---
title: Delta backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?"
place: Delta, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/delta
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Delta
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Delta backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

**Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Delta, https://www.delta.ca)  
**Cost:** Hen licence $50 a year per lot.  
**How long:** The hen licence expires December 31 each year.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Delta Community Animal Shelter, 604-940-7111
- Phone: Development (zoning), 604-946-3380

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(i)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "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:"
  - Source: [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), s. 35.2](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)
  - Official wording: "Hens may be kept, provided that the following requirements are met" … "a licence is obtained from the District;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(i)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "Keeping of not less than 2 and not more than 4 hens"
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 11.20.9(c)(iv)-(v)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters are not permitted.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(i)(2)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "(2) no roosters shall be permitted;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(i)(3)-(5)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), s. 35.2(d)-(e)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025, Schedule 2, s. 1(7)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/243967)
  - Official wording: "Hens as permitted by this and other Bylaws $50.00"
  - Source: [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), s. 35.2(b)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)
  - Official wording: "the lot is registered with the BC Ministry of Agriculture through the BC"
  - Source: [Licensing & Permits, Delta Community Animal Shelter, Chicken Licences](https://www.delta.ca/services/delta-community-animal-shelter/licensing-permits)
  - Official wording: "A BC Premises ID number is a free number assigned by the BC Ministry of Agriculture"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(ii)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 11.20.9(c)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (ss. 35.2-35.3); Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (s. 6.1.2(d))
  - Source: [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), s. 35.2](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)
  - Official wording: "Hens may be kept"
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "(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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Hens 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.

## Rules for hens

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Hens are shut in from sunset to sunrise.
5. 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- The City's page says RS2 lots over 0.2 ha may keep "12 or more" depending on lot size.

## Official forms and pages

- [Licensing & Permits (chicken licences), Delta Community Animal Shelter](https://www.delta.ca/services/delta-community-animal-shelter/licensing-permits)
- [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
- [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/backyard-chickens.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/backyard-chickens.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135304) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/243967) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Licensing & Permits, Delta Community Animal Shelter](https://www.delta.ca/services/delta-community-animal-shelter/licensing-permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building & Renovating, City of Delta (Development contact)](https://www.delta.ca/building-development/building-renovating) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Delta. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/backyard-chickens/_