The City of Edmonton is looking to change its Animal Control Bylaw | Daily Hive

Stanimir G.Stoev/Shutterstock

The City of Edmonton is proposing an overhaul of its 20-year-old Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw, introducing updated barking criteria, higher fines for serious offences such as dog attacks, and doubled penalties for repeat convictions.

According to a proposal presented during a committee meeting on Monday, the changes aim to improve animal welfare, support responsible pet ownership, and enhance public safety.

If approved, the bylaw would also add new bans on leaving animals unattended in dangerous temperatures or poor ventilation, as well as unsafe transport, such as riding outside the cab of a vehicle without protection.

The new regulations for dog owners would include:

Tiered attack scale with escalating fines
Mandatory reporting of dog bites
Dogs previously deemed vicious would face added public safety requirements, including property signage, behaviour-modification training, and a classification review process
Clarified barking criteria with two convictions needed for a “nuisance dog” label
Include offences and fines for new requirements in the bylaw, such as failure to have a microchip for a vicious dog

For cats:

Continued ban on pet cats roaming private property
Advance current and future programs and community collaboration, with clear definitions for feral cat, feral cat colony, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and Return-To-Field (RTF)
Unowned/feral cats are exempt from licensing and roaming restrictions amid shelter/rescue overcapacity challenges

And for other animals:

A clearer prohibited animals list (e.g., venomous snakes, reptiles, insects)
Rabbits kept outdoors will now require an appropriate pen or enclosure
Hens and bees are permitted under a new urban livestock licence

You might also like:

The proposed new bylaw would also keep the current limits of three dogs and six cats, add new limits of four rabbits, three beehives, and six hens, as well as allow temporary excess animal permits for fostering.

Licensing requirements would be maintained for cats, dogs, and pigeons, with a new urban livestock licence introduced for hens and bees. Subsidies would expand to cover all spayed and neutered pets owned by seniors and income-assistance recipients, and licensing fees would be waived for not-for-profit rescue organizations.

The City says the proposed changes reflect public feedback, best practices, and comparisons with other municipalities.

The bylaw will be presented to City Council for three readings on Aug. 19.

You can find the full proposal and list of changes that could be coming on the City of Edmonton’s website.