---
title: Comox backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Comox?"
place: Comox, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/comox
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Comox
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Comox backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Comox, you may keep up to six hens, and no roosters, on a lot of at least 1,500 m², in the rear yard only. Hens fall under urban agriculture in the Zoning Bylaw. No hen permit or fee is stated. Bee limits are not stated here because the Beekeeping Bylaw could not be read.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Comox, https://www.comox.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit or fee for keeping hens is stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Town Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Comox Town Hall), 250-339-2202 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- In person: Comox Town Hall, 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox, BC V9M 1R9 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays).)
- Phone: Planning Department, 250-339-1118

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, as 'urban agriculture', a secondary use in the residential zones (R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL, R-LL, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3) and some park and special zones. Only on lots of at least 1,500 m², and only in the rear yard.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 4 (definition), s. 6.7(1), s. 9.2, s. 10.2](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of bees and hens within an urban or suburban environment." … "1,500.0 m2" … "The keeping of chickens shall only" … "be permitted in a rear yard." … "(b) Agriculture, Urban S S S S" … "(b) Agriculture, Urban S S S"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Six hens per lot.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 6.7, Table 6.7(1)(i)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of six hens and zero"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** Not allowed (zero roosters per lot).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 6.7, Table 6.7(1)(i)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "roosters shall be permitted per lot." … "A maximum of six hens and zero"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Rear yard only. Coop at least 3.5 m from a rear or interior side lot line, 4.0 m from an exterior side lot line and 1.0 m from any dwelling on the lot; coop floor area up to 5.0 m²; accessory structures up to 2.5 m high. No on-site slaughter.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 6.7, Table 6.7(1)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Chicken coops shall be setback a" … "minimum of 3.5 metres from a rear" … "minimum of 4.0 metres from an" … "minimum of 1.0 metre from all" … "maximum floor area of 5.0 square" … "The maximum height of an accessory building or structure used for urban" … "On-site slaughter of chickens is prohibited."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. No permit, licence or fee for hens is stated in the zoning or fees bylaws.
- **Bees:** Bees count as 'urban agriculture', a secondary use in the residential zones. The Town also has a Beekeeping Bylaw No. 872 to regulate keeping bees; its text is a scanned PDF that could not be read, so its limits are not confirmed.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 4 (definition of Agriculture, Urban)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of bees and hens within an urban or suburban environment."
  - Source: [Active Bylaws, Active Bylaws List, Animal](https://www.comox.ca/bylaws)
  - Official wording: "Beekeeping Bylaw No. 872"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** The zoning bylaw's urban agriculture use covers only bees and hens; it lists no other livestock for residential lots.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 4 (definition of Agriculture, Urban)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of bees and hens within an urban or suburban environment."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (s. 6.7 Urban Agriculture); Beekeeping Bylaw No. 872
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 6.7](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Table 6.7(1) Urban Agriculture Regulations"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Hens are "urban agriculture" under [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf) s. 6.7, a secondary use in the residential zones (R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL, R-LL, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3) and some park and special zones. Check your zone with the Planning Department.

- Lot at least 1,500 m².
- Rear yard only.
- Up to six hens per lot. No roosters.
- Coop floor area up to 5.0 m², at most 2.5 m high.
- Coop at least 3.5 m from a rear or interior side lot line, 4.0 m from an exterior side lot line and 1.0 m from any dwelling on the lot.
- No on-site slaughter, no outdoor storage, and no nuisance from noise, odours or vermin. Eggs sold must be produced on site.

## Good to know

- No permit, licence or fee for hens is stated in the zoning or fees bylaws.
- Breaking the urban agriculture rules is a bylaw notice of $200 ($250 after 14 days).
- Bees are also urban agriculture, and the Town has a Beekeeping Bylaw No. 872. Its text is a scanned PDF that could not be read, so no bee limits are stated here. Ask the Town for the current rules before keeping bees.
- The zoning bylaw's urban agriculture use covers only bees and hens. It lists no other livestock for residential lots, so ask before keeping ducks, goats or other animals.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf)
- [Active Bylaws, Town of Comox](https://www.comox.ca/bylaws)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/how-many-pets.md)
- [Comox noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/noise-rules.md)
- [Comox unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/unsightly-property.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Active Bylaws, Town of Comox](https://www.comox.ca/bylaws) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Comox. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/backyard-chickens/_