{"title":"Belcarra backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Belcarra?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","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 Belcarra","url":"https://belcarra.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Belcarra allows 2 to 6 hens on any residential lot under its Chicken Keeping Policy. Roosters are not allowed. You must register with the Village first; the fee is $50. The Village's bylaws say nothing about bees or other livestock.","aliases":["backyard chickens belcarra","chicken bylaw belcarra","hens belcarra","chicken registration belcarra"],"cost":"Registration fee $50. Violating the policy: $200 (first offence), $400 (second), $600 (third or later).","how_long":"Register before bringing the hens to the property.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8","note":"Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"604-937-4100"},{"type":"email","label":"Village Office","value":"belcarra@belcarra.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Chicken Keeping Policy No. 215 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2023/07/Policy-215-Chicken-Keeping-Policy.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf"},{"title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Belcarra noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/noise-rules/"},{"slug":"unsightly-property","title":"Belcarra unsightly property rules and how to report","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/unsightly-property/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/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. Keeping chickens is permitted in all residential zones under the Chicken Keeping Policy, which allows hens on all residential lots.","short":"Yes, all residential zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 227(1)","quotes":["The keeping of chickens is permitted in all residential zones in accordance with the Chicken Keeping Policy."]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2023/07/Policy-215-Chicken-Keeping-Policy.pdf","title":"Chicken Keeping Policy No. 215 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["A minimum of 2 hens up to a maximum of 6 hens are permitted on all residential lots."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"6 hens (the policy also sets a minimum of 2).","short":"6 hens (minimum 2)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2023/07/Policy-215-Chicken-Keeping-Policy.pdf","title":"Chicken Keeping Policy No. 215 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["A minimum of 2 hens up to a maximum of 6 hens are permitted on all residential lots."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No. Roosters are not permitted.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2023/07/Policy-215-Chicken-Keeping-Policy.pdf","title":"Chicken Keeping Policy No. 215 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 1.2","quotes":["Roosters are not permitted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Coop and run behind the dwelling in the rear yard, at least 3.0 m from the dwelling, 1.2 m from any lot line and 3.0 m from a flanking street. At least 0.37 m² of coop and 0.92 m² of run per hen. Hens stay in the enclosure, secured from sunset to sunrise.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2023/07/Policy-215-Chicken-Keeping-Policy.pdf","title":"Chicken Keeping Policy No. 215 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","section":"ss. 3.1-3.4","quotes":["located within the rear yard of the lot behind a dwelling","a minimum 3.0 meters (9.8 feet) from a dwelling","a minimum 1.2 meters (3.0 feet) from any lot line","a minimum 3.0 meters (9.8 feet) from a flanking street","a minimum of 0.37 m2 coop space and 0.92 m2 enclosed run space per hen","the enclosure must be secured from sunset to sunrise"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":"Yes. Owners must register their hens with the Village before bringing them to the property, submit a schematic of the enclosure, and register with BC Premises ID. The registration fee is $50.","short":"Yes, $50 registration fee","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2023/07/Policy-215-Chicken-Keeping-Policy.pdf","title":"Chicken Keeping Policy No. 215 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","section":"ss. 2.1-2.4","quotes":["All owners must register their chickens with the Village prior to bringing them to their property","A schematic of the enclosure must be submitted to staff at the time of registration.","All chicken owners must register their animals with BC Premises ID (BCPID)"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"Schedule 12 Animal Control Fees","quotes":["Keeping of Chickens Registration Fee $50"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The Village's bylaws and policies do not address bees or other livestock.","sources":[]},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The Village's bylaws and policies do not address bees or other livestock.","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Chicken Keeping Policy (Corporate Policy No. 215); Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018, s. 227; fees in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018, Schedule 12","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2023/07/Policy-215-Chicken-Keeping-Policy.pdf","title":"Chicken Keeping Policy No. 215 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","section":"title","quotes":["Corporate Policy No. 215","Chicken Keeping Policy"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 227","quotes":["227 – Keeping of Chickens"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"Schedule 12","quotes":["Keeping of Chickens Registration Fee $50"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":2},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018]() (s. 227) permits keeping chickens in all residential zones in accordance with the [Chicken Keeping Policy]() (Corporate Policy No. 215). The policy allows a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 hens on all residential lots. Roosters are not permitted.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Register your hens with the Village before bringing them to your property.\n2. Submit a schematic of the enclosure when you register.\n3. Register with BC Premises ID.\n4. Pay the $50 registration fee.\n5. Build the coop and run to the policy's rules, below.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The coop and run must be in the rear yard, behind the dwelling, at least 3.0 m (9.8 feet) from the dwelling, 1.2 m from any lot line and 3.0 m from a flanking street.\n- Allow at least 0.37 m² of coop and 0.92 m² of run per hen. Keep the hens in the enclosure, secured from sunset to sunrise.\n- Eggs, meat and manure may not be used commercially, and slaughtering on the property is not allowed.\n- Violating the policy is $200 for a first offence, $400 for a second and $600 for a third or later (Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule 12).\n- The Village's bylaws and policies do not address bees or other livestock. Ask the Village Office at 604-937-4100 before keeping them.","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2023/07/Policy-215-Chicken-Keeping-Policy.pdf","title":"Chicken Keeping Policy No. 215 (PDF), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/contact-us/","title":"Contact Us, Village of Belcarra","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 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/backyard-chickens.json"}}