Delta backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
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.
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.Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(i); Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), s. 35.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKeeping 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: Hens may be kept, provided that the following requirements are met a licence is obtained from the District; |
|---|---|
| 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.Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(i); Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 11.20.9(c)(iv)-(v) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingKeeping of not less than 2 and not more than 4 hens 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 |
| Roosters | No. Roosters are not permitted.Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(i)(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording(2) no roosters shall be permitted; |
| 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.Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(i)(3)-(5); Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), s. 35.2(d)-(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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 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 |
| 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.Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025, Schedule 2, s. 1(7); Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), s. 35.2(b); Licensing & Permits, Delta Community Animal Shelter, Chicken Licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHens as permitted by this and other Bylaws $50.00 the lot is registered with the BC Ministry of Agriculture through the BC A BC Premises ID number is a free number assigned by the BC Ministry of Agriculture |
| 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.Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d)(ii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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; |
| 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.Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 11.20.9(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno 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 |
| Bylaw | Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (ss. 35.2-35.3); Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (s. 6.1.2(d))Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024), s. 35.2; Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated), s. 6.1.2(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHens may be kept (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 |
How it works
Hens are allowed under the Zoning Bylaw No. 7600 (s. 6.1.2(d)) and the Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893 (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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hens are shut in from sunset to sunrise.
- 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
The same question in other places
Richmond · Vancouver · Burnaby · White Rock · Surrey · North Vancouver
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Delta Animal Control Bylaw No. 6893, 2010 (consolidated December 17, 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Amendment Bylaw No. 8515, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Licensing & Permits, Delta Community Animal Shelter (read 2026-11-05)
- Building & Renovating, City of Delta (Development contact) (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. How answers are checked.