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

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Quesnel

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Quesnel you may keep up to 3 dogs per dwelling unit (unless you have a kennel licence) and up to 3 cats per parcel, counting only animals over three months old. There is also a cap of 4 animals in total, not counting birds, insects and farm animals.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Quesnel, https://www.quesnel.ca)  
**Cost:** Municipal ticket $50 each for more than 3 dogs, more than 3 cats, or more than 4 animals. Kennel licence $50 (4 or fewer dogs) or $100 (5 or more).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-992-2111
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@quesnel.ca

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** Up to 3 dogs over 3 months old per dwelling unit, unless the property has a kennel licence.
  - Source: [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 5.1](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must not keep, possess or harbor more than three (3) dogs actually or apparently over the age of three (3) months per dwelling unit." … "Except for kennels operating under a licence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** Up to 3 cats over 3 months old on any parcel.
  - Source: [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 10.1](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must not own, keep, possess or harbor more than three (3) cats actually or apparently over the age of three (3) months on any parcel in the City."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other animal limits:** No more than 4 animals over 3 months old in total, except in areas the Zoning Bylaw designates for that use or as the Animal Bylaw allows; birds, insects and farm animals are outside this cap. Bees: no more than 4 colonies on a parcel (Animal Bylaw).
  - Source: [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 14.1, 12.3](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person must not own, keep, possess or harbor more than four (4) animals" … "or permitted by this bylaw except birds, insects or farm animals." … "A person must not keep more than four (4) colonies of bees on a parcel of land."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** A licensed kennel may keep more dogs; the Animal Control Officer sets the number of dogs permitted at the kennel in the licence. Farm animals, chickens and bees are allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw designates.
  - Source: [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 5.1, 4.3, 11.1, 13.1](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Except for kennels operating under a licence" … "the number of dogs permitted at the kennel;" … "No person shall own, keep, possess or harbor any farm animals except in areas designated for that use in the City's Zoning Bylaw." … "A person must not own, keep, possess or harbor chickens or pigeons except in areas designated for that use in the City's Zoning Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket $50 each for: more than 3 dogs, more than 3 cats, or more than 4 animals.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1774, Schedule 6 (consolidated October 18, 2024), Schedule 6, items 3, 17, 21](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/1774-mti-consolidated-2024pdf)
  - Official wording: "More than 3 dogs 5.1 $ 50.00" … "More than 3 cats 10.1 $ 50.00" … "More than 4 animals 14.1 $ 50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700
  - Source: [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 1.1](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as the Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf) sets limits that count only animals over three months old, so younger puppies and kittens are not counted.

- Dogs: up to 3 per dwelling unit, unless the property has a kennel licence.
- Cats: up to 3 on any parcel.
- All animals: no more than 4 in total, except in areas the Zoning Bylaw designates for that use or as the Animal Bylaw allows. Birds, insects and farm animals are outside this cap.

## Good to know

- A licensed kennel may keep more dogs; the Animal Control Officer sets the number in the licence.
- Chickens, bees and farm animals are allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw designates (see the backyard chickens answer). The bylaw also limits bees to 4 colonies on a parcel.
- Going over a limit is a $50 municipal ticket for each of: more than 3 dogs, more than 3 cats, more than 4 animals.
- Every dog over three months old needs a licence (see the dog licence answer).
- The bylaw defines a "kennel" as premises with more than two dogs over four months old, which does not match the 3-dog limit and the bylaw does not explain this. Ask Bylaw Enforcement, 250-992-2111, if you have more than 3 dogs.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw 1700 (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf)
- [Dog Licences, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/dog-licences)

## Related questions

- [Quesnel dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/dog-licence.md)
- [Quesnel backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/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)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/how-many-pets.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/how-many-pets.md)
- [McBride](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/how-many-pets.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/how-many-pets.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/how-many-pets.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018) (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licences, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/dog-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1774, Schedule 6 (consolidated October 18, 2024) (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/1774-mti-consolidated-2024pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Report It! Who Should You Call? (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/2023-who-call) (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 Quesnel. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/how-many-pets/_