How many dogs or cats you can keep in Terrace
How many dogs or cats can I keep?
Short answer
Terrace allows no more than three dogs (lap dogs count) and no more than four cats in a dwelling unit or on a parcel. More than three dogs needs a hobby kennel licence ($100), which covers up to five dogs for non-commercial use.
Key facts
| Dogs allowed | No more than three dogs (lap dogs count) in a dwelling unit or on any parcel in the City. More than three only under a hobby dog kennel licence (up to five dogs, non-commercial).Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 5.2, 20.3, definition of Hobby Dog Kennel · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo more than three (3) dogs or lap dogs, and no more than four (4) cats No person shall own, possess, keep or harbour more than three (3) the keeping on a parcel of land, a maximum of five (5) dogs, for non-commercial purposes |
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| Cats allowed | No more than four cats in a dwelling unit or on any parcel.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno more than four (4) cats |
| Other animal limits | Only dogs, cats, small animals (e.g. hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles), livestock, poultry, domestic pet birds and licensed fur-farm animals are permitted in the City. Livestock and poultry are limited by zoning; up to four backyard hens are allowed in some residential zones.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 5.1, 5.5, 17.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingonly the following animals are permitted in the City of Terrace. No poultry shall be kept in any portion of the City that is zoned subject to the regulations of the City of Terrace, Zoning Bylaw No. |
| Exceptions | A hobby dog kennel licence ($100) allows up to five dogs for non-commercial purposes; commercial kennels are allowed on AR1, AR2 and M1 parcels over 4100 m² with a business licence. An unweaned animal and its mother count as one animal.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 13.1, 20.1, 21.1, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll unweaned offspring of an animal together with the female parent No person shall operate a hobby dog kennel, without being the holder Commercial Kennels are permitted on parcels zoned AR1, AR2 and M1 Hobby Kennel |
| Fine | Keeping more than 3 dogs or 4 cats: $100. Operating a hobby dog kennel without a licence: $100.Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025), Schedule 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKeeping of more than 3 dogs or 4 cats Failure to obtain Hobby Dog Kennel license |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2159-2019 (consolidated to Bylaw No. 2284-2023)Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAND AMENDMENTS THERETO UP TO & INCLUDING BYLAW #2284-2023 BYLAW NO. 2159-2019/2284-2023 "A BYLAW TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATING, LICENCING, AND CONTROL OF ANIMALS WITHIN THE CITY OF TERRACE." |
How it works
Animal Control Bylaw 2159, section 5.2, allows no more than three dogs or lap dogs and no more than four cats in a dwelling unit or on any parcel in the city. The bylaw's definition of a cat leaves out cats under four months old. Unweaned young count as one animal together with their mother.
Good to know
- A hobby dog kennel licence ($100) lets you keep more than three dogs, up to five, for non-commercial purposes. Hobby kennel operators may not take in other people's dogs and must meet siting rules in the bylaw.
- Commercial kennels are allowed on parcels zoned AR1, AR2 and M1 over 4100 m², with a business licence.
- The bylaw permits only these animals in the city: dogs, cats, small animals (for example hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles), livestock, poultry, domestic pet birds and licensed fur-farm animals. Livestock and poultry are limited by zoning; see the backyard chickens answer for hens.
- Keeping more than 3 dogs or 4 cats is a $100 municipal ticket. Operating a hobby kennel without a licence is also $100.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kitimat · New Hazelton · Telkwa · Port Edward · Prince Rupert · Houston
Sources
- Animal Control, City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025) (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.