{"title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in North Vancouver","question":"How many dogs or cats can I keep?","slug":"how-many-pets","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","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":{"name":"City of North Vancouver","url":"https://www.cnv.org"},"short_answer":"In the City of North Vancouver you may keep up to three dogs on a property without a kennel licence. There is no separate limit for cats: they count toward a combined limit of six small animals (cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, tame mice and similar).","aliases":["pet limit north vancouver","how many cats can i have cnv","kennel licence north vancouver"],"cost":"Kennel licence application $62.48. Bylaw notice for more than three dogs, or too many small animals, $60.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Animal Control","value":"604-982-8302","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m."},{"type":"email","label":"Animal Control","value":"animalcontrol@cnv.org"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (PDF)","url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf"},{"title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (PDF)","url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"North Vancouver dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"backyard-chickens","title":"North Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/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":"More than three dogs on any property you own or occupy requires a kennel licence. A kennel is a building or structure for four or more dogs.","short":"Max three dogs (more needs a kennel licence)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 10(h), s. 2 \"Kennel\"","quotes":["for any person to keep or harbour more than three (3) dogs on any property owned","or occupied by the Owner without first having obtained a kennel license;","Kennel means any building or structure for the accommodation of four (4) or more dogs"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"cat_limit":{"label":"Cats allowed","value":"No separate cat limit. Cats count toward a combined limit of six small creatures per premises.","short":"No separate limit; six small creatures total","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf","title":"Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012) (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["No person shall keep, harbour or permit to remain upon any premises within the","greater in number","than six in aggregate of the following:","Cats Rabbits, and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_limits":{"label":"Other animal limits","value":"No more than six in total of hamsters, guinea pigs, tame mice, chinchillas, cats, rabbits and other small animals. Hens: up to 8 where permitted. Hobby bees: up to 2 hives, one-unit RS-1 zone only.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf","title":"Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012) (PDF)","section":"s. 1, s. 2","quotes":["than six in aggregate of the following:","more than eight (8) hens in aggregate."]},{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf","title":"Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985 (PDF)","section":"s. 3, s. 5","quotes":["A Hobby Bee Keeper shall only keep bees within the RS-1 One Unit","A maximum of two (2) hives shall be permitted;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exceptions":{"label":"Exceptions","value":"Kennel licence allows more than three dogs ($62.48 application fee; a kennel may not be within 50 m of a dwelling, church, school or public building other than the licensee's own). Hens are counted separately (up to 8) where zoning permits.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control (PDF)","section":"Schedule F (Animal Control)","quotes":["Application for Kennel licence $ 62.48"]},{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 6(b), s. 7","quotes":["No kennel shall be permitted within fifty (50) metres of any dwelling house, church,","No person shall keep or maintain a kennel without first having applied for and obtained a kennel license."]},{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf","title":"Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012) (PDF)","section":"s. 2","quotes":["No person shall keep, harbour or permit to remain upon permitted premises within the City of North Vancouver more than eight (8) hens in aggregate."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"More than three dogs: $60 (early $50, late $75). Keeping more small creatures than permitted: $60 (early $50, late $75).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A (PDF)","section":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A","quotes":["More Than Three Dogs 10 (h) No $60 $50 $75 N/A","Keeping more creatures than permitted 1 No $60 $50 $75 N/A"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 2010, No. 8113 (dogs); Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw, 1970, No. 4213 (small animals and hens)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 2010, No. 8113"]},{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf","title":"Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012) (PDF)","section":"s. 4","quotes":["Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw, 1970, No. 4213"]}],"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\nDogs and small animals are limited by two different City bylaws.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Dogs: keeping more than three dogs on any property you own or occupy requires a kennel licence under the [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf). A kennel is a building or structure for four or more dogs. The bylaw does not say whether puppies (four months or younger) count toward the three.\n- Kennel licence: the application fee is $62.48. A kennel may not be within 50 m of a dwelling, church, school or public building other than the licensee's own.\n- Small animals: under the [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf), no more than six in total of hamsters, guinea pigs, tame mice, chinchillas, cats, rabbits and other small animals per premises.\n- Hens are counted separately: up to 8 where the zoning allows. Hobby bees: up to 2 hives, in the one-unit RS-1 zone only. See the backyard chickens answer.\n- Bylaw notices under the [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf): more than three dogs $60; too many small creatures $60.\n- Every dog needs a licence.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf","title":"Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf","title":"Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf","title":"Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/north-vancouver/how-many-pets/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/how-many-pets.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/how-many-pets.json"}}