Chetwynd backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
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.
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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.1, 9.2(a); Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, zones AG, RU1, RU2, R1 (accessory uses) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA 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 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 |
|---|---|
| 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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.2(b); s. 2 "Hen" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingkeep 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 |
| Roosters | No. Roosters are not allowed.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.2(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingnot keep a rooster |
| 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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.2(d) to (p); Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 4.16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingensure 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 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 |
| Permit or registration | Yes. Hens must be registered with the District. No fee is stated.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9.2(v) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingregister the Hens with the District |
| 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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 10.1, 10.2; Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 3 "Bee Keeping"; 10.2 (R1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA 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 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: |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 9.4(2) (RU2 zone) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAll 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 |
| Bylaw | Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023; Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 9; Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 4.16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording7. 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 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 |
How it works
The Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158 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 lists hen keeping only in the AG, RU1, RU2 and R1 zones, not in R2, RM1, RM2 or MHP.
Steps
- Ask the District which zone your parcel is in.
- Register your hens with the District. No fee is stated.
- 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
The same question in other places
Tumbler Ridge · Fort St. John · Taylor · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Mackenzie
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (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. How answers are checked.