Central Saanich backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Central Saanich?
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.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), ss. 9.1, 9.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingwith the exception of chickens and ducks, on any parcel of land within the Municipality unless |
|---|---|
| Most hens | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), ss. 9.3, 9.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmore 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 |
| Roosters | No rooster over three months old unless agriculture is a permitted use of the parcel.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), s. 9.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall keep or harbour a rooster over the age of three (3) months |
| Coop rules | 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 4.6 Additional Setbacks (1); Part 3 'Livestock' · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall be a minimum of 30 m from any Lot Line adjoining a residential zone “Livestock” means rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, horses, cattle, poultry |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. The Animal Control Bylaw is silent on registration for chickens. |
| Bees | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), s. 12.1 and definition of Bee · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingunless the hive or device is located at least 7.62 metres kept in an apiary which is registered under the provisions of |
| Other livestock | 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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), ss. 9.1, 9.2, 11.1, 8.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 4.6 Additional Setbacks (1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall keep or harbour any wild animal on any parcel no person shall keep more than 50 pigeons on All Buildings and Structures for housing or enclosing Livestock shall be a minimum of 30 m from any Lot Line adjoining a residential zone |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (numbers and types of animals); Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (setback for buildings housing livestock, s. 4.6).Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026), s. 14.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, title; s. 4.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCentral Saanich Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 Central Saanich Zoning Bylaw No. 2270 shall be a minimum of 30 m from any Lot Line adjoining a residential zone |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097 allows chickens and ducks on residential lots within these limits, combined:
- Lots under 1,858 m²: 8
- Lots over 1,858 m² and under 4,047 m²: 10
- Lots of 4,047 m² or more: 12
There 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.
Steps
- Check your lot size and whether agriculture is permitted on your parcel (see the zoning answer).
- Keep within the number allowed for your lot.
- Check the building rule below before you build a coop.
- 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.
Good to know
- No permit, licence or registration for chickens was found. The bylaw is silent on it.
- The Animal Control Bylaw sets no coop size or setback. The Zoning Bylaw No. 2270 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.
- The hive setback does not apply to hives used with a greenhouse operation.
- Pigeons: 50 at most outside Agriculture Zones. Wild animals are banned.
- Too many chickens was a $100 ticket in the 2020 schedule, which names an earlier bylaw. Confirm the current amount with the District.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sidney · North Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · View Royal · Esquimalt
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 2097, 2021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 2057, 2020, with schedules (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
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.