Colwood backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
Short answer
Yes, in Colwood you may keep up to four chickens on a lot of 550 m² to under 4,000 m² with a detached one-family home. Roosters are not allowed on lots under 4,000 m². Goats, sheep, horses and similar farm animals need a permitted farm operation. The bylaws read do not mention bees.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes. Keeping chickens for domestic purposes is allowed as an accessory use to a detached one-family dwelling on a lot of at least 550 m² and under 4,000 m² (1 acre), in any residential zone.Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.19(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe keeping of chickens for domestic purposes is permitted as an accessory use to the residential use of a detached, one-family dwelling on any lot with an area less than 4,000 m2 (1 acre), but not less than 550 m2 (5,920 ft2) in any residential zone |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Four chickens on any lot under 4,000 m².Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.19(1)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe number of chickens that may be kept on any lot with an area less than 4,000 m2 is limited to four (4); |
| Roosters | No. Roosters are prohibited on lots under 4,000 m² (1 acre).Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.19(1)(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingroosters are prohibited from any lots with an area less than 4,000 m2 (1 acre); |
| Coop rules | Chickens must be in a secure, fenced enclosure. Coop or feed storage: no taller than 2.4 m; at least 3 m from rear and side lot lines; no closer to the front lot line than the principal building's yard requirement or its front face, whichever is greater. Keep it clean and vermin-free; compost or dispose of manure to prevent odours.Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.19(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingchickens must be kept in a secure, fenced enclosure; may exceed a height of 2.4m (7.9 ft); within 3m (9.8 ft) of any rear or side lot line; must be kept free of vermin; |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. The Land Use Bylaw text names no permit, licence or fee for hens. |
| Bees | Not confirmed. The Land Use and Animal Control Bylaws do not mention beekeeping. |
| Other livestock | Farm animals (cattle, goats, horses, sheep, swine and similar; poultry is excluded from that term) may be kept only as part of a farm operation permitted by the Land Use Bylaw. Fur-bearing animals likewise. Pigeons: up to 25 pairs or 50 in total per parcel.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 3.0, 12.1, 12.2, 11.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFarm Animal means a domesticated Animal normally raised or kept for food, milk or as a beast of Except if the Keeping of the Farm Animals is part of a Farm Operation, and permitted in No person shall keep more than 25 pairs of Pigeons, or a total of 50 Pigeons on any parcel of land within the City; |
| Bylaw | Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (s. 2.1.19); Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.19; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025), s. 1.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording2.1.19 The Keeping of Chickens in Residential Areas This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014”. |
How it works
The Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (section 2.1.19) allows keeping chickens for domestic purposes as an accessory use to a detached one-family dwelling, in any residential zone, on a lot of at least 550 m² and under 4,000 m² (1 acre). The bylaw text names no permit, licence or fee. It does not address lots of 4,000 m² or more, or attached housing such as townhouses and duplexes.
Rules
- Maximum four chickens on a lot under 4,000 m².
- No roosters on lots under 4,000 m².
- Chickens must be in a secure, fenced enclosure.
- A coop or feed storage must be no taller than 2.4 m and at least 3 m from the rear and side lot lines. It may be no closer to the front lot line than the principal building's yard requirement or its front face, whichever is greater. Corner lots have a separate flanking-street rule.
- Keep the coop clean and vermin-free, and compost or dispose of manure to prevent odours.
- On lots under 4,000 m², slaughter, and the sale of manure, meat, eggs, feathers or other poultry products, are prohibited.
Good to know
- Farm animals (cattle, goats, horses, sheep, swine and similar; poultry is not included) may be kept only as part of a farm operation permitted by the Land Use Bylaw. Fur-bearing animals follow the same rule. Pigeons: up to 25 pairs or 50 in total per parcel.
- Bees: the Land Use and Animal Control Bylaws, and the City's community gardens page, do not mention beekeeping. Ask Bylaw Services.
- Fines: a bylaw notice is $100 ($80 within 14 days, $120 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $100.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
View Royal · Esquimalt · Langford · Victoria · Metchosin · Highlands
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1533, 2014 (consolidated to September 4, 2025) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.