Burns Lake backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
Short answer
In Burns Lake, up to six hens are allowed in the R1 (Residential Low Density) zone only, with no roosters. Beehives are allowed in the R1 zone, up to 4 on lots over 1830 m² and 2 on smaller lots. The Village's zoning bylaw sets the rules.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes, in the R1 (Residential Low Density) zone only, as an accessory use. Hens must be kept by a resident of the dwelling on the same lot, for personal use only.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated up to April 2026, s. 7.1.3 (R1 accessory uses); s. 4.8.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording(e) hen keeping; and (a) Hens must be kept by a resident of the dwelling unit on the same Lot; (d) Hens are permitted for personal use only, and selling eggs, manure, meat, or other |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Six hens.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated up to April 2026, s. 4.8.1(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording(b) The maximum number of Hens permitted is six (6); |
| Roosters | No. Roosters are not permitted on any property that allows hen keeping.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated up to April 2026, s. 4.8.1(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording(c) No Roosters shall be permitted on any property that allows Hen Keeping; |
| Coop rules | Hens must be in a coop with a floor area of at most 9.2 m², at least 0.92 m² of roofed outdoor enclosure, no taller than 2 m, in the rear yard only, at least 5 m from a dwelling on an adjacent property, and the rear yard must be fully fenced to keep predators out and hens in.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated up to April 2026, s. 4.8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording(a) A maximum floor area of 9.2 m2; (b) Provide a minimum of 0.92 m2 of roofed outdoor enclosure; (c) The height shall not exceed 2 m as measured from the finished grade; (d) Shall be located only in the Rear Yard of the Lot; (e) The minimum setback from a dwelling on an adjacent property is 5 m; and (f) The Coop must be in a rear yard that is fully fenced in as to not allow predators to |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. The Village's zoning bylaw does not state a permit or fee for hens. |
| Bees | Allowed as an accessory use in the R1 zone (and in the P2 Park and Open Space zone). At most 4 beehives on lots over 1830 m², 2 on lots under 1830 m²; hives at least 3 m from any property line. In R1, hives go in the rear yard only, which must be fully fenced.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated up to April 2026, s. 4.9.1; s. 7.1.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording(a) A maximum of four (4) Beehives are permitted on lots greater than 1830 m2; (b) A maximum of two (2) Beehives are permitted on lots less than 1830 m2; (d) In the R1 Zone, Beehives shall be located only in the Rear Yard of the Lot; and (f) beekeeping. |
| Other livestock | Where agriculture is a permitted use (for example RR1 and UR), livestock on parcels of 2 ha or less is limited to 1 animal unit (450 kg) per 0.4 ha. Livestock means horses, cattle, sheep, swine, llamas, farmed game and similar animals. Agriculture is not a permitted use in the R1 zone.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated up to April 2026, ss. 2.3, 4.4, 6.1.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording“livestock” means horses, cattle, sheep, swine, llamas, farmed game and other such animals; exceed 1 animal unit (with 1 animal unit being equal to 450 kg of livestock) for each (a) agriculture; |
| Bylaw | Village of Burns Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008 (consolidated up to April 2026), ss. 4.4, 4.8, 4.9 and 7.1Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated up to April 2026, Cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingZONING BYLAW NO. 880, 2008 Consolidated up to April 2026 |
How it works
The Village's Zoning Bylaw No. 880 allows hen keeping as an accessory use in the R1 (Residential Low Density) zone only. Hens must be kept by a resident of the dwelling on the same lot, for personal use only. It lists hens in no other zone.
Good to know
- Hens: six at most. Roosters are not permitted on any property that allows hens. Killing hens within the R1 zone is prohibited.
- Coop: floor area at most 9.2 m², at least 0.92 m² of roofed outdoor enclosure, no taller than 2 m, in the rear yard only, at least 5 m from a dwelling on an adjacent property. The rear yard must be fully fenced to keep predators out and hens in.
- Bees: allowed in the R1 and P2 (Park and Open Space) zones. At most 4 hives on lots over 1830 m² and 2 on lots under 1830 m², hives at least 3 m from any property line. In R1, hives go in the rear yard only, which must be fully fenced.
- Other livestock: where agriculture is a permitted use (for example RR1 and UR), livestock on parcels of 2 ha or less is limited to 1 animal unit (450 kg) per 0.4 ha. Agriculture is not permitted in R1.
- No permit or fee for hens is stated. Ducks and goats are not named. Ask the Village planner at planning@burnslake.ca or 250-692-7587.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Houston · Granisle · Fort St James · Vanderhoof · Telkwa · Smithers
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated up to April 2026 (PDF), Village of Burns Lake (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Village of Burns Lake (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.