---
title: How many dogs or cats you can keep in Whistler
question: "How many dogs or cats can I keep in Whistler?"
place: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/whistler
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Resort Municipality of Whistler
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/how-many-pets/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/how-many-pets.json"
---

# How many dogs or cats you can keep in Whistler

**Question:** How many dogs or cats can I keep in Whistler?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Resort Municipality of Whistler, https://www.whistler.ca)  
**Cost:** Excess companion animals: bylaw notice $150 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250; municipal ticket $250.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-935-8280 (Every day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; bylawservices@whistler.ca)

## Key facts

- **Dogs allowed:** No more than 4 dogs over 8 weeks old on any real property (and no more than 6 companion animals in total).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, s. 3](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cats allowed:** No more than 5 cats over 12 weeks old on any real property (within the total of 6 companion animals).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, s. 3](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "not more than 5 cats over the age of 12 weeks"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other animal limits:** 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).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, ss. 3, 5; Schedule A](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exceptions:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, s. 6](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015, Part 10, IP2 zone, s. 2(c)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
  - Official wording: "kennelling of not more than 100 commercial sled dogs between November 1 of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Keeping of excessive companion animals (s. 3): bylaw notice $150 if paid within 14 days, otherwise $250. Municipal ticket: $250.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A, Schedule A, Animal Responsibility](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Keeping of excessive companion 3 $150 $250 Yes"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005, Schedule B2](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Keeping of excessive companion animals 3 $250"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019, Title](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2218, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

## Good to know

- The limits are 4 dogs over 8 weeks old, 5 cats over 12 weeks old, and 6 companion animals in all.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Questions go to Bylaw Services at 604-935-8280.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Whistler dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-licence.md)
- [Whistler backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Whistler dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Whistler bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog and cat limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/how-many-pets.md)
- [Pemberton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/how-many-pets.md)
- [Squamish](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/how-many-pets.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/how-many-pets.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/how-many-pets.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/how-many-pets.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/how-many-pets.md)

## Sources

- [Dogs in Whistler (Bylaw Services contact), Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/dogs-in-whistler/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2218, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-No.-2218-2019.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Resort Municipality of Whistler. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/how-many-pets/_