Chilliwack backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Chilliwack, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

No. In Chilliwack, hens are not a permitted use on ordinary urban or suburban residential lots, because the Zoning Bylaw does not count poultry as a pet. Hens are allowed only in some agricultural and rural zones. Bees are allowed under the Urban Beekeeping Bylaw, with two to six hives by lot size.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Not on ordinary urban or suburban residential lots: chickens are POULTRY, which the Zoning Bylaw does not count as a PET, and those zones (R1-A and the other R zones, SR, HR) allow only urban ancillary uses such as pets. Poultry is expressly allowed under RESTRICTED AGRICULTURE (up to 1 animal unit per hectare) in the AR, R, RR and EV zones and some reserve zones. Zones AL, AU, AS, AR and RH list GENERAL AGRICULTURE, the 'growing, rearing, producing, and harvesting of agricultural products'. FVRD Animal Control Bylaw 1206 s. 35 says poultry may be kept only as zoning permits.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 2 (definitions: Restricted Agriculture); ss. 6.04, 7.01, 7.03 (permitted uses); FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), s. 35 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording Raising of LIVESTOCK or POULTRY to a maximum density of 1 ANIMAL UNIT per ha. (d) RESTRICTED AGRICULTURE (b) RESTRICTED AGRICULTURE means any domesticated animal other than LIVESTOCK or POULTRY kept within a residence or on real means any domesticated fowl including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and swans but excluding the keeping of PETS not exceeding 5 in number, provided no more than 3 are of any one (h) URBAN ANCILLARY USES (a) Raising of LIVESTOCK or POULTRY to a maximum density of 1 ANIMAL UNIT per ha. means the use of land, BUILDINGS and STRUCTURES providing for the growing, rearing, producing, are not kept on any real property, except as permitted pursuant to all applicable zoning and other regulations
Most hens	No hen count is set. In zones that permit RESTRICTED AGRICULTURE (AR, R, RR, EV), poultry is capped at 1 animal unit per hectare, and 1 animal unit is 250 laying chicken hens (500 broilers, roasters or pullets). Zones that list only GENERAL AGRICULTURE state no such cap. Urban and suburban residential lots do not list poultry as a permitted use.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 2 (definitions: Animal Unit; Restricted Agriculture) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording 250 laying chicken hens, or 1 ANIMAL UNIT per ha. 500 broiler chickens, roasters, or pullets, or (a) Raising of LIVESTOCK or POULTRY to a maximum density of 1 ANIMAL UNIT per ha.
Roosters	Not confirmed. The City's bylaws do not mention roosters.
Coop rules	Where poultry is permitted, a coop is an 'animal enclosure'. In AR, R and RR an enclosure of 10 m2 or less must be 7.5 m from the front lot line, 3 m from the rear and interior side lot lines and 7.5 m from the exterior side lot line; an enclosure over 10 m2 must be 7.5 m from all lot lines; total animal enclosures are capped at 100 m2 of lot coverage. Enclosures with exhaust fans must be 30 m from adjacent lot lines (15 m with a 6 m farm-side buffer and solid fencing). AL requires 15 m for enclosures over 10 m2; AU and AS require 7.5 m for those up to 100 m2 and 15 m above 100 m2. Urban and suburban residential zones list no coop rules because poultry is not a permitted use there.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 2 (definition: Animal Enclosure); s. 6.04(5) and (7) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording means a barn, coop, hutch, stable, or similar BUILDING or STRUCTURE for the keeping of POULTRY or LIVESTOCK (a) ANIMAL ENCLOSURE (10m2 or less) 7.5m 3m 3m 7.5m (b) ANIMAL ENCLOSURE (greater than 10m2) 7.5m 7.5m 7.5m 7.5m (c) ANIMAL ENCLOSURE 100m2 (a) ANIMAL ENCLOSURE (10m2 or less) 7.5m 3m 3m 7.5m (b) ANIMAL ENCLOSURE (greater than 10m2) 15m 15m 15m 15m (c) ANIMAL ENCLOSURE 100m2 exhaust fans shall be SETBACK a minimum of 30m from adjacent LOT LINES; the SETBACK can
Permit or registration	No City permit, licence or fee for hens was found. Beekeepers must register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture; Urban Beekeeping Bylaw 4680 states no City fee.Urban Beekeeping Bylaw 2019, No. 4680, s. 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording A person that keeps Bees must register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture
Bees	Allowed outside the Agricultural Land Reserve on lots of 300 m2 or more that permit a single or two family dwelling, and at community gardens and educational sites. Hive limits: 2 hives and 2 nucleus colonies on 300 to under 500 m2; 4 and 4 on 500 to under 2000 m2; 6 and 6 on 2000 m2 or more. On residential lots, hives go behind the house, behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.8 m high (unless raised 2.5 m or more), with the entrance 6 m from any property line and the side and rear 3 m from property lines. Neighbours must be told.Urban Beekeeping Bylaw 2019, No. 4680, ss. 3, 5(4), 7, 8, 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording property located outside of the Agricultural Land Reserve equal to, or greater than, 300 m2 two Beehives or Colonies and two Nucleus Colonies on any parcel of land equal to 300 m2 and less than 500 m2 six Beehives or Colonies and six Nucleus Colonies solid fence or hedge that is no less than 1.8 m in height a minimum of 6 m, to provide for a clear flight path notify the owners of all adjacent properties
Other livestock	Horses, donkeys, goats, sheep and other livestock, and ducks and geese (poultry), are not 'pets' in the zoning bylaw, so they are not allowed on urban or suburban residential lots (R1-A and the other R zones, SR, HR), which allow only pets. They are allowed in agricultural and rural zones: up to 1 animal unit per hectare under RESTRICTED AGRICULTURE (AR, R, RR, EV), where 1 animal unit is 1 horse, or 4 sheep or goats, or 125 geese or ducks; GENERAL AGRICULTURE zones (AL, AU, AS, AR, RH) state no such cap.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 2 (definitions: Livestock; Animal Unit; Restricted Agriculture); FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), s. 35 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording includes CATTLE or other animal of the bovine species, a horse, donkey, mule, llama, ostrich, swine, 1 horse, (mare and foal, or stallion or gelding or donkey or mule or hinny), or 4 sheep (plus lambs) or goats (plus kids), or 125 geese or ducks, or 1 ANIMAL UNIT per ha. means any domesticated animal other than LIVESTOCK or POULTRY kept within a residence or on real (a) Raising of LIVESTOCK or POULTRY to a maximum density of 1 ANIMAL UNIT per ha. are not kept on any real property, except as permitted pursuant to all applicable zoning and other regulations
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (poultry and livestock); Urban Beekeeping Bylaw 2019, No. 4680 (bees). FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 refers poultry to zoning.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, title; Urban Beekeeping Bylaw 2019, No. 4680, s. 1; FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 Urban Beekeeping Bylaw 2019, No. 4680 Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013

How it works

Chilliwack's Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 decides what animals each lot can have. Chickens are poultry, and the bylaw does not count poultry or livestock as pets. Ordinary urban and suburban residential zones (R1-A and the other R zones, SR, HR) allow only pets, so hens are not allowed there. The FVRD's Animal Control Bylaw 1206 says poultry may be kept only where zoning permits.

Chickens and livestock

Poultry is expressly allowed as "restricted agriculture" in the AR, R, RR and EV zones and some reserve zones, up to 1 animal unit per hectare. One animal unit is 250 laying hens, or 1 horse, or 4 sheep or goats, or 125 ducks or geese.
The AL, AU, AS, AR and RH zones list general agriculture and state no such cap.
Where poultry is allowed, a coop counts as an animal enclosure with setbacks from lot lines. In the AR, R and RR zones, an enclosure of 10 m2 or less must be 7.5 m from the front lot line and 3 m from the rear and interior side lot lines. Larger enclosures must be 7.5 m from all lot lines.
The City's bylaws do not mention roosters or set a number of hens for a residential lot.
Loose poultry or livestock can be seized. The FVRD impound fee is $40 for poultry and $100 for livestock.

Bees

Allowed outside the Agricultural Land Reserve on lots of 300 m2 or more that permit a single-family or two-family home, and at community gardens and educational sites, under the Urban Beekeeping Bylaw.
Hive limits: 2 hives and 2 nucleus colonies on 300 to under 500 m2; 4 and 4 on 500 to under 2,000 m2; 6 and 6 on 2,000 m2 or more.
Register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture, take a recognized beekeeping course, and tell all adjoining neighbours.
On residential lots, hives go behind the house and behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.8 m high (unless the hive is raised 2.5 m or more). The entrance must be 6 m from any property line, and the sides and rear 3 m from property lines.

Good to know

Confirm your lot's zone with the Planning Department before buying birds. Rural land may also be in the Agricultural Land Reserve, which has its own provincial rules.
Breaking the beekeeping bylaw is a $500 ticket.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Kent · Abbotsford · Mission · Hope · Township of Langley · Maple Ridge

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Urban Beekeeping Bylaw 2019, No. 4680 (PDF), City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (PDF), City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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