How many dogs or cats you can keep in Quesnel
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.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | Up to 3 dogs over 3 months old per dwelling unit, unless the property has a kennel licence.Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust 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 |
|---|---|
| Cats allowed | Up to 3 cats over 3 months old on any parcel.Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 10.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust 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. |
| 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).Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 14.1, 12.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA 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. |
| 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.Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 5.1, 4.3, 11.1, 13.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingExcept 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. |
| Fine | Municipal ticket $50 each for: more than 3 dogs, more than 3 cats, or more than 4 animals.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1774, Schedule 6 (consolidated October 18, 2024), Schedule 6, items 3, 17, 21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingMore than 3 dogs 5.1 $ 50.00 More than 3 cats 10.1 $ 50.00 More than 4 animals 14.1 $ 50.00 |
| Bylaw | Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw shall be cited as the Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700. |
How it works
The Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw 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
The same question in other places
Williams Lake · Prince George · McBride · Vanderhoof · 100 Mile House · Fort St James
Sources
- Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licences, City of Quesnel (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1774, Schedule 6 (consolidated October 18, 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Report It! Who Should You Call? (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.