GovHandbook

Coldstream backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Coldstream?

Coldstream, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Coldstream, you can keep hens in the urban R1 and R2 zones (up to 4) and the rural R3 and R4 zones (up to 6). No roosters in R1 and R2. No permit or registration for hens is stated. Rules are in the Zoning Bylaw.

Key facts

Hens allowedYes, in the urban R1 and R2 zones (in R1 only on a lot with a Single-Detached Dwelling and not more than 1 ADU) and, as hobby farm agriculture, in the rural R3 and R4 zones.District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 501.6(10) (R1); District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 502.6(8) (R2); District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 503.6(9) (R3), 504.6(7) (R4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
restricted to a lot with a Single-Detached Dwelling and not more than 1
Urban Agriculture is restricted to the keeping of up to 4 hens, and:
Urban Agriculture is restricted to the following:
not more than 4 hens; and
The keeping of animals under a Hobby Farm Agriculture use is limited to the following:
up to 6 hens;
Most hens4 hens in the R1 and R2 zones; 6 hens in the R3 and R4 zones.District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 501.6(10), 502.6(8); District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 503.6(9), 504.6(7) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Urban Agriculture is restricted to the keeping of up to 4 hens, and:
not more than 4 hens; and
up to 6 hens;
RoostersNo roosters in the R1 and R2 zones. The R3 and R4 hobby-farm rules do not mention roosters.District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 501.6(10)(e)(vii), 502.6(9)(d)(vii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA); and vii. no roosters permitted. DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM ZONING BYLAW NO. 1838, 2024
Coop rulesR1 and R2: hens need a coop, run and enclosure with at least 0.4 m² of enclosed area per hen; not in the front yard setback area, at least 3 m from all other lot lines; kept clean, dry and free of odours; manure removed; no slaughter or euthanizing on the premises; follow CFIA biosecurity procedures.District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 502.6(9) (R2); same wording in s. 501.6(10) (R1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
all hens must be provided a coop, run, and enclosure;
must have a minimum enclosed area of 0.4 m2 per hen;
not permitted to be located within a front yard setback area, and a minimum of 3 m from all remaining lot lines;
hens are not euthanized or slaughtered on the premises;
adhere to Biosecurity Procedures recommended by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA); and
Permit or registrationNot confirmed. No permit, licence or registration for hens is stated in the bylaw or District pages read.
BeesAllowed in some zones: up to 2 beehives and nucleus colonies in the R2 zone; up to 6 in the R3 and R4 zones. The R1 urban-agriculture rule lists hens only.District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 502.6(8)(b) (R2); District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 503.6(9)(b), 504.6(7)(b); District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 200 (definition) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
not more than 2 beehives and nucleus colonies.
up to 6 beehives and nucleus colonies;
BEEKEEPING means the keeping and maintaining of bees or beehives on a lot occupied by the
Other livestockR1 and R2: urban agriculture is limited to hens (and bees in R2). R3 and R4: on a lot of 2 ha or more, up to 4 common livestock (cattle, cows, goats, horses, sheep, pigs or a combination); on 4 ha or more, up to 8. Some ALR-linked horse and cattle uses are excluded from these limits.District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), s. 503.6(9)(c)-(f), 504.6(7)(c)-(f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
on a lot 2 ha or greater, up to 4 common livestock, including cattle, cows,
on a lot 4 ha or greater, up to 8 common livestock is permitted; (*2)
excludes lands where the keeping of horses is tied to a farm operation
BylawDistrict of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026), title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024

How it works

The District's Zoning Bylaw 1838 allows hens in the urban R1 and R2 zones (in R1 only on a lot with a single-detached dwelling and not more than 1 accessory dwelling unit) and, as hobby farm agriculture, in the rural R3 and R4 zones. Check your lot's zone on the District's zoning map.

  • R1 and R2: up to 4 hens. No roosters.
  • R3 and R4: up to 6 hens. The rules do not mention roosters.
  • Bees: up to 2 beehives and nucleus colonies in R2, and up to 6 in R3 and R4. The R1 rule lists hens only.
  • Other livestock: in R1 and R2, urban agriculture is limited to hens (and bees in R2). In R3 and R4, up to 4 common livestock (cattle, cows, goats, horses, sheep, pigs or a combination) on a lot of 2 ha or more, and up to 8 on 4 ha or more.

Steps

  1. Find your zone on the zoning map.
  2. In R1 or R2, build a coop, run and enclosure with at least 0.4 m² of enclosed area per hen. Keep it out of the front yard setback area and at least 3 m from all other lot lines.
  3. Keep it clean, dry and free of odours, and remove the manure.
  4. Follow Canadian Food Inspection Agency biosecurity procedures. Do not slaughter or euthanize hens on the premises.

Good to know

  • No permit, licence or registration for hens is stated in the bylaw or the District pages we read. Ask Development Services if unsure.
  • The R3 and R4 hobby-farm rules give a hen count but no coop size or setback; they refer to the A1 zone for agricultural setbacks.
  • Ducks and other fowl are not named in the R1 to R4 conditions. The A1 and A2 agricultural zones allow agriculture, which the bylaw defines to include keeping goats, horses, fowl, poultry and rabbits.
  • Some site-specific zones have their own rules. Ask before you buy birds.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Vernon · Lumby · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Kelowna

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. District of Coldstream Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (consolidated to June 8, 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Zoning Mapping, District of Coldstream (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.