{"title":"Central Saanich backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Central Saanich?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","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":"District of Central Saanich","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca"},"short_answer":"In Central Saanich, you can keep chickens and ducks on residential lots: 8 combined on lots under 1,858 square metres, up to 12 on larger lots. Roosters over three months old are not allowed unless agriculture is permitted on the parcel. Bees are allowed with a setback.","aliases":["backyard chickens central saanich","keep hens central saanich","rooster bylaw central saanich","beekeeping central saanich"],"cost":"No permit or registration was found for chickens.","how_long":"Rules apply at all times.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement Officer","value":"250-544-4237","note":"Bylaw@csaanich.ca; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"1903 Mount Newton Cross Road, Saanichton, BC V8M 2A9"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Central Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Central Saanich bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/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":"Chickens and ducks may be kept on residential lots, within the lot-size limits. Other poultry may be kept only where agriculture is a permitted use of the parcel.","short":"Yes on residential lots, within lot-size limits","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)","section":"ss. 9.1, 9.3","quotes":["with the exception of chickens and ducks, on any parcel of land within the Municipality unless"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"8 chickens or ducks combined on lots under 1,858 m²; 10 on lots over 1,858 m² and under 4,047 m²; 12 on lots of 4,047 m² or more. No limit where agriculture is a permitted use.","short":"8 to 12 chickens or ducks, by lot size","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)","section":"ss. 9.3, 9.4","quotes":["more than 8 chickens or ducks on a parcel of land less than 1858 square metres","more than 12 chickens or ducks on a parcel of land greater than or equal to 4047 square","there is no limit to the maximum number of","more than 10 chickens or ducks on a parcel of land greater than 1858 square metres"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No rooster over three months old unless agriculture is a permitted use of the parcel.","short":"No, unless agriculture is permitted","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 9.2","quotes":["No person shall keep or harbour a rooster over the age of three (3) months"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Zoning Bylaw s. 4.6 (Additional Setbacks): buildings and structures housing or enclosing livestock, which includes poultry, must be at least 30 m from any lot line adjoining a residential zone. The Animal Control Bylaw sets no coop size or setback.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.6 Additional Setbacks (1); Part 3 'Livestock'","quotes":["shall be a minimum of 30 m from any Lot Line adjoining a residential zone","“Livestock” means rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, horses, cattle, poultry"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The Animal Control Bylaw is silent on registration for chickens.","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Allowed. Outside Agriculture Zones, a hive must be at least 7.62 m (25 feet) from any property line (not applicable to hives used with a greenhouse operation). Bees must be in an apiary registered under the Bee Act.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 12.1 and definition of Bee","quotes":["unless the hive or device is located at least 7.62 metres","kept in an apiary which is registered under the provisions of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Poultry other than chickens and ducks, and roosters, only where agriculture is a permitted use. Pigeons: 50 maximum outside Agriculture Zones. Wild animals banned. Zoning: buildings housing livestock must be 30 m from lot lines adjoining a residential zone.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)","section":"ss. 9.1, 9.2, 11.1, 8.1","quotes":["No person shall keep or harbour any wild animal on any parcel","no person shall keep more than 50 pigeons on"]},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.6 Additional Setbacks (1)","quotes":["All Buildings and Structures for housing or enclosing Livestock","shall be a minimum of 30 m from any Lot Line adjoining a residential zone"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (numbers and types of animals); Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (setback for buildings housing livestock, s. 4.6).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 14.1","quotes":["Central Saanich Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021"]},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","section":"title; s. 4.6","quotes":["Central Saanich Zoning Bylaw No. 2270","shall be a minimum of 30 m from any Lot Line adjoining a residential zone"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097](<https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf>) allows chickens and ducks on residential lots within these limits, combined:\n\n- Lots under 1,858 m²: 8\n- Lots over 1,858 m² and under 4,047 m²: 10\n- Lots of 4,047 m² or more: 12\n\nThere is no limit where agriculture is a permitted use of the parcel. Other poultry may be kept only where agriculture is permitted. No rooster over three months old is allowed unless agriculture is permitted on the parcel.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your lot size and whether agriculture is permitted on your parcel (see the zoning answer).\n2. Keep within the number allowed for your lot.\n3. Check the building rule below before you build a coop.\n4. For bees, keep the hive at least 7.62 m (25 feet) from any property line if you are outside an Agriculture Zone, and register the apiary under the Bee Act.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No permit, licence or registration for chickens was found. The bylaw is silent on it.\n- The Animal Control Bylaw sets no coop size or setback. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270](<https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf>) has a general rule (s. 4.6): buildings and structures that house or enclose livestock, which includes poultry, must be at least 30 m from any lot line next to a residential zone. This is a general livestock-building rule, not one written for coops. Confirm with the District how it applies to a backyard coop.\n- The hive setback does not apply to hives used with a greenhouse operation.\n- Pigeons: 50 at most outside Agriculture Zones. Wild animals are banned.\n- Too many chickens was a $100 ticket in the 2020 schedule, which names an earlier bylaw. Confirm the current amount with the District.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Animal%20Control%20Consolidated%20Bylaw%20JUNE%202026.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2057_-_mti.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 2057, 2020, with schedules (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/central-saanich/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/backyard-chickens.json"}}