{"title":"Delta backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/delta","name":"Delta","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":"City of Delta","url":"https://www.delta.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In the City of Delta you can keep 2 to 4 hens on a lot in any RS or RD zone with a City hen licence ($50 a year). On RS2 lots of 0.2 ha or more, up to 12 poultry are allowed instead. Roosters are not permitted.","aliases":["backyard hens delta bc","can i keep chickens in delta","rooster bylaw delta","keep bees delta","livestock bylaw delta"],"cost":"Hen licence $50 a year per lot.","how_long":"The hen licence expires December 31 each year.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Delta Community Animal Shelter","value":"604-940-7111"},{"type":"phone","label":"Development (zoning)","value":"604-946-3380"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Licensing & Permits (chicken licences), Delta Community Animal Shelter","url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/delta-community-animal-shelter/licensing-permits"},{"title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (PDF)","url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/"},{"title":"Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893 (PDF)","url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Delta","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/white-rock","name":"White Rock","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/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, on lots in any RS or RD zone, with a City hen licence. In RS2 lots of 0.2 ha or more, 12 poultry are allowed instead.","short":"Yes, RS or RD zones, with City licence","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1.2(d)(i)","quotes":["Keeping of not less than 2 and not more than 4 hens is permitted on a lot in any","RS or RD zone subject to the following conditions:"]},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304","title":"Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 35.2","quotes":["Hens may be kept, provided that the following requirements are met","a licence is obtained from the District;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"Minimum 2, maximum 4 hens per lot. On RS2 lots of 0.2 ha or more: 12 poultry, plus 12 more for each additional 0.4 ha.","short":"2 to 4 hens (12 poultry on RS2 lots of 0.2 ha or more)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1.2(d)(i)","quotes":["Keeping of not less than 2 and not more than 4 hens"]},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 11.20.9(c)(iv)-(v)","quotes":["despite Section 6.1.2(d)(i), on a lot of 0.2 ha or more in area, 1 horse or 1 cow or 1","12 poultry and the keeping of offspring to the age of one year"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No. Roosters are not permitted.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1.2(d)(i)(2)","quotes":["(2) no roosters shall be permitted;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Coop and run must meet the zone's accessory-structure setbacks and be at least 1.5 m from the house, no higher than 1.8 m, and together no more than 10 m². Per hen: 0.4 m² inside with a nesting box and 1.0 m² of roofed, fenced run. Hens shut in from sunset to sunrise.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1.2(d)(i)(3)-(5)","quotes":["the maximum height for a chicken coop and chicken run shall be 1.8 m;","combined area of a chicken coop and chicken run shall not exceed 10 m2","an accessory building shall be 1.5 m as measured at the building foundations"]},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304","title":"Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 35.2(d)-(e)","quotes":["a minimum of 0.4 m2 of indoor space per hen","a minimum of 1.0 m2 of outdoor roofed and fenced space","kept inside the chicken coop from sunset to sunrise"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":"Yes. A hen licence from the City is required, $50 a year per lot. The lot must be registered with the BC Premises ID Program (free from the Province). Apply online through DeltaOnline.","short":"Yes, $50 a year licence","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/243967","title":"Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 2, s. 1(7)","quotes":["Hens as permitted by this and other Bylaws $50.00"]},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304","title":"Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 35.2(b)","quotes":["the lot is registered with the BC Ministry of Agriculture through the BC"]},{"url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/delta-community-animal-shelter/licensing-permits","title":"Licensing & Permits, Delta Community Animal Shelter","section":"Chicken Licences","quotes":["A BC Premises ID number is a free number assigned by the BC Ministry of Agriculture"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Allowed as an accessory use to a single detached or duplex dwelling or in any P zone: up to 2 beehives and 2 nucleus colonies on lots of 1,000 m² or less; up to 4 and 4 on larger lots. Each must be raised 2.5 m, or 7.5 m from lot lines, or behind a 1.8 m fence or hedge.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1.2(d)(ii)","quotes":["The keeping of bees is permitted as an accessory use to a single detached dwelling or","not more than 2 beehives and 2 nucleus colonies shall be kept on lots equal to or","not more than 4 beehives and 4 nucleus colonies shall be kept on lots larger","raised to a minimum of 2.5 m above the finished grade;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"In the RS2 zone only: lots of 0.2 ha or more may keep chinchillas and rabbits, and 1 horse or 1 cow or 1 goat or 1 sheep or 12 poultry, plus one more for each additional 0.4 ha. No minks, foxes, pigs, ducks or more than 3 dogs. Other residential zones: not found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 11.20.9(c)","quotes":["no minks, foxes, pigs, ducks or more than 3 dogs shall be permitted;","on a lot of 0.2 ha or more in area, chinchillas and rabbits shall be permitted;","for each 0.4 ha that a lot area exceeds 0.2 ha, an additional one horse or one cow or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (ss. 35.2-35.3); Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (s. 6.1.2(d))","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304","title":"Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 35.2","quotes":["Hens may be kept"]},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1.2(d)","quotes":["(d) Urban Agriculture Amend BL 7987, 2020 (i) Keeping of not less than 2 and not more than 4 hens is permitted on a lot in any","No. 7600, 2017","Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 Consolidated for Reference Purposes Only"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":8,"matched":8,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nHens are allowed under the [Zoning Bylaw No. 7600](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/) (s. 6.1.2(d)) and the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304) (ss. 35.2-35.3). The applicant must own and live on the lot, or live there with the owner's written consent.\n\n## Rules for hens\n\n1. Number: minimum 2, maximum 4 hens per lot. On RS2 lots of 0.2 ha or more: 12 poultry, plus 12 more for each additional 0.4 ha. No roosters.\n2. Licence: a City hen licence is required, $50 a year per lot. Apply online through DeltaOnline. The lot must also be registered with the BC Premises ID Program (free from the Province). The licence expires December 31 each year.\n3. Coop and run: meeting the zone's accessory-structure setbacks, at least 1.5 m from the house, no higher than 1.8 m, and together no more than 10 m². Per hen: 0.4 m² inside with a nesting box and 1.0 m² of roofed, fenced run.\n4. Hens are shut in from sunset to sunrise.\n5. Also required: 0.15 m of perch space per hen, 0.2 m of food and water access per hen, a rodent-proof build, feed in an enclosed container, no more than 0.1 m³ of manure stored, no slaughtering on the lot, and CFIA biosecurity measures.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Bees: allowed with a single detached or duplex dwelling or in any P zone. Up to 2 beehives and 2 nucleus colonies on lots of 1,000 m² or less; up to 4 and 4 on larger lots. Each must be raised 2.5 m, or sit 7.5 m from lot lines, or be behind a 1.8 m fence or hedge. Beekeeping on A1 farm lots follows a separate section.\n- Other livestock: in the RS2 zone only, lots of 0.2 ha or more may keep chinchillas and rabbits, and 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 goat or 1 sheep (or 12 poultry), plus one more for each additional 0.4 ha. No minks, foxes, pigs, ducks or more than 3 dogs. Other zones were not read; ask Development at 604-946-3380.\n- The City's page says RS2 lots over 0.2 ha may keep \"12 or more\" depending on lot size.","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/","title":"Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304","title":"Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/243967","title":"Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/delta-community-animal-shelter/licensing-permits","title":"Licensing & Permits, Delta Community Animal Shelter","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.delta.ca/building-development/building-renovating","title":"Building & Renovating, City of Delta (Development contact)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/backyard-chickens.json"}}