---
title: Chetwynd backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?"
place: Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/chetwynd
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Chetwynd
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Chetwynd backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

**Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

**Short answer:** In Chetwynd, you can keep up to 5 hens, but no roosters, and the hens must be registered with the District. The zoning bylaw lists hens only in the AG, RU1, RU2 and R1 zones, so check your parcel's zone first. Backyard bees are allowed in the same zones.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Chetwynd, https://www.gochetwynd.com)  
**Cost:** No hen registration fee is stated in the bylaw.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control, 250-401-4119
- In person: District of Chetwynd Municipal Office, 5400 Hospital Road, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, in some zones. Up to 5 hens if no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result, and the keeper lives on the property. The Zoning Bylaw lists hen keeping only in the AG, RU1, RU2 and R1 zones, not in R2, RM1, RM2 or MHP.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.1, 9.2(a)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person may keep up to five (5) Hens on a property provided that no neighbourhood" … "be a resident of the property where the Hens are kept"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, zones AG, RU1, RU2, R1 (accessory uses)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "v. Hen keeping" … "The following uses and no others are permitted in the R1 Zone:" … "a resident may keep up to five (5) hens is permitted according to"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Most hens:** 5 hens on any parcel, regardless of the number of dwelling units. A hen means a female chicken at least 4 months old.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.2(b); s. 2 "Hen"](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "keep no more than five (5) Hens on any parcel of land despite the number of" … "a domesticated female chicken that is at least four (4) months old"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters are not allowed.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.2(c)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "not keep a rooster"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coop rules:** Secure coop or pen from sunset to 7 a.m.; coop and pen each 0.37 m² and 0.92 m high per hen, in a fenced backyard; nesting box and 15 cm perch per hen; manure max 0.085 m³, enclosed. Coop follows the zone's accessory building setbacks; in RU2, poultry buildings must be 25 m from parcel lines and 10 m from dwellings.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.2(d) to (p)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ensure that all Hens are kept within a secure coop or pen from sunset until 7:00" … "a minimum of 0.37 square meters in floor area" … "and 0.92 meters in height per Hen" … "at least fifteen (15) centimeters long" … "situated entirely in a backyard which has a" … "accessory building setbacks" … "no more than 0.085 cubic meters (3 cubic"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 4.16](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Ensure that the coop is situated in accordance with the accessory building setbacks" … "bearing animals for domestic purposes must be set back at least 25.0 m (82 ft) from any parcel line and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit or registration:** Yes. Hens must be registered with the District. No fee is stated.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.2(v)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "register the Hens with the District"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bees:** Yes, for personal use only, in the AG, RU1, RU2 and R1 zones (the only zones listing beekeeping). Owner must live there. Hives: 2 on a parcel under 929 m², 4 up to 1,394 m², 6 above. Backyard with continuous 1.8 m fence, entrances facing away from neighbours, warning sign, Animal Health Act registration.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 10.1, 10.2](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person may keep beehives provided that no neighbourhood health, environmental or" … "two (2) beehives on any parcel of land under 929 square meters" … "continuous fence that is 1.8 meters in height" … "entrances to the beehives are facing away from the closest" … "post clear, visible signage on the parcel of land warning that bees are present" … "meet the registration requirements of the Animal Health Act"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 3 "Bee Keeping"; 10.2 (R1)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BEE KEEPING means the keeping of bees in accordance with the District of Chetwynd Animal Responsibility Bylaw." … "The following uses and no others are permitted in the R1 Zone:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other livestock:** Not named in the Animal Responsibility Bylaw. The Zoning Bylaw permits agricultural use (rearing livestock) only in the AG, RU1 (no feed lots), RU2 and M2 zones; the R1, R2, RM1, RM2 and MHP zones do not list it. In RU2, buildings for horses, sheep or poultry must be 25 m from parcel lines and 10 m from dwellings.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 9.4(2) (RU2 zone)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All buildings and structures used for kennels, the keeping of bees, horses, pigeons, poultry, sheep, or fur" … "bearing animals for domestic purposes must be set back at least 25.0 m (82 ft) from any parcel line and" … "AGRICULTURAL USE means growing, rearing, producing, or harvesting agricultural crops and livestock and includes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023; Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "7. STANDARDS OF CARE .....................................................................................................................................7 8. ANIMAL LIMITS ...............................................................................................................................................9 9. HEN KEEPING ..................................................................................................................................................9 10. BEE KEEPING ................................................................................................................................................ 10 11. IMPOUND AND RELEASE ............................................................................................................................. 11" … "DISTRICT OF CHETWYND ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 1158, 2023 A bylaw to provide for the licensing and regulation of animals within the District of Chetwynd"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 4.16](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "f. Ensure that the entrances to the beehives are facing away from the closest neighbouring parcel. 4.16 Hen Keeping 1. In addition to all relevant District bylaws, a resident may keep up to five (5) hens is permitted according to" … "NOW THEREFORE Council of the District of Chetwynd, in open meeting, hereby enacts as follows: 1. This Bylaw may be cited as "Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023". 2. The following schedules attached hereto are hereby made part of this Bylaw and adopted as the zoning"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158](<https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf>) allows up to 5 hens on a parcel in Chetwynd, whatever the number of dwelling units, if no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result and the keeper lives on the property. A hen is a female chicken at least 4 months old. Roosters are not allowed. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150](<https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf>) lists hen keeping only in the AG, RU1, RU2 and R1 zones, not in R2, RM1, RM2 or MHP.

## Steps

1. Ask the District which zone your parcel is in.
2. Register your hens with the District. No fee is stated.
3. Build the coop to the rules below.

## Good to know

- Coop: secure the hens in a coop or pen from sunset to 7 a.m. The coop and the pen each need 0.37 m² and 0.92 m of height per hen, in a fenced backyard, with a nesting box and a 15 cm perch per hen. Manure is limited to 0.085 m³ and must be enclosed.
- The coop follows the zone's accessory building setbacks. In RU2, buildings for poultry must be 25 m from parcel lines and 10 m from dwellings.
- Bees are allowed for personal use only, in the AG, RU1, RU2 and R1 zones, and the owner must live there. Hives: 2 on a parcel under 929 m², 4 up to 1,394 m², and 6 above that. Needs a continuous 1.8 m fence, entrances facing away from neighbours, a warning sign and Animal Health Act registration.
- Other livestock: the Animal Responsibility Bylaw does not name them. The Zoning Bylaw allows rearing livestock only in the AG, RU1 (no feed lots), RU2 and M2 zones. In RU2, buildings for horses, sheep or poultry must be 25 m from parcel lines and 10 m from dwellings.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/how-many-pets.md)
- [Chetwynd zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Chetwynd noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023 (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023 (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Chetwynd. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/backyard-chickens/_