [Kennels and Animal Daycares](https://www.mission.ca/business-building/business-licences/kennels-animal-daycares)
  - Official wording: "Within the Kennel Bylaw 6198-2023"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The FVRD [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013](<https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf>) sets the limit for Mission: no more than three dogs or three cats over the age of four months, and no more than 5 pets in total, on any property, except as zoning or other regulations permit. "Pet" means a common domesticated animal other than exotic animals, wildlife, livestock or poultry. Exotic animals listed in Schedule D are banned unless municipal regulation permits them.

## Steps

1. Count dogs and cats over four months old: three or fewer of each, and 5 pets in total.
2. To keep four or more dogs, check whether you need a kennel licence (below), and ask the City about zoning.
3. Business Licencing handles kennel applications: 604-820-3791 or businesslicence@mission.ca.

## Good to know

- A Kennel is four or more dogs kept for show, training, boarding or breeding, up to 50 per lot. A Hobby Kennel is 4 to 8 dogs, and the operator must live on the property. Both need a City business licence (Kennel Bylaw 6198-2023).
- Too many pets is a $100 FVRD bylaw notice ($90 within 14 days, $110 after 28 days).
- For a kennel licence holder with too many dogs: a $250 bylaw notice ($175 early, $325 late) or a $250 municipal ticket.
- Chickens and livestock are covered in a separate answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Kennels and Animal Daycares, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/business-building/business-licences/kennels-animal-daycares)
- [Kennel Application (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/kennel-business-licence-application)
- [Kennel Bylaw 6198-2023 (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/kennel-bylaw-6198-2023pdf)

## Related questions

- [Mission dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/dog-licence.md)
- [Mission backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/backyard-chickens.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/how-many-pets.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/how-many-pets.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/how-many-pets.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/how-many-pets.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/how-many-pets.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Kennels and Animal Daycares, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/business-building/business-licences/kennels-animal-daycares) (read 2026-11-05)
- [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A-3 Animal Control (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 5700-2018 (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5700-2018-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylawpdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993 (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/2646-1993-ticket-information-bylawpdf-0) (read 2026-11-05)

_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/mission/how-many-pets/_