Animal Control Bylaw

Lethbridge County has had an Animal Control Bylaw since 2018. The bylaw regulates the number of animals allowed on residential lots and in hamlets. It does not apply to cats and dogs.

After receiving requests to review the existing Animal Control Bylaw to allow certain livestock within hamlets, Council is asking for public input into the matter. The current bylaw does not permit any livestock or fowl in County hamlets, which are Fairview, Kipp, Monarch, Shaughnessy, Diamond City, Chin, Iron Springs, and Turin.

Council would like to hear from hamlet residents and property owners on whether a small number of livestock or fowl should be permitted within hamlet boundaries. Council has passed first reading of an amended bylaw that would allow up to five animal units in hamlets, depending on the size of the property. A bylaw must pass three readings to take effect.

One animal unit is equal to:

• One horse, donkey, or mule over a year old
• Two colts up to one year old
• One llama/alpaca
• Two ostrich, emu, or other ratite
• One cow or steer over one year old
• Two calves up to one year old
• One elk or bison/buffalo
• Fifty (50) broiler chickens
• Fifteen (15) chickens (layers)
• Ten (10) ducks, turkeys, pheasants, geese or other similar fowl or in combination thereof
• Three sheep or goats over a year old
• Two swine over a year old
• Twenty (20) rabbits or other similar rodents

The proposed amendments would allow the following animal units in hamlets based on property size:

• 0.0 – 0.99 acres: 0 units
• 1.0 – 1.99 acres: 1 unit
• 2.0 – 2.99 acres: 2 units
• 3.0 – 3.99 acres: 3 units
• 4.0 acres or larger: 5 units

The current and proposed bylaw amendments both require that property owners manage manure, bedding, fur, feathers, and feed responsibly so as to not cause a nuisance to other properties. Violations under both are subject to fines.

The proposed amendments to the bylaw are under the "Documents" section on this page.

Please fill out the short survey by February 17, 2023. Council will review survey responses at an upcoming Council meeting before deciding whether to adopt the bylaw.