---
title: Esquimalt backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Esquimalt?"
place: Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/esquimalt
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Township of Esquimalt
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Esquimalt backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Esquimalt, you may keep up to 7 urban hens on single-family or two-family residential lots. Roosters and other poultry are banned. Up to 3 beehives are allowed on residential parcels. Farm animals are not allowed.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Esquimalt, https://www.esquimalt.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit or fee for urban hens is stated in the bylaws. Bylaw notice for keeping hens contrary to the conditions: $100 ($75 if paid early).  
**How long:** The rules apply year-round.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw enforcement, 250-414-7161 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Victoria Animal Control Services (pound and animal control officers), 250-414-0233

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes: urban hens (female chickens or ducks at least 4 months old) on parcels zoned Single Family Residential or Two Family Residential. No other poultry may be kept anywhere in the Township.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 31, 32, s. 2](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "no person shall keep any poultry on any parcel of land" … "no more than 7 Urban Hens may be kept on any parcel zoned for" … "Single Family Residential or Two Family Residential Use" … "means a domesticated female chicken or duck that is at least 4 months old."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 7 urban hens per eligible parcel.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 32](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "no more than 7 Urban Hens may be kept on any parcel zoned for"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters, cocks and cockerels are not allowed.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 30(1), s. 32(1)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep a farm animal, rooster, or peafowl." … "no roosters, cocks, or cockerels are kept on the property;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Only one hen structure per property, at least 1.5 m from every property line, with at least 0.4 m² enclosed area per hen. It may not be in the front yard setback unless screened by vegetation so it is not visible from the street or neighbours. Keep it clean and free of odours and vermin, on a solid surface in prolonged wet weather. Hens may not run at large.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 32(2)-(7), (11)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "a minimum enclosed area of 0.4 sq m is provided per Urban Hen;" … "located at least 1.5 m from any property line;" … "only one structure containing Urban Hens is permitted on any property;" … "unless such structure" … "is screened by vegetation of a sufficient height and width"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1992, No. 2050 (consolidated September 3, 2026), Zoning Bylaw s. 30.4(3)-(4)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "be located at least 1.5 metres from any Lot Line." … "Only one (1) Structure containing Urban Hen(s) is permitted on a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. No permit, licence or registration for urban hens is stated in the bylaws.
- **Bees:** Yes, on any parcel in a residential zone with the landowner's consent. Up to 3 hives per parcel, set back at least 1.5 m from property lines, with a vertical screen at least 1.8 m high within 0.6 m of the hive entrance, flight paths not crossing publicly frequented areas, and fresh water provided.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 39-41](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "Bees may be kept on any parcel of land in any residential zone as established by the" … "Zoning Bylaw, subject to the consent of the owner of the land." … "A maximum of 3 beehives may be kept on any parcel of land." … "be set back a minimum of 1.5 m from any property line," … "measuring at least 1.8"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Farm animals (cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, asses, oxen), roosters and peafowl may not be kept (a permit from the Director of Parks & Recreation Services allows bringing one in for an event). Other poultry are banned. Up to 10 ornamental birds (housed and enclosed) and up to 10 rabbits or rodents are allowed per parcel.
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 2, 30, 31, 33, 35](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep a farm animal, rooster, or peafowl." … "cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys," … "No person shall keep more than 10 ornamental birds on any parcel of land" … "No person shall own, possess or harbour more than 10 rabbits or rodents over the age of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841 (ss. 30-41) and Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (s. 30.4)
  - Source: [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 1](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841"."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1992, No. 2050 (consolidated September 3, 2026), s. 30.4(1)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841, as amended from time to time."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animal Management Bylaw No. 2841](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation) allows urban hens (female chickens or ducks at least 4 months old) on parcels zoned Single Family Residential or Two Family Residential, up to 7 per parcel. No other poultry may be kept anywhere in the Township, and roosters, cocks and cockerels are not allowed.

## Coop rules

- Only one hen structure per property.
- At least 1.5 m from every property line, with at least 0.4 m² of enclosed area per hen.
- It may not be in the front yard setback unless screened by vegetation so it is not visible from the street or neighbours. The [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf) (s. 30.4) also allows a front-yard hen structure if fully screened by vegetation.
- Keep it clean and free of odours and vermin, and on a solid surface in prolonged wet weather. Hens may not run at large.
- No slaughtering on the property, and biosecurity per CFIA guidance. Hens are for personal use; eggs may be sold if handled per the BC Centre for Disease Control guideline.

## Bees and other animals

- Bees: allowed on any parcel in a residential zone with the landowner's consent. Up to 3 hives per parcel, set back at least 1.5 m from property lines, with a vertical screen at least 1.8 m high within 0.6 m of the hive entrance, flight paths not crossing publicly frequented areas, and fresh water provided.
- Farm animals (cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, asses, oxen), roosters and peafowl may not be kept. A permit from the Director of Parks & Recreation Services allows bringing one in for an event.
- Up to 10 ornamental birds (housed and enclosed) and up to 10 rabbits or rodents are allowed per parcel.

## Good to know

- Neither bylaw requires a permit or registration for urban hens. Ask Bylaw Enforcement (250-414-7161) to confirm.
- Bylaw notices for poultry or farm animals contrary to the bylaw are $100.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1992, No. 2050 (consolidated September 3, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/how-many-pets.md)
- [Esquimalt noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/noise-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2021-02-bylaw-2841-animal-management-bylaw-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1992, No. 2050 (consolidated September 3, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Contacts, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/bylaws-enforcement/contacts) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Township of Esquimalt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-chickens/_