How many dogs or cats you can keep in District of North Vancouver
How many dogs or cats can I keep in the District of North Vancouver?
Short answer
In the District of North Vancouver (not the City of North Vancouver), you may not keep more than three dogs on a property unless you hold a business licence as a veterinarian, pet care establishment or animal shelter. The bylaws we read set no limit on cats.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | More than three dogs may not be kept on a property unless the owner or occupier has a business licence for a veterinarian, pet care establishment or animal shelter.Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8(f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingto permit, suffer or allow more than three dogs to be kept or harboured on such premises without first having applied for, and obtained, a business licence for a veterinarian, pet care establishment or animal shelter |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | None set. The bylaws read for the District of North Vancouver set no limit on cats. |
| Other animal limits | Zoning Bylaw: in all zones, keeping animals is prohibited unless specifically permitted, except that household pets (other than poultry) may be kept. Hens are allowed only under the Hens bylaw (2 to 6 hens, permit, RS zones). Bees: at most 2 colonies on a parcel under 1,100 m².Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 403A(1)(b); Bee Keeping Bylaw 6474, s. 3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe keeping of animals, except that household pets, other than poultry, may be kept Not more than 2 colonies of bees are permitted on a parcel having an area less than 1100 square |
| Exceptions | A property may have more than three dogs with a business licence for a veterinarian, pet care establishment or animal shelter. A home pet-services business may have no more than 3 dogs at a time.Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8(f); Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 405(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingbusiness licence for a veterinarian, pet care establishment or animal shelter Pet services are permitted as home occupations provided that there are no more than 3 dogs on the property at any time |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $150 after 28 days). Municipal ticket (in the Dog bylaw): $100.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458, Schedule A, Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981; Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 14.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording8(f) Keeping more than three dogs 100 75 150 Keeping more than three dogs 8(f) $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (s. 8(f)); Zoning Bylaw 3210 (s. 403A).Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981, s. 8(f); Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 403A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDOG TAX AND REGULATION BYLAW, 1988 Uses Prohibited in All Zones |
How it works
In the District of North Vancouver, the Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 says more than three dogs may not be kept on a property. The exception is an owner or occupier with a business licence for a veterinarian, pet care establishment or animal shelter. A home pet-services business may have no more than 3 dogs at a time under the Zoning Bylaw 3210.
Steps
- Count the dogs kept at your property. Three is the limit for a household.
- If you want to keep more for a business, get the matching business licence first. Call the District on 604-990-2311 to ask.
- For other animals, see the chickens and bees answer.
Good to know
- The bylaws we read do not set a limit on cats. Cats are mentioned only for surrender and adoption.
- The Zoning Bylaw bans keeping animals in all zones unless specifically permitted, but household pets (other than poultry) are allowed.
- Hens are allowed only under the Hens bylaw (2 to 6 hens, with a permit, in single family residential zones). Bees are limited to 2 colonies on a parcel under 1,100 m².
- Keeping too many dogs is a $100 fine. A bylaw notice is $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days, $150 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $100.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
North Vancouver · Belcarra · West Vancouver · Port Moody · Burnaby · Richmond
Sources
- https://docs.dnv.org/documents/str-owner-authorization-form.pdf (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 5981 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw 3210 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
- Bee Keeping Bylaw 6474 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.