Comox backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
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.
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 4 (definition), s. 6.7(1), s. 9.2, s. 10.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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 |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Six hens per lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 6.7, Table 6.7(1)(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA maximum of six hens and zero |
| Roosters | Not allowed (zero roosters per lot).Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 6.7, Table 6.7(1)(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingroosters shall be permitted per lot. A maximum of six hens and zero |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 6.7, Table 6.7(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingChicken 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. |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 4 (definition of Agriculture, Urban); Active Bylaws, Active Bylaws List, Animal · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe keeping of bees and hens within an urban or suburban environment. Beekeeping Bylaw No. 872 |
| Other livestock | The zoning bylaw's urban agriculture use covers only bees and hens; it lists no other livestock for residential lots.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 4 (definition of Agriculture, Urban) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe keeping of bees and hens within an urban or suburban environment. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (s. 6.7 Urban Agriculture); Beekeeping Bylaw No. 872Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026), s. 6.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTable 6.7(1) Urban Agriculture Regulations |
How it works
Hens are "urban agriculture" under Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 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
The same question in other places
Courtenay · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (consolidated to July 8, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Active Bylaws, Town of Comox (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.