How many dogs or cats you can keep in Qualicum Beach
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
In Qualicum Beach, a home can have no more than three dogs and four cats (dogs older than about three months, cats older than about four months). Wild or exotic animals are banned. Too many dogs or cats is a $125 ticket.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than three dogs over about three months old in a dwelling unit or on the land around it. Anyone who had more than three licensed dogs before the bylaw was adopted may keep them for their lifetimes but may not add more.Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009, s. 29-30; Dog Licences, Dog Ownership · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall keep, or permit the keeping of, more than three clogs apparently over the age of three months in a dwelling unit may not keep or permit the keeping of any additional dogs in that dwelling unit Each household can keep no more than three dogs over the age of three months. |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | No more than four cats over about four months old in a dwelling unit or on the land around it.Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009, s. 38; Animal Control, Cats · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall keep or permit the keeping of more than four cats apparently over the age of Households may have no more than four cats, over the age of four months, unless it is at a licenced kennel or veterinary clinic. |
| Other animal limits | Wild or exotic animals (Schedule B list, including primates, bears, wild cats, snakes, raccoons and skunks) may not be kept anywhere in the Town. In zones where agriculture is not a permitted use, animals are restricted to pets and urban beekeeping. No combined dog and cat limit found.Sources differ: The Town's animal control page says livestock and bees are only allowed in Rural Zones 1, 2 and 3; Zoning Bylaw No. 900 allows urban beekeeping in other zones (see backyard-chickens).Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009, s. 45; Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024, combined version, s. 3.3 General Regulations, item 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall keep any Wild or Exotic Animal anywhere in the Town. In all zones where agriculture, animal care or agricultural products processing is not a permitted use, the keeping of animals is restricted to the following: |
| Exceptions | A lawfully operated kennel or veterinary clinic is exempt from the dog and cat limits. A kennel (four or more dogs, or five or more other animals) needs a kennel licence, available only where zoning permits, from $60 a year for 4 to 8 dogs plus a business licence. Pre-bylaw owners of more than three dogs are grandfathered.Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009, s. 2(h), 16, 29; Dog Licences, Kennel Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording"Kennel" means a place, building, or structure for the training, care, shelter, breeding except in the lawful operation of a kennel or veterinary clinic. Kennel licence fees start at $60 per year (4-8 dogs), in addition to a business licence fee. A kennel licence is only available where zoning permits. |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: $125 for excess dogs on a property; $125 for excess cats; $125 for keeping a wild or exotic animal.Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, consolidated to 626.07, Sched. 2, items 24, 31, 37 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingExcess Dogs on Property Excess Cats on Property Keep Wild or Exotic Animal $125.00 |
| Bylaw | Town of Qualicum Beach Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009 (animal limits); Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (keeping of animals by zone)Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024, combined version, s. 3.3 General Regulations, item 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnimal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009 P a g e | 37 5. Keeping of Animals In all zones where agriculture, animal care or agricultural products processing is TITLE 1. This Bylaw may be cited as the "Town of Qualicum Beach Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024". |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw No. 649 limits animals in a dwelling unit or on the land around it:
- Dogs: no more than three, older than about three months.
- Cats: no more than four, older than about four months.
- No combined dog and cat limit was found.
Anyone who had more than three licensed dogs before the bylaw was adopted may keep them for their lifetimes but may not add more.
Other animals
Wild or exotic animals (the Schedule B list includes primates, bears, wild cats, snakes, raccoons and skunks) may not be kept anywhere in the Town. In zones where agriculture is not a permitted use, animals are restricted to pets and urban beekeeping. See the chickens and bees answer for details.
Good to know
- A lawfully operated kennel or veterinary clinic is exempt from the dog and cat limits.
- A kennel (four or more dogs, or five or more other animals) needs a kennel licence, available only where zoning permits, from $60 a year for 4 to 8 dogs, plus a business licence.
- Too many dogs, too many cats or a wild or exotic animal is a $125 municipal ticket.
- The Town's animal control page says livestock and bees are only allowed in Rural Zones 1, 2 and 3. Zoning Bylaw No. 900 also allows urban beekeeping in other zones. Confirm with the Town before you rely on either.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Parksville · Lantzville · Port Alberni · Nanaimo · Sechelt · Comox
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024, combined version (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Animal Control, Town of Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, consolidated to 626.07 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
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.