{"title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Whistler","question":"How many dogs or cats can I keep in Whistler?","slug":"how-many-pets","place":{"path":"ca/bc/whistler","name":"Whistler","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Resort Municipality of Whistler","url":"https://www.whistler.ca"},"short_answer":"In Whistler, you may keep no more than 4 dogs over 8 weeks old and no more than 5 cats over 12 weeks old on any property, and no more than 6 companion animals in total. The fine is $150 by bylaw notice if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250.","aliases":["pet limit whistler","how many dogs whistler","how many cats whistler","animal limit bylaw whistler"],"cost":"Excess companion animals: bylaw notice $150 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250; municipal ticket $250.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"604-935-8280","note":"Every day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; bylawservices@whistler.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Whistler dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"backyard-chickens","title":"Whistler backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/backyard-chickens/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Whistler dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Whistler bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/pemberton","name":"Pemberton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/squamish","name":"Squamish","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/how-many-pets/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/how-many-pets/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets/"},"facts":{"dog_limit":{"label":"Dogs allowed","value":"No more than 4 dogs over 8 weeks old on any real property (and no more than 6 companion animals in total).","short":"Max 4 dogs (within 6 animals total)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 3","quotes":["No person shall keep or allow to be kept on any real property more than 6 companion animals, consisting of not more than 4 dogs over the age of 8 weeks and not more than 5 cats over the age of 12 weeks."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"cat_limit":{"label":"Cats allowed","value":"No more than 5 cats over 12 weeks old on any real property (within the total of 6 companion animals).","short":"Max 5 cats (within 6 animals total)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 3","quotes":["not more than 5 cats over the age of 12 weeks"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_limits":{"label":"Other animal limits","value":"A combined limit of 6 companion animals per property. Schedule A lists prohibited animals that cannot be kept at all (for example all ungulates, most birds including chickens, and all venomous reptiles).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"ss. 3, 5; Schedule A","quotes":["more than 6 companion animals","all ungulates","all birds (quail, pheasant, pigeon, chicken, duck, goose and turkey) except budgie, cockatiel, lovebird, finch, and canary"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exceptions":{"label":"Exceptions","value":"Sections 3 and 5 do not apply to: impounded-animal facilities; police or RCMP; the BC SPCA; a vet giving temporary care; Wildlife Act permit holders; CCAC-accredited education or research; and ungulates, lagomorphs or birds on agricultural land. Zoning also allows up to 100 commercial sled dogs in the IP2 zone, Nov 1 to Apr 30.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 6","quotes":["Sections 3 and 5 do not apply to:","the keeping of ungulates, lagomorphs or birds on land designated under the RMOW Zoning Bylaw for agricultural use."]},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf","title":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF)","section":"Part 10, IP2 zone, s. 2(c)","quotes":["kennelling of not more than 100 commercial sled dogs between November 1 of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Keeping of excessive companion animals (s. 3): bylaw notice $150 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250. Municipal ticket: $250.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Animal Responsibility","quotes":["Keeping of excessive companion          3                  $150   $250      Yes"]},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF)","section":"Schedule B2","quotes":["Keeping of excessive companion animals                                         3     $250"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","section":"Title","quotes":["ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2218, 2019"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf) limits how many companion animals you can keep on one property in Whistler. A companion animal is a domesticated animal kept for companionship that may lawfully be kept on residential property.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The limits are 4 dogs over 8 weeks old, 5 cats over 12 weeks old, and 6 companion animals in all.\n- Some animals cannot be kept at all. The bylaw's Schedule A lists prohibited animals, for example all ungulates (hoofed animals), most birds including chickens, and all venomous reptiles. See the backyard chickens answer.\n- The limits do not apply to animal impoundment facilities, police or the RCMP, the BC SPCA, a veterinarian giving temporary care, Wildlife Act permit holders, accredited education or research facilities, or ungulates, rabbits and hares, or birds on agricultural land.\n- The [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf) also allows up to 100 commercial sled dogs in the IP2 zone from November 1 to April 30.\n- The fine for keeping too many animals is a bylaw notice of $150 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250, or a municipal ticket of $250.\n- Questions go to Bylaw Services at 604-935-8280.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/","title":"Dogs in Whistler (Bylaw Services contact), Resort Municipality of Whistler","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf","title":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/how-many-pets/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/how-many-pets.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/how-many-pets.json"}}