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Enderby backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Enderby, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. In the City of Enderby you may keep up to five hens (no roosters) and bees as an extra use of a single-family home in the R.1, R.1-A and R.2 zones. The hen flock must be licensed with the City; the application fee is $50. Other livestock depends on zoning and lot size.

Key facts

Hens allowedYes. Up to five hens may be kept as an ancillary use to a single-family dwelling in the Residential Single Family (R.1, R.1-A) and Residential Two Family (R.2) zones. The flock must be licensed with the City.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, PDF), s. 318.3; Backyard Hens and Bees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of no more than five (5) backyard hens is permitted as an ancillary use to a single-family dwelling within the Residential Single Family (R.1)
Two-Family (R.2) zones, and the keeping of roosters is expressly
The keeping of up to five (5) backyard hens is permitted in the Residential Single Family (R.1/R.1-A) and Residential Two Family (R.2) zones provided there is a single-family dwelling on the lot.
Most hensFive. Only hens at least four months old count as backyard hens.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, PDF), s. 318.3; definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of no more than five (5) backyard hens is permitted as
BACKYARD HENS means domesticated female chickens that are at least four months old
RoostersNot allowed. Keeping roosters is expressly prohibited.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, PDF), s. 318.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
and the keeping of roosters is expressly prohibited.
Coop rulesCoop with an attached outdoor enclosure, entirely behind the single-family dwelling, in a back area fully enclosed by solid fencing at least 1.8 m high. Setback 3 m from the rear and side lot lines; coop and enclosure at most 2 m high and 10 m² combined. At least 0.5 m² per hen inside and 1 m² per hen outside.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, PDF), s. 318.4, 318.5; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1735, 2022, s. 4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of backyard hens must be contained entirely to the rear
solid fencing that is
least 1.8 m (5.9 feet) in height
a minimum of 3 m (9.84 feet) from the rear
Maximum height of a coop and outdoor enclosure is 2
Maximum combined size of coop and outdoor
Coops must provide a minimum of 0.5 m2 (5.38 square feet) per hen inside
the coop, and a minimum 1 m2 (10.76 square feet) of outdoor enclosure per
Permit or registrationYes. The flock must be licensed with the City; the application fee is $50. A City representative or bylaw officer inspects the property first, and a renter needs the property owner's written consent. Provincial Premises Identification registration is also required.Animal Control Bylaw No. 1735, 2022, s. 4.12; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1479, 2010 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule 12; Backyard Hens and Bees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of backyard hens is subject to the owner licensing the backyard hen flock with
must provide their written consent in cases
must inspect the property
Backyard Hen License Application $50
As of July 1, 2022, the Province has mandated Premises Identification registration for the owners of backyard hens.
BeesYes, in the R.1, R.1-A and R.2 zones with a single-family dwelling. Maximum 2 hives and 2 nucleus colonies on lots under 1,000 m², 4 and 4 on lots of 1,000 m² or more. Hives go behind the house inside 1.8 m solid fencing, facing away from neighbours; the beekeeper must live on the property; $50 licence; honey for personal use only.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, PDF), ss. 319.3 to 319.5; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1735, 2022, ss. 5.4, 5.5, 5.7; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1479, 2010 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of backyard bees is permitted as an ancillary use to a
single-family dwelling within the Residential Single Family (R.1),
colonies are permitted on lots less than 1,000 m² (0.25 acre) and a
maximum of four (4) beehives / colonies and four (4) nucleus
Beehive must be oriented to face away from adjacent
The Beekeeper must be a resident of the property where the backyard bees are kept.
Honey produced by backyard bees is for personal use only, with commercial sales being
expressly prohibited.
Backyard Bee License Application $50
Other livestockRestricted agricultural use is permitted in the R.1, R.1-A and R.2 zones, but not on lots smaller than 1 ha (2.471 acres): pigeons, rabbits, poultry, doves and bees for personal use, and horses, sheep, goats or cattle at 3 animal units or less per hectare. The Country Residential (C.R.) zone permits limited agricultural use (up to 6 animal units per hectare); intensive agricultural use there needs a lot of 0.8094 ha or more in the Agricultural Land Reserve.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, PDF), ss. 601.1(b), 601.11(a); definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Restricted agricultural use subject to the provisions of Sections
A restricted agricultural use shall not be permitted on lots smaller than 1 ha (2.471 acres).
specifically includes nurseries, greenhouses, and the keeping of pigeons, rabbits, poultry,
doves, bees, and other animals or birds of like kind for the personal use of the
kind is also permitted in concentrations of three (3) animal units or less per
other animals or birds of like kind in concentrations of six (6) animal units or less
Limited agricultural use (1793)
than 0.8094 ha (2.000 acres) and shall only be permitted on lands
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (ss. 318, 319) and Animal Control Bylaw No. 1735, 2022; fees in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1479, 2010 (Schedule 12)Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, PDF), ss. 318, 319; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1735, 2022, s. 1; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1479, 2010 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No 1550, 2014
318 Backyard Hens (1710)
This Bylaw shall be cited as “City of Enderby Animal Control Bylaw No. 1735, 2022”.
BACKYARD HEN AND BACKYARD BEE LICENSING FEES

How it works

In the City of Enderby, up to five backyard hens may be kept as an extra use of a single-family dwelling in the Residential Single Family (R.1, R.1-A) and Residential Two Family (R.2) zones. The rules are in the Zoning Bylaw No. 1550 (sections 318 and 319) and the Animal Control Bylaw No. 1735.

Hens

  • Up to 5 hens, and only hens at least four months old count. Roosters are not allowed. Eggs are for personal use only.
  • Licence: the flock must be licensed with the City ($50 application). A City representative or bylaw officer inspects the property first. A renter needs the owner's written consent. Provincial Premises Identification registration is also required.
  • Coop with an attached outdoor enclosure: entirely behind the house, in a back area fully enclosed by solid fencing at least 1.8 m high, 3 m from the rear and side lot lines, no more than 2 m high and 10 m² combined.
  • Space: at least 0.5 m² per hen inside and 1 m² per hen outside. The Animal Control Bylaw also requires one perch and one nest per hen, an outdoor enclosure covered from above, hens kept in the coop or enclosure at all times, and sealed feed and manure storage. It bans egg sales, slaughter and burial.

Bees

  • Allowed in the R.1, R.1-A and R.2 zones with a single-family dwelling. Maximum 2 hives and 2 nucleus colonies on lots under 1,000 m²; 4 and 4 on lots of 1,000 m² or more.
  • Hives go behind the house inside solid fencing 1.8 m high, facing away from neighbours. The beekeeper must live on the property. A $50 licence is required; honey is for personal use only.

Other livestock

  • R.1, R.1-A and R.2 zones: restricted agricultural use is permitted, but not on lots smaller than 1 ha. It covers pigeons, rabbits, poultry, doves and bees for personal use, and horses, sheep, goats or cattle at 3 animal units or less per hectare. R.1-B has none.
  • Country Residential (C.R.) zone: limited agricultural use (up to 6 animal units per hectare). Intensive agricultural use needs a lot of 0.8094 ha or more in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
  • Ask the planner before buying animals; see City Hall at 250-838-7230.

What you'll need

  • Backyard Hens or Backyard Bees License Application and Checklist
  • Written consent of the property owner, if you rent
  • Provincial Premises Identification registration

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Armstrong · Spallumcheen · Sicamous · Lumby · Vernon · Coldstream

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Backyard Hens and Bees, City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Animal Control Bylaw No. 1735, 2022 (PDF), City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, PDF), City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1479, 2010 (consolidated, PDF), City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1581 (consolidated, PDF), City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Contact Us, City of Enderby (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.