--- title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Powell River question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?" place: Powell River, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/powell-river category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: City of Powell River sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/how-many-pets/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/how-many-pets.json" --- # How many dogs or cats you can keep in Powell River **Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep? **Short answer:** In the City of Powell River you may keep no more than three dogs and no more than three cats on any parcel of land, and no more than one of each an unspayed female. Pet shops, veterinary clinics and kennels are exempt. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Powell River, https://powellriver.ca) **Where:** - Phone: Animal Control, 604-485-8600 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday) ## Key facts - **Dogs allowed:** No more than three dogs on any parcel of land in the City, and no more than one of them an unspayed female. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 28](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109) - Official wording: "No person shall keep more than three dogs but no more than one of which can be an unspayed" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cats allowed:** No more than three cats on any parcel of land in the City, and no more than one of them an unspayed female. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 29](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109) - Official wording: "No person shall keep more than three cats but no more than one of which can be an unspayed" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Other animal limits:** Poultry and rabbits: up to 6 poultry (no rooster) on R1, R2 or R3 lots; on RA1 lots under 0.2 ha (0.5 acre), up to 12 poultry (no rooster) or 20 rabbits; on RA1, A1 or A2 lots, up to 24 poultry (one may be a rooster) or 50 rabbits. Other animals (not dogs, cats, rabbits or poultry) may be kept on A1 and A2 lots with at least 0.4 ha (1 acre) per animal, and on RA1 lots with at least 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) per animal. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), ss. 30, 31](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109) - Official wording: "up to 12 poultry, none of which may be a rooster, or 20 rabbits on a RA1 zoned parcel" … "up to 24 poultry, one of which may be a rooster, or 50 rabbits, on a RA1, A1 or A2 zoned parcel" … "up to six poultry, none of which may be a rooster, on a R1, R2 and R3 zoned parcel" … "when a minimum 0.4 hectares (1 acre) of land is provided for each animal" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Exceptions:** The dog and cat limits do not apply to the lawful operation of a pet shop, veterinary clinic or kennel. A kennel is a place keeping four or more dogs or cats. - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), ss. 2(e), 28, 29](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109) - Official wording: "except in the lawful operation of a pet shop, veterinary clinic or kennel" … "“Kennel” means a place, building, or structure for the keeping, training, care, breeding, treatment," … "hospitalization, or boarding of four or more dogs or cats" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $100 for keeping more than 3 dogs, more than 3 cats, or more than one unspayed female dog or cat ($20 discount within 14 days; $20 surcharge after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $100 for more than 3 dogs or more than 3 cats. - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, App. 1, ss. 28, 29](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841) - Official wording: "28 Keeping more than 3 dogs $100 $20 $20 $50" … "29 Keeping more than 3 cats $100 $20 $20 $50" … "29 Keeping more than one $100 $20 $20 $50" … "if Paid within 14 days of the bylaw notice being received" - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, s. 7, Sch. A](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841) - Official wording: "if Paid within 14 days of the bylaw notice being received" … "the amount of the surcharge in Column A3 of Schedule "A" shall be due" - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 2572, 2019 (consolidated January 2022), Sch. 2](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/67966) - Official wording: "Keeping more than 3 dogs 28 $ 100.00" … "Keeping more than 3 cats 29 $ 100.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** City of Powell River Animal Control Bylaw No. 1979, 2003 - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 1](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109) - Official wording: "City of Powell River Animal Control Bylaw No.1979, 2003" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Under the [Animal Control Bylaw](), you may keep no more than three dogs on any parcel of land in the City of Powell River, and no more than one of them an unspayed female. The same limits apply to cats: no more than three, with no more than one unspayed female. The bylaw sets no zone-based variation for dogs. ## Steps 1. Count the dogs and cats on your parcel. 2. If you are over a limit, reduce the number or ask Animal Control about your situation at 604-485-8600. 3. Licence each dog. See the dog licence answer. ## Good to know - The limits do not apply to the lawful operation of a pet shop, veterinary clinic or kennel. A kennel is a place keeping four or more dogs or cats. Kennel use also depends on zoning. - The bylaw gives no exemption for puppies or kittens. - It does not limit combined dog and cat totals. - Rabbits, poultry and other animals have their own limits, covered in the backyard chickens answer. - A bylaw notice is $100 for more than 3 dogs, more than 3 cats, or more than one unspayed female dog or cat ($20 discount if paid within 14 days; $20 surcharge if paid after 28 days). A municipal ticket is $100 for more than 3 dogs or more than 3 cats. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109) ## Related questions - [Powell River dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/dog-licence.md) - [Powell River backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/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) - [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/how-many-pets.md) - [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/how-many-pets.md) - [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/how-many-pets.md) - [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/how-many-pets.md) - [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/how-many-pets.md) - [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/how-many-pets.md) ## Sources - [Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/89109) (read 2026-11-05) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841) (read 2026-11-05) - [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 2572, 2019 (consolidated January 2022)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/67966) (read 2026-11-05) - [Animal Control, City of Powell River](https://powellriver.ca/pages/animal-control) (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 Powell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/how-many-pets/_