How many dogs or cats you can keep in Richmond
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
In the City of Richmond you may keep up to 3 dogs in a one- or two-family home and 2 dogs per unit in a multiple-family dwelling. There is no separate cat limit, but all household pets together are capped at 5 (one- or two-family) or 3 (multiple-family).
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than 3 dogs in a one-family or two-family dwelling, and no more than 2 dogs in a unit of a multiple-family dwelling. These dog limits do not apply to the housing and training of assistance dogs.Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932, Part Two, s. 2.3.1; Dog Licences, Register a New Dog; Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932, Part Two, definition of Dog · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA person in a one-family dwelling or a two-family dwelling must not permit more than three dogs to be kept in such dwelling at any time. A person in a unit of a multiple-family dwelling must not permit more than two dogs to be kept in such unit at any time. do not apply to the housing and training of assistance dogs. There is a maximum of three (3) dogs per one or two family dwelling and two (2) dogs per multiple family dwelling unit. means any member of the canine species which is six (6) or more |
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| Cats allowed | None set. Richmond's bylaw sets no separate limit on cats; they count toward the combined pet limit.Read: Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932, Part Two |
| Other animal limits | Combined limit: a maximum of 5 household pets in a one-family or two-family dwelling, or 3 in a multiple-family dwelling (subject to the per-species maximums and any strata bylaw). Rabbits: maximum 2 in any dwelling type. Pigeons (racing, homing or fancy): maximum 5 in a one- or two-family dwelling; none in a multiple-family dwelling. Exotic birds follow the pigeon rules. Aviaries must be at least 2 m from any property line.Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932, Part Two, s. 2.1.1, 2.4.1.2, 2.5.2, 2.5.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga maximum of five (5) household pets in a one-family dwelling or two- a maximum of three (3) household pets in a multiple-family dwelling; A person may keep a maximum of two (2) rabbits in a one-family dwelling, A person may keep a maximum of five (5) pigeons in a one-family dwelling or A person must not keep pigeons in a multiple-family dwelling. An aviary must be located at least two (2) metres from any property line. apply also to exotic birds. |
| Exceptions | Litters of puppies or kittens are not counted. Dog limits do not apply to assistance dogs. Strata bylaws may set lower limits. Poultry: not on parcels under 2,000 m² or in homes, except as provincial farm law permits. Farm animals: not in homes or on parcels under 2,000 m²; one per 2,000 m².Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932, Part Two, s. 2.1.2, 2.3.1.3, 3.1.1, 5.2; Dog Licencing Bylaw 7138, s. 2.5.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe limits prescribed in subsection 2.1.1 do not include any litter of puppies do not apply to the housing and training of assistance dogs. a parcel with an area of less than 2,000 square metres (21,529 square feet) Except as otherwise permitted by the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) exceeds one (1) domestic farm animal for each 2,000 square metres Commercial or Hobby Dog Kennels |
| Fine | Bylaw notice (Bylaw 8122 Schedule A): $200 for more than 3 dogs in a one- or two-family dwelling, or more than 2 dogs in one unit of a multi-family dwelling ($175 if paid within 28 days; $225 if paid after 60 days).Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw 8122, Schedule A, Schedule A - Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPossessing more than 3 dogs in a one-family 2.3.1.1 No $ 200.00 $ 175.00 $ 225.00 n/a Possessing more than 2 dogs in one unit of a 2.3.1.2 No $ 200.00 $ 175.00 $ 225.00 n/a |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 7932 (Part Two, Household Pets).Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932, Part Two, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCITY OF RICHMOND ANIMAL CONTROL REGULATION BYLAW NO. 7932 EFFECTIVE DATE - JUNE 13, 2005 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY ANIMAL CONTROL REGULATION BYLAW NO. 7932 The Council of the City of Richmond enacts as follows: |
How it works
Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932 sets the limits in Richmond. For this limit a "dog" is a canine six months or older. Litters of puppies or kittens are not counted toward the household-pet limit. The dog limits do not apply to housing and training assistance dogs. A strata bylaw may set stricter limits.
Good to know
- Dogs: no more than 3 in a one-family or two-family dwelling, and no more than 2 in a unit of a multiple-family dwelling.
- Cats: the bylaw sets no separate limit. They count toward the combined limit.
- All household pets together: a maximum of 5 in a one-family or two-family dwelling, or 3 in a multiple-family dwelling, subject to the per-species limits.
- Rabbits: at most 2 in any dwelling type.
- Pigeons (racing, homing or fancy): at most 5 in a one- or two-family dwelling, and none in a multiple-family dwelling. Exotic birds follow the pigeon rules. Aviaries must be at least 2 m from any property line.
- Poultry are not allowed on parcels under 2,000 m² or in homes, except as provincial farm law permits. Farm animals are not allowed in homes or on parcels under 2,000 m², and the limit is one per 2,000 m².
- A bylaw notice for too many dogs is $200 ($175 early, $225 late). No ticket amount is listed for exceeding the combined pet limit.
- Every dog over eight weeks old needs a City licence.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Burnaby · North Vancouver · New Westminster · Delta · District of North Vancouver · Belcarra
Sources
- Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 7932, Part Two (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licences, City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licencing Bylaw 7138 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw 8122, Schedule A (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.