How many dogs or cats you can keep in Port Hardy

How many dogs or cats can I keep in Port Hardy?

Port Hardy, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Port Hardy you may keep no more than three dogs over four months old and no more than three cats over four months old per dwelling unit or parcel, and no more than four dogs and cats combined. Keeping too many is a $100 ticket.

Key facts

Dogs allowed	No more than three dogs over four months old per dwelling unit or on its legal parcel, and no more than four dogs and cats combined.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 4.9(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording more than three dogs over the age of four months c) more than a combined maximum of four (4) such animals.
Cats allowed	No more than three cats over four months old per dwelling unit or on its legal parcel (within the combined maximum of four dogs and cats).Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 4.9(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording more than three cats over the age of four months
Other animal limits	Combined maximum of four dogs and cats. A cattery is a place housing more than three cats; a hobby kennel is not more than three dogs or cats kept for breeding or showing.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 2.1, 4.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Cattery means any establishment which houses more than three cats Kennel Hobby means a kennel where not more than three (3) dogs or cats are kept on c) more than a combined maximum of four (4) such animals.
Exceptions	A permit may allow one additional animal beyond the limit. It expires each year on its anniversary and the CAO or designate may approve, refuse or revoke it. Hobby and commercial kennels need a business licence.Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, s. 4.9 (permit clauses), 14.1, 17.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Not more than one additional animal can be permitted in excess of the number Permits expire on the anniversary date The CAO, or their designate, is authorized to review the permit application No person shall own, operate, control or have on any property a hobby kennel without holding a current and valid District of Port Hardy business licence.
Fine	$100 for keeping an excessive number of dogs or cats (Municipal ticket, s. 4.9).Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014, Schedule B, Animal Care and Control Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Keeping excessive number of dogs or cats
Bylaw	District of Port Hardy Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012 (consolidated March 2023, includes Bylaw 1133-2021 and 1159-2023).Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023, cover, s. 4.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Bylaw No.1133-2021 June 2021 Bylaw No. 1159-2023 March 2023

How it works

The Animal Care and Control Bylaw 11-2012 limits pets per dwelling unit or on its legal parcel. The limit counts dogs and cats over four months old, and the bylaw states no exemption for younger animals.

Steps

Count your dogs and cats over four months old. You may have at most three dogs, at most three cats and at most four dogs and cats combined.
If you want one more animal than the limit, ask the District for a permit. Call the District Office at 250-949-6665.
For breeding or showing, check the kennel and cattery rules below.

Good to know

A permit may allow one additional animal beyond the limit. It expires each year on its anniversary, and the CAO or designate may approve, refuse or revoke it.
A cattery is a place housing more than three cats. A hobby kennel is not more than three dogs or cats kept for breeding or showing. Hobby and commercial kennels need a business licence, and commercial kennels must be on property the Zoning Bylaw designates for kennels.
Hen and other livestock limits are in the Zoning Bylaw and the same animal bylaw; see the chickens answer.
Keeping an excessive number of dogs or cats is a $100 municipal ticket (Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 01-2010).