---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Prince George
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep?"
place: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/prince-george
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Prince George
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Prince George

**Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep?

**Short answer:** In Prince George you may keep no more than three dogs aged four months or older, or four if at least one is a foster dog placed by a humane society. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Prince George, https://www.princegeorge.ca)  
**Cost:** A bylaw notice for keeping more than three dogs is $100 if paid within 30 days, or $125 if paid later.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services (Animal Control), 250-561-7622
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylawservices@princegeorge.ca

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** Three dogs aged four months or more per owner or property. Four if at least one is a foster dog placed by a humane society.
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, s. 4.1, 4.3](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "more than three (3) Dogs aged four (4) months or more." … "up to four (4) Dogs if at least one Dog has been placed with that person as a Foster Animal."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** None set. Prince George's Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw sets no limit on cats.
- **Other animal limits:** Livestock, which includes chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, may be kept only where the Zoning Bylaw allows it.
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, s. 12.1; s. 2.1 "Livestock"](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep Livestock in any area of the City except where the keeping of Livestock is allowed under the Zoning Bylaw." … "Animal of the avian species including a chicken, turkey, duck, goose or pheasant"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** The three-dog limit does not apply to retail pet stores, vets, groomers, breeding businesses, temporary dog shows, or licensed animal boarding businesses. Up to four dogs if one is a foster dog.
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, s. 4.2, 4.3](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Section 4.1 does not apply to premises lawfully used for a retail pet sales business" … "nor to any person in possession of a valid license to operate an Animal boarding business within the City." … "up to four (4) Dogs if at least one Dog has been placed with that person as a Foster Animal."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $100 if paid within 30 days of the Bylaw Notice; $125 if paid later.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B, Schedule B, Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Own, keep or harbor more than 3 dogs 4.1 $100 $125 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017 (s. 4); Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 for livestock and poultry
  - Source: [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017, s. 1.1](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of Prince George Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Section 4 of the [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf) limits dogs aged four months or more to three per owner or property. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.

## Good to know

- Up to four dogs are allowed if at least one has been placed with you as a foster animal by a humane society.
- The three-dog limit does not apply to retail pet stores, veterinarians, groomers, breeding businesses, temporary dog shows, or licensed animal boarding businesses.
- Livestock, which the bylaw says includes chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, may be kept only where the Zoning Bylaw allows it. See the backyard chickens answer.
- Every dog over four months old must be licensed; see the dog licence answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw 8898 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Prince George dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/how-many-pets.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/how-many-pets.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/how-many-pets.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/how-many-pets.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/how-many-pets.md)
- [McBride](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8898_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Prince George. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/how-many-pets/_