{"title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Port Coquitlam","question":"How many dogs or cats can I keep?","slug":"how-many-pets","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","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 Port Coquitlam","url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca"},"short_answer":"In Port Coquitlam you may keep no more than three dogs at a dwelling unit on residential property. Four or more dogs on a parcel is a kennel, which needs a kennel licence. The City sets no limit on cats. The bylaw also limits snakes and rodents.","aliases":["dog limit port coquitlam","how many cats can i have poco","kennel licence port coquitlam","pet limit bylaw"],"cost":"Kennel licence $100 (Fees and Charges Bylaw).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"604-927-5440"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"bylawservices@portcoquitlam.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control (City of Port Coquitlam)","url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control"},{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw 3990 (PDF)","url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Port Coquitlam dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"backyard-chickens","title":"Port Coquitlam backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/backyard-chickens/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Port Coquitlam dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/dog-leash-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/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/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/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":"No more than three dogs in or at a dwelling unit on residential property. A \"kennel\" (four or more dogs on a parcel) needs a kennel licence and must meet zoning.","short":"Max three dogs (four or more needs a kennel licence)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990 (PDF)","section":"s. 2, 13","quotes":["Kennel means a parcel of land on which four or more Dogs are kept.","No owner, tenant or occupier of residential property shall keep or permit to be","kept more than (3) three Dogs in or at an individual Dwelling Unit."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"cat_limit":{"label":"Cats allowed","value":"No set limit on cats. If the number is excessive enough to create a health hazard or public nuisance, the BC SPCA or Fraser Health may step in.","short":"No set limit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Port Coquitlam","section":"FAQ","quotes":["There is no specific limit on the number of cats that can be at a property, however, if cat ownership is excessive to the point of creating a health hazard or public nuisance, there may be intervention by the BC SPCA or the Fraser Health Authority."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_limits":{"label":"Other animal limits","value":"No venomous snakes; no more than four non-venomous snakes or four rodents (including rats and mice) in a household or on a parcel, except pet shops and school premises. 'Farm animals', which include rabbits, pigeons, fowl, poultry, goats and horses, are banned in residential zones.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990 (PDF)","section":"s. 15.1, 16.1","quotes":["No person shall keep a Farm Animal in any residential zone.","b) more than four non-venomous snakes; or","c) more than four rodents, including rats and mice;","poultry, pigeon, rabbit, hare, mink, or otter, and includes without limitation any other","more than four rodents, including rats and mice;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exceptions":{"label":"Exceptions","value":"A kennel licence allows four or more dogs; the City says kennel licences go only to agriculturally zoned properties. The bylaw has no puppy exception. A farm animal may be designated an emotional support animal by the Bylaw Services Manager.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990 (PDF)","section":"s. 13.1, 13.3, 16.4","quotes":["The use of land or buildings or other premises as a Kennel is subject to the","No person shall operate a Kennel within the City unless that person has applied","A person may apply to the Bylaw Services Manager to have a Farm Animal"]},{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Port Coquitlam","section":"FAQ","quotes":["It is not lawful to possess more than three dogs unless a kennel licence has been issued. Kennel licences are issued only to properties with agricultural zoning."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"More than three dogs: $150 ($105 if paid within 30 days, $225 after 90 days). Unpermitted kennel: $250 ($175 / $325). More than four snakes or rodents: $150. Venomous snake: $300.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-10/3814%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3814, Schedule A (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Animal Control","quotes":["More Than Three Dogs 13.2 150 105 225 50%","Unpermitted Kennel 13.3 250 175 325 N/A","Keep Venomous Snake 16.1 (a) 300 210 375 N/A","Keep More Than Four Snakes 16.1 (b) 150 105 225 50%"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control Bylaw, 2017, No. 3990","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Animal Control Bylaw, 2017, No. 3990”."]}],"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\nThe [Animal Control Bylaw 3990](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf) allows no more than three dogs in or at a dwelling unit on residential property. A \"kennel\" (four or more dogs on a parcel) needs a kennel licence and must meet zoning. The City says kennel licences go only to agriculturally zoned properties. The bylaw has no puppy exception.\n\n## Limits\n\n- Dogs: three per dwelling unit. A ticket for more than three dogs is $150 ($105 if paid within 30 days, $225 after 90 days).\n- Cats: no set limit. If the number is excessive enough to create a health hazard or public nuisance, the BC SPCA or Fraser Health may step in.\n- Snakes and rodents: no venomous snakes (ticket $300), and no more than four non-venomous snakes or four rodents (including rats and mice) in a household or on a parcel, except pet shops and school premises (ticket $150).\n- Farm animals, which include rabbits, pigeons, fowl, poultry, goats and horses: banned in residential zones.\n- Keeping a kennel without a permit: $250 ($175 if paid within 30 days, $325 after 90 days).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The Bylaw Services Manager can designate a farm animal as an emotional support animal.\n- Every dog over six months old needs a licence.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/pets-wildlife/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, City of Port Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3990%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/Bylaw%204415%20-%202026%20Fees%20and%20Charges.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 4415, Schedule M (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-10/3814%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3814, 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/port-coquitlam/how-many-pets/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/how-many-pets.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/how-many-pets.json"}}