Kamloops is home to a vibrant mix of pets, people, and urban wildlife. From dogs and cats to backyard hens—and the deer, coyotes, and birds that share our neighbourhoods—responsible stewardship helps keep our community safe, healthy, and respectful of the natural environment. This page clears up common myths, highlights key bylaws, and supports residents in caring for their animals while co-existing with local wildlife.
Dogs and Cats
Being a responsible dog owner means keeping your dog happy, healthy, and safe by taking care of their basic dietary, medical, physical, and psychological needs. It also means monitoring your dog’s behaviour in public spaces and respecting the City’s bylaw so that you and your dog are being good members of your community. The first step to responsible dog ownership is licensing your dog.
While there is not a specific bylaws for cats, their presence still has a meaningful impact on neighbourhood life. Outdoor cats can wander widely, interact with wildlife, and sometimes create challenges for neighbours. That’s why responsible cat ownership matters just as much as responsible dog ownership, even without formal regulations.
All dogs in Kamloops must be licensed. Dog Responsibility and Control Bylaw No. 34-42 states that all dog owners who possess a dog(s) over the age of six months must license the dog(s) every year with the City.
Dogs must be leashed in all public spaces unless in a designated off‑leash area. This protects pets, people, and wildlife—especially in areas where deer, coyotes, or nesting birds are present.
Use dog-friendly parks and trails—Kamloops has many! Find your nearest trail or park at Kamloops.ca/Parks.
While this is true, leaving your pet waste can spread disease, harm ecosystems, and contaminate waterways. It must always be picked up and disposed of properly.
Always have an extra plastic bag on hand for when nature calls. Bag dispensers are provided in several City parks. There is a $100 fine for failure to pick up after your dog. Keeping our city clean makes it more enjoyable for everyone.
The City of Kamloops allows up to two dogs over the age of six months and up to two cats per parcel of land.
If you have more than two dogs, you can apply to Council for a variance.
The applicant must pay a non-refundable $350 variance application fee.
If approved, the variance applies only to the specific dogs listed in the variance application, and no dog in excess of the two dog limit may be replaced in the future.
Community Services does not jump straight to seizure or euthanasia of an aggressive dog. The process is structured, evidence‑based, and focused on public safety first, but also on fairness and rehabilitation whenever possible.
Here’s what actually happens:
- A complaint triggers an investigation, not an automatic penalty. Community Services Officers gather statements, review video, and assess the dog’s behaviour and history.
- Officers use a risk‑assessment approach, distinguishing between fear‑based reactions, provoked incidents, and true ongoing aggression.
- Owners are given opportunities to correct issues, which may include mandatory leashing, secure fencing, muzzling in public, or behavioural training.
- Seizure only occurs when there is a clear, ongoing threat to people or other animals, or when an owner refuses to comply with safety orders.
- Euthanasia is a last‑resort legal outcome, and only after a court process under the BC Community Charter or Dangerous Dog legislation.
The goal is prevention, not punishment—reducing risk through education, compliance, and responsible ownership.
Free‑roaming cats can harm wildlife and face risks from traffic and predators. Responsible ownership includes keeping cats safe and minimizing their impact on local species.
Urban Hens
Owning urban hens can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with important responsibilities. Before bringing hens onto your property, it’s essential to understand the municipal bylaw that outline where coops can be placed, how many hens are allowed, and the standards for cleanliness and care.
If you own or are looking to own urban hens, it's important to note that there is a minimum requirement of two hens and maximum five hens. Roosters and chicks (less than three months old) are not permitted.
These rules help protect the health of your hens, prevent noise or odour issues, and ensure that urban farming fits safely and respectfully within the neighbourhood. Knowing the bylaw helps you avoid problems, support animal welfare, and be a good neighbour while enjoying the benefits of keeping hens in the city.
Hens are generally quiet animals. They make soft clucking sounds, comparable to birdsong. The loud crowing people worry about comes from roosters, which are not permitted.
Concerns with neighbouring hens can be submitted online.
Self-registration is required and free of charge. A Community Services Officer will arrange a time with you to inspect your coop and confirm your information within two weeks of registering your hens.
Poor feed storage attracts pests—not chickens themselves. When feed is secured in sealed containers and coops are well maintained, urban hens do not increase rodent issues. Proper animal care is the key.
Eggs are a bonus, but many owners keep hens for education, composting food scraps, pest control (they eat insects), and building a closer connection to food systems.
A well‑kept coop does not smell. Regular cleaning, proper bedding (straw or wood shavings), and managing moisture prevent odours.
Owning an urban hen can be rewarding. The City's webpage outlines bylaw information, coop regulations, hen registration, and other helpful resources.
Urban Wildlife
Urban areas are home not only to people, but also to a wide variety of wildlife that has adapted to living alongside city life. As communities grow, property owners play an important role in maintaining a healthy balance between human activities and the natural behaviours of wild animals. Responsible practices—such as managing attractants, protecting habitat, and reducing conflict—help ensure that wildlife can co-exist safely and sustainably within our community.
Kamloops’ grasslands, river corridors, and forested hills make it a unique place where people and wildlife live side‑by‑side. Understanding the facts helps reduce conflict and keeps both residents and animals safe.
It’s normal for a bear to travel though our community in certain instances, such as accessing natural food sources or relocating to areas once included in their natural home range.
Urban bears are usually food‑conditioned, not aggressive. When attractants are removed, bears typically move on.
Proper management of all potential sources of food, including solid waste carts, goes a long way to reduce human-bear conflict.
If a bear is in a residential neighbourhood, it’s best to report its location. Reporting is an important step that helps give the animal its best chance of survival and to not earn the title of a nuisance or problem bear.
Report all sightings and human-wildlife interactions to the BC Conservation Officer Service by calling 1-877-952-7277. The City works in partnership with WildsafeBC on preventing conflict with wildlife.
For more information and resources to help avoid conflict with wildlife, contact the Kamloops WildSafeBC Coordinator at 250-828-2551 or visit WildSafeBC.
Our neighbourhoods provide shelter, water, and food that deer naturally seek—especially during winter and drought. Deer movement through neighbourhoods is normal and expected.
Feeding deer changes their natural behaviour, impacts their digestive system, increases the risk of vehicle collisions, spreads disease, and attracts predators. Deer are well adapted to survive without human feeding.
Marmots are a native species and play a role in soil health and ecosystem balance. Their burrowing is seasonal and often temporary.
Marmots are shy and prefer to flee. Conflicts usually arise when people approach burrows too closely or allow pets to harass them.
Yes! Raccoons exist in Kamloops. Raccoons are intelligent and adaptable but generally non‑aggressive. Most encounters happen because food is accessible—such as unsecured garbage or pet food or unmanaged compost.
Coyotes are naturally cautious of people. Most encounters involve animals passing through or searching for food and do not indicate aggression.
Daytime activity is normal, particularly during pupping season (spring to early summer) or when food availability changes.
They are opportunistic feeders. Unsecured garbage, fallen fruit, pet food, and small pets can attract them into urban areas.
If you have concerns on a coyote's behaviour that you've witness, report your sightings and interactions to the BC Conservation Officer Service by calling 1-877-952-7277.
Even when wildlife looks cute, calm, or curious, it is important to remember that wild animals are not pets. Approaching or feeding them can put people, pets, and the animals themselves at risk by changing natural behaviours and increasing the chance of conflict. The best way to keep everyone safe is to admire wildlife from a distance, secure attractants, and allow animals to remain wild.
