Anmore backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
Short answer
In Anmore, hens count as poultry under the Animal Control Bylaw: up to 12 adult birds (no roosters) on a parcel under 1 acre, up to 24 over 1 acre. The bylaw also requires 2 acres for one animal, so ask the Village before buying hens.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Hens are 'poultry' under the Animal Control Bylaw: up to 12 adult (no roosters) on a parcel under 1 acre, up to 24 over 1 acre. But s. 4.6 also requires 2 acres for one animal and 1 more per extra animal, not counting dwelling, garage or garden.Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993, s. 4.4, 4.5, 4.6; Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993, s. 4.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmore than 12 adult poultry of which none shall be roosters more than 24 adult poultry of which only 1 may be a rooster 2 acres of land is provided for one animal No person shall keep any animal on any parcel of land within the Municipality that is not in an area zoned in accordance |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Parcel under 1 acre: no more than 12 adult poultry. Parcel over 1 acre: no more than 24. Section 4.6 separately requires 2 acres of land for one animal and 1 acre for each additional animal, not counting land under the dwelling, garage or garden.Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993, s. 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmore than 12 adult poultry of which none shall be roosters more than 24 adult poultry of which only 1 may be a rooster 1 acre of land is provided for each additional animal |
| Roosters | No roosters on a parcel under 1 acre. On a parcel over 1 acre, only 1 rooster is allowed.Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993, s. 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmore than 12 adult poultry of which none shall be roosters more than 24 adult poultry of which only 1 may be a rooster |
| Coop rules | A building or structure for animals must be more than 7.5 m from any residential dwelling on an adjoining property, or meet Zoning Bylaw setbacks, whichever is greater. A run area must be more than 7.5 m from every boundary line. Owners must fence or enclose animals on their own property.Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993, s. 4.1, 4.2, 4.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingis located more than 7.5 metres from any residential such run area is located more than 7.5 metres from every boundary erect and maintain locking enclosures or |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bees | Beekeeping is 'urban agriculture' in the Zoning Bylaw, a permitted secondary use in the RS-1A, RCH-1 and RCH-2 zones (it is not listed for RS-1). Bee hives must be inaccessible to wildlife (Solid Waste Management Bylaw s. 6.1(s)).Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 554-2016, s. 6.1(s)(ii); Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017, s. 2 (Agriculture, urban); 9.2.2, 9.3.2, 9.4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbee hives and bird feeders are inaccessible to Wildlife; edible berries, fruits, nuts and vegetables as well as the keeping of honey bees (Apis mellifera); Secondary Suite /Coach House Urban Agriculture |
| Other livestock | Horses, sheep, goats, mules, asses, swine, rabbits, poultry, llamas, cows and fur-bearing animals count as 'animals'. One animal needs 2 acres and each extra animal 1 more acre, not counting the dwelling, garage or garden.Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993, s. 2, 4.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmeans a horse, sheep, goat, mule, ass , swine, 2 acres of land is provided for one animal |
| Bylaw | Village of Anmore Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingVillage of Anmore Animal Control Bylaw No. 96 |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993 treats poultry as "animals". Zoning decides where animals may be kept (Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017).
- Parcel under 1 acre: no more than 12 adult poultry, and no roosters.
- Parcel over 1 acre: no more than 24 poultry, and only 1 rooster.
- Separate 2-acre rule (s. 4.6): one animal needs 2 acres and each extra animal 1 more acre, not counting land under the dwelling, garage or garden. The bylaw does not explain how this applies to small flocks on small lots.
Good to know
- A building or structure for animals must be more than 7.5 m from any residential dwelling on an adjoining property, or meet Zoning Bylaw setbacks, whichever is greater. A run area must be more than 7.5 m from every boundary line. Animals must be fenced or enclosed on your own property.
- Bees: beekeeping is "urban agriculture" in the Zoning Bylaw, a permitted secondary use in the RS-1A, RCH-1 and RCH-2 zones (not listed for RS-1). Hives must be inaccessible to wildlife under the Solid Waste Management Bylaw.
- Other livestock (horses, sheep, goats, mules, asses, swine, rabbits, llamas, cows and fur-bearing animals) count as "animals" with the same 2-acre rule.
- No hen permit, licence or registration is stated in the bylaw, fee schedule or the Village's permits page.
- Call Village Hall at 604-469-9877 before buying birds.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port Moody · Belcarra · Port Coquitlam · District of North Vancouver · Burnaby · North Vancouver
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 96-1993 (PDF), Village of Anmore (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF), Village of Anmore (read 2026-11-08)
- Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 554-2016 (PDF), Village of Anmore (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact Us, Village of Anmore (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.