{"title":"Ashcroft backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Ashcroft?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Ashcroft","url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca"},"short_answer":"In Ashcroft, the Good Neighbour Bylaw allows up to 4 hens per parcel in the rear yard for personal egg use. Roosters are not allowed in residential zones. The Zoning Bylaw sets a different limit in the RR1 zone, so confirm with the Village.","aliases":["backyard chickens ashcroft","hens bylaw ashcroft","beekeeping ashcroft","livestock ashcroft"],"cost":"The bylaw and the Fees and Charges Bylaw state no hen permit or fee.","how_long":"The rules apply at all times; no registration is required.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office (ask about zoning)","value":"250-453-9161","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"bylaw@ashcroftbc.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"601 Bancroft Street, Ashcroft, BC V0K 1A0"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025 (PDF)","url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Ashcroft","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Ashcroft zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Ashcroft noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/noise-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/logan-lake","name":"Logan Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lillooet","name":"Lillooet","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/clinton","name":"Clinton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clinton/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/merritt","name":"Merritt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":"Yes, under the Good Neighbour Bylaw: kept by a resident of the parcel, incidental to residential use, for personal egg consumption only, in the rear yard. The Zoning Bylaw lists keeping livestock or fowl as an accessory use in the RR1 zone and agricultural use in the A1 zone; it does not list hens in the R1 zone.","short":"Yes, rear yard, for personal egg use only","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 7.2","quotes":["No person shall keep hens (domestic chickens, Gallus gallus domesticus) except in accordance with the following regulations:","must be carried out by a resident of the parcel.","Hen keeping is permitted only in the rear yard of a parcel"]},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1, 3.7","quotes":["The keeping of livestock or fowl;","Any use not expressly permitted in this Bylaw is prohibited in every zone"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"Good Neighbour Bylaw: 4 hens per parcel. Zoning Bylaw, RR1 zone: 12 hens per 3,000 m² of lot area.","short":"4 hens (12 per 3,000 m² in RR1)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 7.2(ii)","quotes":["A maximum of four (4) hens may be kept per parcel for personal egg consumption only."]},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 6.4","quotes":["12 hens per 3,000m2 of lot area"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"},"sources_differ":"Two bylaws give different limits for RR1 parcels: 4 hens per parcel (Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879) versus 12 hens per 3,000 m² (Zoning Bylaw No. 890). Exceeding the number of hens is ticketable under Schedule D of the Good Neighbour Bylaw."},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"Not allowed in any residential zone.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 7.2(iii)","quotes":["Roosters are prohibited within all residential zones."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Rear yard only, with the house between the coop and the front parcel line. One coop and one pen. Coop at most 6.0 m² floor area and 2.0 m high. Coop and pen at least 2.5 m from all parcel lines. Rear yard fully fenced; feed in an airtight container.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 7.2(iv)-(viii)","quotes":["the dwelling unit must be located between the hen enclosure and the front parcel line.","Only one coop and one pen are permitted for hen keeping.","A coop must not exceed 6.0 m² in floor area or 2.0 m in height.","The coop and pen must be set back at least 2.5 metres from all parcel lines.","Food must be stored in an airtight container"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Allowed. The keeper must be a registered beekeeper under the BC Bee Regulation. Max 2 colonies on parcels of 1,100 m² or more, 1 on smaller parcels. Hives in the rear yard, at least 3.0 m from any parcel line, in a fenced rear yard, with water provided on site.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 7.3","quotes":["Every person keeping bees must be a registered beekeeper under the BC Bee Regulation","No more than two (2) colonies of bees are permitted on parcels 1,100 m² or larger.","A beehive must not be located within 3.0 metres of any parcel line.","All beehives must be located in the rear yard of the parcel."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"In the RR1 zone: 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 sheep or 1 goat per 3,000 m² of lot area. In A1 (agriculture) agricultural use includes horses, cattle, sheep, hens, ducks, geese and other livestock. Pigeons are banned in all zones. Elsewhere, no one may keep livestock, poultry or animals not specifically permitted.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 6.4, 3.13, definition of Agricultural Use","quotes":["1 horse per 3,000m2 of lot area","1 goat per 3,000m2 of lot area","Pigeon keeping is prohibited in all zones.","and specifically includes a kennel and the keeping of horses, cattle, sheep, hens, pigeons, ducks, geese, and other livestock."]},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 7.1","quotes":["No person shall keep livestock, poultry, or other animals not specifically permitted under this bylaw or any other Village of Ashcroft Bylaw."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025 (Part 7); Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026 (s. 6.4 for RR1).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be cited as the \"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025\"."]},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","section":"s. 2","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be cited as the \"Village of Ashcroft Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026\"."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf) allows a resident to keep hens, as long as it is incidental to residential use, for personal egg consumption only, and in the rear yard. The limit is 4 hens per parcel.\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 890](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) lists keeping livestock or fowl as an accessory use in the RR1 zone and agricultural use in the A1 zone. It does not list hens in the R1 zone. In RR1 it allows 12 hens per 3,000 m² of lot area.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zoning and the hen limit that applies to your parcel with the Village office.\n2. Build one coop and one pen in the rear yard, with the house between the coop and the front parcel line.\n3. Keep the coop to 6.0 m² of floor area and 2.0 m high at most, and at least 2.5 m from all parcel lines (the pen too).\n4. Fully fence the rear yard and keep feed in an airtight container.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Roosters are not allowed in any residential zone.\n- Bees: you must be a registered beekeeper under the BC Bee Regulation. The limit is 2 colonies on parcels of 1,100 m² or more and 1 on smaller parcels. Hives go in a fenced rear yard, at least 3.0 m from any parcel line, with water on site.\n- Other livestock in the RR1 zone: 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 sheep or 1 goat per 3,000 m² of lot area. In A1, agricultural use includes horses, cattle, sheep, hens, ducks, geese and other livestock.\n- Pigeons are banned in all zones. Elsewhere, no one may keep livestock, poultry or animals not specifically permitted.\n- The two bylaws give different hen limits for RR1 parcels. Confirm with the Village before you buy birds.\n- The bylaws set no hen permit, licence or registration, and the Fees and Charges Bylaw lists no fee.\n- Keeping too many hens brings a bylaw notice of $130.","sources":[{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bylaw-No.-879-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-2025.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 879, 2025, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bylaw-No.-890-2026-Village-of-Ashcroft-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 890, 2026, Village of Ashcroft (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/backyard-chickens.json"}}