How many dogs or cats you can keep in North Vancouver

How many dogs or cats can I keep?

North Vancouver, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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).

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

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. 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, 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: more than three dogs $60; too many small creatures $60.
Every dog needs a licence.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

District of North Vancouver · Belcarra · Port Moody · West Vancouver · Burnaby · Richmond

Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw 2010 No. 8113 (consolidated July 22, 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule F Animal Control (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A (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. How answers are checked.