--- title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in New Westminster question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?" place: New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/new-westminster category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: City of New Westminster sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/how-many-pets/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/how-many-pets.json" --- # How many dogs or cats you can keep in New Westminster **Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep? **Short answer:** In New Westminster you may keep no more than three dogs on any parcel of land or real property. The City's Animal Care and Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats, and states no exception to the dog limit. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of New Westminster, https://www.newwestcity.ca) **Cost:** Keeping more than three dogs: bylaw notice $250 ($150 if paid within 14 days); municipal ticket $500. **Where:** - Phone: Animal Services, 604-519-2008 ## Key facts - **Dogs allowed:** No more than three dogs on any parcel of land or real property. - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw 7586, 2013 (consolidated July 12, 2018), s. 12.3](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/7586_Animal.pdf) - Official wording: "No owner shall keep more than three (3) dogs on any parcel of land or real property." - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw page, Licensing](https://www.newwestcity.ca/services/animal-services/animal-care-and-control) - Official wording: "There is a limit of three dogs on any parcel of land or real property." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cats allowed:** None set. New Westminster's Animal Care and Control Bylaw sets no limit on cats. - **Other animal limits:** No wild or exotic animals (Schedule A list) and no roosters may be kept in the City. - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw 7586, 2013 (consolidated July 12, 2018), s. 10.9, 10.11](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/7586_Animal.pdf) - Official wording: "No person shall keep any wild animal within the City." … "No person shall keep a rooster within the City." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Exceptions:** None set. The Animal Care and Control Bylaw states no exception, kennel licence or age allowance for the dog limit. - **Fine:** Keeping more than three dogs: bylaw notice $250 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $275 late); municipal ticket information $500. - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7318, 2009 (consolidated July 29, 2026), Sch. A Part 1, s. 12.3](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_7318__2009_Bylaw_Notice_Enforcement__2026_07_29_consolidation_.pdf) - Official wording: "Keeping more than three 250.00 150.00 275.00" - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 8077, 2019 (consolidated July 29, 2026), Sch. B Part 1, s. 12.3](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8077__2019_Municipal_Ticket_Information__2026_07_29_consolidation_(1%29.pdf) - Official wording: "Keeping more than three dogs 500.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 7586, 2013 - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw 7586, 2013 (consolidated July 12, 2018), s. 1](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/7586_Animal.pdf) - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as “Animal Care and Control Bylaw NO. 7586, 2013”" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The [Animal Care and Control Bylaw 7586]() (section 12.3) says no one may keep more than three dogs on any parcel of land or real property in New Westminster. The bylaw states no exception, kennel licence or age allowance. It sets no limit on cats, but cats must have permanent identification. It sets no combined limit across species. ## Good to know - The bylaw does not say how the limit applies to a strata or apartment building. Ask Animal Services (604-519-2008). - No wild or exotic animals (the Schedule A list) and no roosters may be kept in the City. See the backyard chickens answer for hens and bees. - Keeping more than three dogs: a bylaw notice is $250 ($150 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $500. - A landlord, strata council or housing co-op may set stricter pet rules of its own. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Care and Control Bylaw page](https://www.newwestcity.ca/services/animal-services/animal-care-and-control) - [Animal Care and Control Bylaw 7586 (PDF)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/7586_Animal.pdf) ## Related questions - [New Westminster dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/dog-licence.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md) - [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/how-many-pets.md) - [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/how-many-pets.md) - [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/how-many-pets.md) - [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/how-many-pets.md) - [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/how-many-pets.md) - [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/how-many-pets.md) ## Sources - [Animal Care and Control Bylaw page, City of New Westminster](https://www.newwestcity.ca/services/animal-services/animal-care-and-control) (read 2026-11-05) - [Animal Care and Control Bylaw 7586, 2013 (consolidated July 12, 2018) (PDF)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/7586_Animal.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7318, 2009 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_7318__2009_Bylaw_Notice_Enforcement__2026_07_29_consolidation_.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 8077, 2019 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8077__2019_Municipal_Ticket_Information__2026_07_29_consolidation_(1%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of New Westminster. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/how-many-pets/_