Cumberland backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Cumberland?
Short answer
Yes. In Cumberland's residential zones you may keep up to six hens and no roosters per lot, in the rear yard only, with no permit found. Bees are allowed on lots of at least 550 m², with two hives at most. Other livestock is allowed only in the R-3 zone on large lots.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes. Urban agriculture, which includes keeping poultry, is allowed as a secondary use in the residential zones, and poultry may be kept only in the rear yard.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), Table 10.2(1); Table 6.8(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAgriculture, Urban 1 S S S2 S S S The keeping of poultry is only permitted in a rear yard. |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Six female birds per lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), Table 6.8(1), Other Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA maximum of six female birds and zero male birds are permitted per lot. |
| Roosters | No. The limit is zero male birds per lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), Table 6.8(1), Other Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA maximum of six female birds and zero male birds are permitted per lot. |
| Coop rules | Rear yard only. A coop and run must be at least 1.5 m from all lot lines (0 m from a lot line next to a non-residential zone if opaque screening is provided) and at least 4.5 m from a lot line next to a residential lot. Coop height at most 3.5 m. No on-site slaughter.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), Table 6.8(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe maximum height of any accessory building or structure used for urban agriculture is 3.5 metres. must be setback a minimum of 1.5 set back a minimum of 4.5 metres On-site slaughter of poultry is prohibited. |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bees | Allowed on lots of at least 550 m², with at most two hives and two nucs per lot. Hives need ventilation and water, must be 6.0 m from sidewalks, highways and lot lines next to residential or public-use lots, and need a 1.8 m flyway barrier unless set back 7.6 m from all lot lines.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), Table 6.8(1) and conditions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingMinimum Lot Area n/a 550.0 m² n/a A maximum of two hives and two nucs are permitted per lot. All hives must be setback a minimum of 6.0 metres from all sidewalks, A “flyway barrier” comprised of a solid fence or dense hedge which is a minimum of 1.8 metres in height, must be placed, within 1.5 metres |
| Other livestock | Only in the R-3 zone on lots larger than 0.4 ha: animals kept for food, fur or similar products, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits (not hogs, pigs or peacocks). Ducks and geese count as poultry in the Animal Control Bylaw.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), Table 10.2(1) footnote 2; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 2, POULTRY · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFor lots larger than 0.4 hectares, urban agriculture may include the keeping of animals used in the production of food, fur, or similar products, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and rabbits, but specifically excluding hogs, pigs and peacocks. including but not limited to chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pigeons. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (s. 6.8, Table 10.2(1)); Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026), s. 1.1; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Cumberland Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025”. This Bylaw shall be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017”. |
How it works
Under the Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, urban agriculture (which includes keeping poultry) is a secondary use allowed in Cumberland's residential zones R-1, R-2, R-3, R-MHP, R-RTMU and R-MU. Poultry may be kept only in the rear yard. No permit, licence or registration for hens was found in the zoning or animal control bylaws.
Good to know
- Hens: six female birds per lot, and no roosters.
- Coop and run: at least 1.5 m from all lot lines (0 m from a lot line next to a non-residential zone if opaque screening is provided), and at least 4.5 m from a lot line next to a residential lot. Coop height is 3.5 m at most. No on-site slaughter.
- Bees: allowed on lots of at least 550 m², with at most two hives and two nucs per lot. Hives need ventilation and water, and must be 6.0 m from sidewalks, highways and lot lines next to residential or public-use lots. They need a 1.8 m flyway barrier unless set back 7.6 m from all lot lines.
- Other livestock: only in the R-3 zone on lots larger than 0.4 ha. This covers animals kept for food, fur or similar products, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits (not hogs, pigs or peacocks).
- Under the Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, poultry (including ducks and geese) must not stray.
- Rules in mixed-use and rural zones were not checked. Ask Planning at planning@cumberland.ca about your lot.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Courtenay · Comox · Campbell River · Powell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (consolidated July 27, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1061, 2017 (consolidated December 18, 2020) (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
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.