{"title":"Creston backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Creston?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Creston","url":"https://www.creston.ca"},"short_answer":"In Creston, you can keep up to six hens with a Town hen licence on a property in the R1 or R5 zone. The licence is $23 a year. Roosters are not allowed. The bylaws do not mention bees, and cows, goats, sheep, pigs and most birds are prohibited.","aliases":["backyard hens creston","chickens creston","hen licence creston","livestock creston","beekeeping creston"],"cost":"Hen licence $23 a year under the Fees and Charges Bylaw (the Town's hen page says $20). One licence covers one to six hens. Rooster: $200 bylaw notice.","how_long":"The hen licence expires December 31.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Backyard Hen Licences page","value":"https://www.creston.ca/backyard-hen-licences"},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall","value":"250-428-2214"},{"type":"email","label":"Town Hall","value":"info@creston.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Backyard Hen Licences, Town of Creston","url":"https://www.creston.ca/backyard-hen-licences"},{"title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, Parts 12 and 13 (PDF)","url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Creston dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Creston noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/noise-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/salmo","name":"Salmo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":"Yes, with a Town hen licence, on properties in the Residential - Low Density (R1) or Residential - Rural (R5) zone. The hen keeper must own the property or have the owner's written permission, and must live there.","short":"Yes, with Town hen licence, R1 or R5 zone","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/backyard-hen-licences","title":"Backyard Hen Licences, Town of Creston","section":"Backyard Hen Licences page","quotes":["Properties located in the R1: Residential - Low Density or R5: Residential – Rural, are permitted to keep a maximum of six hens."]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)","section":"s. 13(a), (b)","quotes":["be the registered property owner or obtain written permission from the registered property","Zone or Residential – Low Density (R1) Zone as designated in Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"Six hens per parcel.","short":"Six hens","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)","section":"s. 13(b)","quotes":["keep no more than six (6) Hens per parcel of land,"]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/backyard-hen-licences","title":"Backyard Hen Licences, Town of Creston","section":"Backyard Hen Licences page","quotes":["maximum of six hens"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"Not allowed.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)","section":"s. 13(c)","quotes":["not keep a rooster;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Coop and run in the rear yard, at least 3 m from the front, interior and exterior side lot lines and from any door or window, and not visible from the street. Coop at least 0.37 m² per hen, no more than 4 m² and 2 m high. Run at least 0.92 m² per hen. Hens in the coop from sunset to 7 a.m. or sunrise, whichever is first.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)","section":"s. 13(f), (i)","quotes":["keep Hen(s) in a Coop from sunset to 7am, or sunrise, whichever is first;","Coop and Run must be located in a rear yard, and in no case shall it be closer to an exterior","interior, or exterior side lot line and no less than 3m from any door or window;","Coop size must be no less than 0.37 sq. m. per Hen;","Run size must be no less than 0.92 sq. m. per Hen;","Coop must not exceed 4 sq. m. floor area or 2m in height; and,","Coop and Run must not be visible from the street parallel to the front lot line.","keep Hen(s) in a Coop from sunset to 7am, or sunrise, whichever is first","interior, or exterior side lot line and no less than 3m from any door or window"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":"Hen licence required: $23 a year under the Fees and Charges Bylaw (the Town's hen page says $20). One licence covers one to six hens; it expires December 31. A Provincial Premises ID number is also required.","short":"Yes, $23 a year ($20 on Town's page)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763, Schedule 2 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 2, Hen Licence Fees (consolidated to May 12, 2026)","quotes":["Hen Licence $23.00","(subject to applicable taxes)"]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/backyard-hen-licences","title":"Backyard Hen Licences, Town of Creston","section":"Backyard Hen Licences page","quotes":["The licence fee is $20 for the year.","Only one licence is required, regardless if you have one or six hens.","Hen owners are required to have a valid Provincial Premises Identification Program Number."]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)","section":"s. 12.1","quotes":["No person shall own, keep, possess or harbour any Hen in the Town unless a valid and subsisting"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The Town's hen licence page and Hens-Guidelines handout say $20; the Fees and Charges Bylaw consolidated to May 12, 2026 says $23 plus taxes. The bylaw is followed. Licence is not transferable, one hen owner per property, and it can be revoked (ss. 12.3-12.5)."},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"Creston's bylaws do not mention bees.","sources":[]},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Horses: one per parcel zoned R-5 or Agricultural, lot at least 1 hectare. Cows, goats, sheep, pigs (except potbellied pigs), donkeys, llamas and alpacas are prohibited animals, as are most birds, so ducks are not on the permitted list.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)","section":"s. 11.1(b); Schedule A items 14 and 26","quotes":["keep no more than one (1) horse per parcel of land zoned either Rural Residential (R-5) or","All ungulates, including domestic breeds of cow, goat, sheep, pig, mule, donkey, llama and alpaca,","All birds, except the budgie, cockatiel, lovebird, finch, parrot, canary, and Hens where permitted in"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, 2015 (Parts 12 and 13); Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (zones)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)","section":"title, s. 1.1","quotes":["Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826, 2015"]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1958 (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as \"Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022\"."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nHens are allowed under Parts 12 and 13 of the [Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826](<https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf>). You need a Town hen licence and a property in the Residential - Low Density (R1) or Residential - Rural (R5) zone. You must own the property or have the owner's written permission, and you must live there. The limit is six hens per parcel. Roosters are not allowed.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone in the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958](<https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf>).\n2. Apply for a hen licence from the Town (fee in Schedule 2 of the [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763](<https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf>)). A Provincial Premises ID number is also required.\n3. Build the coop and run to the rules below.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Coop and run go in the rear yard, at least 3 m from the front, interior and exterior side lot lines and from any door or window, and not visible from the street.\n- The coop must be at least 0.37 m² per hen, no more than 4 m² and 2 m high. The run must be at least 0.92 m² per hen. Keep hens in the coop from sunset to 7 a.m. or sunrise, whichever comes first.\n- Also required: a nest box for every two hens, roost space, predator-proof fencing including over the run, food in closed containers and food scraps removed daily. Selling hen products is not allowed, and slaughtering in town is not allowed except at a vet clinic.\n- The licence is not transferable and can be revoked. A rooster is a $200 bylaw notice ($175 early, $225 late).\n- The Town's hen page says the fee is $20; the bylaw says $23. Confirm the amount with Town Hall.\n- Bees: the Animal Care and Zoning bylaws do not mention beekeeping. Ask the Town.\n- Horses: one per parcel zoned R-5 or Agricultural, on a lot of at least 1 hectare. Cows, goats, sheep, pigs (except potbellied pigs), donkeys, llamas and alpacas are prohibited, as are most birds, so ducks are not on the permitted list.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/backyard-hen-licences","title":"Backyard Hen Licences, Town of Creston","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Animal%20Care%20and%20Responsibility%20Bylaw%20No.%201826.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Responsibility Bylaw No. 1826 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763, Schedule 2 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1958 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/backyard-chickens.json"}}