Courtenay backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
Short answer
In the City of Courtenay you may keep up to six hens (no roosters) as an accessory use on a lot with a single residential dwelling. Up to two beehives are allowed on lots at least 15 metres wide and 550 square metres. Other livestock is allowed only on agriculturally zoned property.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes. Hens may be kept as an accessory use on lots with a single residential dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (consolidated July 21, 2026), s. 6.17.1, 6.17.1(4); Urban agriculture, Chickens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUrban Agriculture is allowed as an accessory use to any single residential dwelling, subject to the The keeping of hens is permitted on all lots allowing urban agriculture subject to the following: Courtenay residents may raise up to six (6) hens in single residential lots |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Six hens per lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (consolidated July 21, 2026), s. 6.17.1(4)(ii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe maximum number of hens shall be six (6) per lot; |
| Roosters | Not allowed.Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (consolidated July 21, 2026), s. 6.17.1(4)(iii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingroosters are not permitted; |
| Coop rules | Coop only in the rear yard, as an accessory structure under the zone's rules. Keep coops and runs clean and free of odours and vermin. Stored manure in an enclosed structure, at most 3.0 m³. No selling eggs or manure; no home slaughter.Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (consolidated July 21, 2026), s. 6.17.1(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga coop shall only be permitted in the rear yard coops and runs shall be maintained in a clean condition and the coop shall be kept stored manure shall be kept in an enclosed structure such as a compost bin and no more than 3.0 m3 shall be stored at any one time; the sale of eggs, manure and other products associated with the keeping of hens is prohibited, home slaughter of hens is prohibited |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. The City mentions no permit or registration for hens. |
| Bees | Allowed on lots at least 15.0 m wide and 550.0 m². Hives at least 6.0 m from all property lines, registered with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. Maximum two hives per lot. Honey for personal consumption only.Sources differ: The City Urban agriculture page says hives must be at least 5 metres from property lines; Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 says 6.0 m. The bylaw is followed. The page also cites the old Zoning Bylaw No. 2500.Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (consolidated July 21, 2026), s. 6.17.1(3); Urban agriculture, Honeybees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinglots have a minimum width of 15.0 m; lots have a minimum lot area of 550.0 m2; hives shall be located at least 6.0 m from all property lines; only two hives with colonies shall be permitted on each lot Hives located at least 5 metres from all property lines |
| Other livestock | Livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, swine), horses, donkeys and poultry are allowed only on property zoned for agricultural use. Hens (up to six) are the residential exception.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 12, s. 1; Animal control, What you need to know · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall keep any livestock, horse, donkey or poultry on any property within the City includes cattle, sheep, goats and swine. Livestock is only permitted on agriculturally zoned properties. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, 2026 (Part 17, s. 6.17.1) and Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996 (ss. 11-12)Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (consolidated July 21, 2026), s. 1 (citation); Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021), s. 44 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZoning Bylaw No. 3203, 2026 Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897, 1996 |
How it works
Courtenay's Zoning Bylaw 3203 (s. 6.17.1) allows hens as an accessory use on lots with a single residential dwelling. The Animal Control Bylaw separately allows only dogs, cats, honeybees and hens to be kept outdoors off agricultural land. The City mentions no permit or registration for hens.
Good to know
- Hens: up to six per lot. No roosters. The coop goes in the rear yard only, as an accessory structure under the zone's rules; the bylaw gives no coop size or setback numbers. Keep coops and runs clean and free of odours and vermin. Stored manure in an enclosed structure may be at most 3.0 cubic metres.
- Selling eggs or manure and home slaughter are not allowed.
- Bees: up to two hives per lot, on a lot at least 15.0 metres wide and 550.0 square metres. Hives must be at least 6.0 metres from all property lines and registered with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. Honey is for personal consumption only. The City's Urban agriculture page says 5 metres, so confirm the distance with Planning.
- Livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, swine), horses, donkeys and poultry are allowed only on property zoned for agricultural use. Hens (up to six) are the residential exception.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Urban agriculture, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (consolidated July 21, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1897 (consolidated July 2021) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal control, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
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.