Edmonton city council has approved new regulations requiring all licensed pigeon owners to tag their pets and hold membership in a pigeon association, effective January 2027. The rules apply to the city's 94 licensed pigeon keepers, even though a recent report found all owners to be in full compliance with existing rules.
New Requirements for Pigeon Keepers
On Monday, the community and public services committee accepted a report mandating that every licensed pigeon owner must join a pigeon association and affix identifying leg bands to their birds. The tags will help distinguish domesticated pigeons from wild ones and aid in returning lost birds to their owners.
“They’ll be tagging the pigeons,” said committee chairwoman Ward Sspomitapi Coun. Jo-Anne Wright. “Not only to determine ownership if something goes wrong, but if a pigeon goes astray to get them back to their owner just like you would do with a cat or a dog.”
Current Regulations and Compliance
Edmonton currently licenses 94 pigeon owners, who must maintain a specialized loft or aviary and are limited to 75 birds per keeper. Aviaries larger than 107 square feet require a building permit, and the city manager has final authority on whether a loft is permissible. Pigeon keepers are also restricted from releasing their flocks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and flights must be supervised with a maximum of 20 birds at a time.
Pigeon-related complaints are rare: of 11,031 animal complaints to 311, only 16 involved pigeons. Additionally, 91 per cent of property owners adjacent to a pigeon aviary reported no issues. A licence to keep pigeons is separate from a business licence required for selling or breeding them. Unauthorized dealers can be reported to 311.
Comparison with Other Cities
Edmonton’s pigeon regulations are relatively liberal compared to other major Canadian cities. Toronto allows up to 50 pigeons, doubling to 100 during racing season. Winnipeg caps casual keepers at 40 birds but permits club members to keep up to 150. Brampton limits total pigeons to 50, with an increase to 75 during racing season.
Historical and Practical Context
According to the Capital City Racing Pigeon Association (CCRPA), lofts must provide enough space for keepers to feed, clean, and handle birds, and must be predator-proof against weasels, foxes, cats, and other hunters. Lofts should also be well-ventilated to prevent odors from droppings. Pigeons are among the oldest domesticated animals, with archaeological evidence dating their use for food and message carrying back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. In captivity, they can live up to 15 years.
