How many dogs or cats you can keep in Trail

How many dogs or cats can I keep?

Trail, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In the City of Trail you may keep no more than 3 dogs on any property and no more than 3 cats on any one parcel. Veterinary clinics, animal shelters, licensed animal-care businesses and permitted kennels are exempt from the dog limit.

Key facts

Dogs allowed	No more than 3 dogs in total on any real property, unless it is a licensed veterinary clinic, an animal shelter, a licensed animal-care business permitted by the land use bylaw, or a kennel permitted by the Zoning Bylaw.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 7.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A Person shall not keep or allow to be kept on any real property more than a total of 3 Dogs unless the real property is: A Kennel where use is permitted under the City’s Zoning Bylaw
Cats allowed	No more than 3 cats on any one parcel.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 7.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep more than a total of 3 Cats on any one parcel.
Other animal limits	Pigeons and doves: at most 3 pairs per parcel, owner must live there, one loft only, loft at least 9 m from other people's buildings. Livestock only where the Zoning Bylaw permits.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 12.1, 11.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording not more than three (3) pairs of pigeons or doves, or a combination of both, shall be kept on no such loft shall contain more than three (3) pairs of pigeons or doves No person shall keep Livestock in any area of the City unless permitted under the Zoning Bylaw.
Exceptions	Temporary care of more than 3 dogs or 3 cats over 16 weeks old (for example, fostering): notify the animal control officer of numbers, reason and expected length. Kennels only where the Zoning Bylaw permits.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 7.10, 7.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording If a person is providing temporary care for more than 3 Dogs and/or 3 Cats, over the age of 16 weeks (4 months), they shall notify the animal control officer No person shall own, operate, or maintain a kennel within the City except where expressly permitted
Fine	Too many animals (s. 7.8, dogs): bylaw notice $150 if paid within 14 days, $300 after.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording EARLY PAYMENT OFFENCE SECTION PENALTY (1–14 Days) Too many animals 7.8 $150.00 $300.00
Bylaw	Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Control Bylaw” No. 2970, 2026

How it works

The Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026 allows no more than 3 dogs in total on any real property in the City of Trail, and no more than 3 cats on any one parcel. The dog limit does not apply to a licensed veterinary clinic, an animal shelter, a licensed animal-care business permitted by the land use bylaw, or a kennel permitted by the Zoning Bylaw. The bylaw gives no age exemption for puppies.

Good to know

Temporary care (for example, fostering) of more than 3 dogs or 3 cats over 16 weeks old: tell the animal control officer the numbers, the reason and how long.
Kennels are allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw permits. A kennel licence is $55 a year.
Pigeons and doves: at most 3 pairs per parcel, the owner must live there, one loft only, and the loft at least 9 m from other people's buildings. Livestock is allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw permits. Bees are under the separate Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016.
Too many dogs is a bylaw notice of $150 if paid within 14 days, $300 after. The bylaw lists no ticket for the cat limit; a court fine of up to $50,000 can apply.
Questions: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-364-0833.