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

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in North Vancouver

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

**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).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of North Vancouver, https://www.cnv.org)  
**Cost:** Kennel licence application $62.48. Bylaw notice for more than three dogs, or too many small animals, $60.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control, 604-982-8302 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- Email: Animal Control, animalcontrol@cnv.org

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 10(h), s. 2 "Kennel"](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** No separate cat limit. Cats count toward a combined limit of six small creatures per premises.
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 1](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other animal limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 1, s. 2](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "than six in aggregate of the following:" … "more than eight (8) hens in aggregate."
  - Source: [Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985, s. 3, s. 5](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Hobby Bee Keeper shall only keep bees within the RS-1 One Unit" … "A maximum of two (2) hives shall be permitted;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** 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.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control, Schedule F (Animal Control)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Application for Kennel licence $ 62.48"
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 6(b), s. 7](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 2](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** More than three dogs: $60 (early $50, late $75). Keeping more small creatures than permitted: $60 (early $50, late $75).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 2010, No. 8113 (dogs); Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw, 1970, No. 4213 (small animals and hens)
  - Source: [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024), s. 1](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, 2010, No. 8113"
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 4](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw, 1970, No. 4213"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Dogs and small animals are limited by two different City bylaws.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Every dog needs a licence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
- [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Vancouver dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/dog-licence.md)
- [North Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/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)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/how-many-pets.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/how-many-pets.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/how-many-pets.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/how-many-pets.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/how-many-pets.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012) (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024) (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8113-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.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 North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/how-many-pets/_