Pet Limit

Limit for dogs and cats

  • No limit on the number of spayed or neutered licensed dogs and licensed cats you can have.
  • If dogs and cats are not spayed or neutered, you can have a maximum of two licensed dogs and two licensed cats per household
  • If you currently have more than two unaltered dogs and two unaltered cats you will be allowed to keep these extra pets as long as you can prove that you were in possession of them before the new Animal Care and Control By-law came into effect on March 1, 2017.
  • To encourage fostering of homeless dogs and cats, foster families of dogs and cats over 12 weeks of age may keep a maximum of three unaltered dogs and three unaltered cats for up to 48 hours so that a permanent home or veterinary service can be arranged.
  • Breeders have exemptions. Please contact By-law Compliance and Enforcement Services for details.

Limit for pets other than dogs or cats

  • A maximum of six rabbits over eight weeks of age either indoors or in an escape proof rabbit hutch that is at least 0.5 metres above the ground, 1.2 metres from the property line and 12 metres from the nearest neighbor.
  • A maximum of 10 pigeons in an escape and rodent proof loft built with smoothly finished walls that can be easily cleaned at least every six months, at least 0.5 metres above the ground, 1.2 metres from the property line and 12 metres from the nearest neighbour. The floor of the loft must be washed weekly with soap and water. Pigeons must not leave the loft at any time.
  • Any number of Tippler, Homing and Racing Pigeons, provided the owner is a member of a recognized pigeon club and the loft meets the specifications for Pigeons under By-law.  Tippler, Homing and Racing Pigeons must wear a leg band issued by the recognized pigeon club and may leave the loft for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon.
  • A maximum of six mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters or gerbils in any combination in an escape proof enclosure.
  • A maximum of two ferrets in an escape proof enclosure.
  • A maximum of two non-venomous snakes or two non-venomous lizards, neither of which may exceed 1.2 metres (4 feet) in length, in an escape proof enclosure.
  • A maximum total of six domestic cardinals, finches, budgies, bulbuls, canaries, tanagers, amazons, cockatoos, onures, macaws, parakeets, cockatiels, lorikeets, touracos, toucans, orioles, mynahs, magpies, barbets, ascaris, pied hornbills or cock-of-the-rocks, in any combination in an escape proof enclosure.

Regardless of species, you must provide food, water, exercise, attention and veterinary care to keep your pets in good health. Waste must be disposed in a sanitary manner.