Animal Control Bylaw

Council approved changes to the County’s Animal Control Bylaw at the March 2, 2023 meeting that will allow hamlet landowners to keep a limited number of livestock on their property.

Under the amended bylaw, hamlet properties are permitted up to five animal units, depending on the size of the parcel:

• Under one acre – 0.25 units
• 1.0 – 1.99 acres – one unit
• 2.0 – 2.99 acres – two units
• 3.0 – 3.99 acres – three units
• 4.0 acres or larger – five units

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

Property owners who wish to keep livestock on their property are not required to obtain a permit, however they must ensure that manure is properly managed, and that animal bedding, feed, feathers, or fur not blow onto other properties or create any type of nuisance. Violations of the bylaw are subject to fines. To view the full bylaw, view the "Documents" section of this page.