---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Nanaimo
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?"
place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nanaimo
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Nanaimo
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Nanaimo

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Nanaimo you may keep no more than 4 dogs over 16 weeks old and 5 cats over 12 weeks old on a property. There is also a cap of 6 companion animals in total and 12 animals of any kind, unless the bylaw says otherwise. Going over a limit is a $100 ticket.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**Cost:** Ticket for exceeding a limit $100 (early payment $75, late $125).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Nanaimo Animal Control Services, 250-616-0233
- Phone: Business Licences, 250-755-4482

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than 4 dogs over 16 weeks old on any property.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 9.1(a)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7316.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Person shall keep, on any Property, more than: (a) 4 Dogs over the age of 16 weeks;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** No more than 5 cats over 12 weeks old on any property.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 9.1(b)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7316.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(b) 5 Cats over the age 12 weeks; or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other animal limits:** No more than 6 companion animals in total, and no more than 12 animals of any kind unless the bylaw says otherwise. Also: 12 small flock birds, mice, rats, gerbils or hamsters; 4 hook-bill birds, chinchillas, ferrets, hedgehogs, rabbits or sugar gliders; 6 guinea pigs or reptiles (each as a combined group).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, ss. 6, 7, 9.1(c)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7316.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unless expressly permitted by this Bylaw, no Person shall keep, on any Property, more than 12" … "(c) 6 Companion Animals." … "(a) 12 Small Flock Birds, domestic mice, domestic rats, gerbils, or hamsters, or combination" … "(b) 4 Hook Bill Birds, chinchillas, domestic ferrets, hedgehogs, Rabbits, sugar gliders, or" … "(c) 6 guinea pigs or Reptiles, or combination thereof."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** More than 4 dogs or 5 cats allowed for: temporary care as a registered-society animal rescue (must notify the Poundkeeper); keeping or boarding more than 4 dogs if zoning allows and the person has a valid business licence; pound, BC SPCA and vet premises; livestock or poultry where agriculture is a permitted use. Racing pigeons: up to 50 for certified pigeon club members on parcels over 0.4 ha.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, ss. 8, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7316.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a Person may temporarily care for more than 4 Dogs over the age" … "Animal rescue organization operated by a society registered under the Societies Act" … "a Person may keep or maintain more than 4 Dogs, or board Dogs" … "Nanaimo’s Zoning Bylaw and has obtained a valid Business Licence." … "The keeping of Livestock or Poultry on a Property on which agriculture is a permitted use" … "may keep up to a maximum of fifty" … "(50) racing pigeons on any parcel of land over .4 hectares."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $100 for keeping more than 4 dogs, 5 cats, 6 companion animals or 12 animals (early $75, late $125). Other over-limit offences (s. 7) are also $100. Failing to meet the s. 9.2 notice or s. 9.3 requirements is $150 ($112.50 early, $187.50 late).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Responsibility Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf)
  - Official wording: "9.1(a) Keep more than 4 dogs $100.00 $75.00 $125.00" … "9.1(b) Keep more than 5 cats $100.00 $75.00 $125.00" … "9.1(c) Keep more than 6 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00" … "9.2 Fail to notify Poundkeeper $150.00 $112.50 $187.50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7316.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW 2021 NO. 7316.”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7316.pdf) caps how many animals you can keep on any one property in the City of Nanaimo.

## Limits

- Dogs over 16 weeks old: 4.
- Cats over 12 weeks old: 5.
- Companion animals in total: 6.
- Animals of any kind: 12, unless the bylaw says otherwise.
- Small flock birds, mice, rats, gerbils or hamsters: 12 combined.
- Hook-bill birds, chinchillas, ferrets, hedgehogs, rabbits or sugar gliders: 4 combined.
- Guinea pigs or reptiles: 6 combined.

## Good to know

- You may keep or board more than 4 dogs only if zoning allows it and you hold a valid business licence.
- A registered-society animal rescue may temporarily care for more dogs or cats if it notifies the Poundkeeper.
- The limits do not apply to the pound, BC SPCA and vet premises, or to livestock and poultry where agriculture is a permitted use.
- Certified pigeon club members may keep up to 50 racing pigeons on parcels over 0.4 hectares.
- Failing to meet the rescue-notice or boarding requirements is a $150 ticket ($112.50 early, $187.50 late).

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 7316 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7316.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Nanaimo dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/dog-licence.md)
- [Nanaimo backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/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)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/how-many-pets.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/how-many-pets.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/how-many-pets.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/how-many-pets.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7316.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) (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 City of Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/how-many-pets/_