How many dogs or cats you can keep in Parksville
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
The City of Parksville's Animal Control Bylaw allows no more than three pets of any one species per parcel, and no more than three dogs over four months old per household. The Zoning Bylaw defines a household animal as at most two of any one species, so confirm which applies to you.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No household may keep more than three dogs over four months old. (Separately, no more than three pets of any one species on a parcel.)Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 22 and s. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo household shall keep or have in their possession more than three dogs over the age of four months. no more than three (3) pets of any one species shall be kept on a parcel |
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| Cats allowed | No cat-specific limit. The Animal Control Bylaw allows no more than three pets of any one species per parcel, but the Zoning Bylaw defines a household animal as at most two of any one species. Which applies is not stated.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 2; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 2000, Div. 100, "household animal" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe keeping of pets is permitted but no more than three (3) pets of any one species shall be kept on a parcel household animal means a domesticated animal kept by the members of a household for pleasure and not for sale or profit to a maximum of two animals of any one species |
| Other animal limits | Three pets of any one species per parcel. A pet rabbit must be spayed or neutered and kept contained. The Zoning and Development Bylaw defines a "household animal" as at most two of any one species.Sources differ: The zoning definition (two of any one species) and the Animal Control Bylaw (three per species) differ. The zoning definition is used in the zoning bylaw definitions ("pet means a household animal"); no other operative rule using it was found. Not confirmed which applies to a resident.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 2 and s. 3; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 2000, Div. 100, definition of "household animal" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWhere a rabbit is kept as a pet, the owner shall ensure the rabbit is spayed or neutered and contained at all times so as to prevent escape. household animal means a domesticated animal kept by the members of a household for pleasure and not for sale or profit to a maximum of two animals of any one species |
| Exceptions | Household hens are governed by the zoning bylaw (Division 350, up to four hens), not the three-pet limit. Dogs under four months old are not counted toward the dog limit. No kennel exception found.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 2 and s. 1 "Dog" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexcept for the keeping of household hens which shall be subject to the "DOG" means any member of the canine species, male or female, excluding juvenile dogs under 4 months of age. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice for more than three dogs: $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 late).Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Control Bylaw s. 22 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingMore Than Three Dogs $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 |
| Bylaw | City of Parksville Animal Control Bylaw, 2016, No. 1524Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1), s. 37 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "City of Parksville Animal Control Bylaw, 2016, |
How it works
The City's Animal Control Bylaw 1524 says no more than three pets of any one species may be kept on a parcel, and no household may keep more than three dogs over four months old. It has no separate cat limit, so the three-per-species rule is the cap for cats.
Steps
- Count your animals by species. Stay at three or fewer of each.
- For dogs, count only those over four months old, and keep to three per household.
- Licence each dog over six months old. See the dog licence answer.
Good to know
- The Zoning and Development Bylaw defines a "household animal" as at most two of any one species. The two bylaws differ, and the City's pages do not say which applies, so confirm with Bylaw Compliance before keeping three.
- A pet rabbit must be spayed or neutered and kept contained.
- Household hens follow the zoning bylaw (up to four), not the three-pet limit. See the backyard chickens answer.
- No kennel exception was found for the pet limits.
- The ticket for more than three dogs is a $100 bylaw notice. No notice amount was found for the three-per-species rule.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Qualicum Beach · Lantzville · Nanaimo · Port Alberni · Sechelt · Gibsons
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1524, 2016 (consolidated to 1524.1) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 2000 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A (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.