{"title":"Fernie backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Fernie?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","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 Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Fernie, urban hens (female chickens or ducks, up to 6) and bees are allowed only in the zones listed in Schedule B of the Animal Responsibility Bylaw. Those zone names no longer exist in the 2024 zoning, so confirm with the City which parcels qualify. Other livestock needs agricultural zoning.","aliases":["chickens fernie","backyard hens fernie","beekeeping fernie","livestock fernie","ducks fernie"],"cost":"The sources read state no fee, permit or registration for keeping urban agricultural animals.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"250-423-2244"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"bylawservices@fernie.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning (City Hall)","value":"250-423-6817"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), Part 10 and Schedule B","url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927"},{"title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF)","url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fernie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Fernie dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/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":"Up to 6 female chickens or ducks, only in the RWF and RWF1 zones named in Schedule B. Poultry is prohibited in R1, R1B, RR, P1 and P2. Parcels zoned for agricultural use may keep agricultural animals (s. 2.2). The current Zoning Bylaw no longer lists these zones, so confirm with the City.","short":"Only in RWF and RWF1 zones; confirm with City","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Schedule B","quotes":["Unless listed below urban agricultural animal keeping is prohibited.","R1 - Single Family","RWF – Residential West","6 female chickens or ducks or","Unless listed below","Notwithstanding section 2.1, Agricultural Animals are permitted on parcels that are"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"6 female chickens or ducks, or any combination of them, per parcel in the RWF and RWF1 zones.","short":"6 chickens or ducks","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Schedule B","quotes":["6 female chickens or ducks or","any combination thereof"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No. Only female chickens and ducks are urban agricultural animals. Roosters count as poultry, a prohibited agricultural animal, except on parcels zoned for agricultural use.","short":"No, except on agricultural-zoned parcels","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 1.2, 2.2","quotes":["means bees, female chickens, and female ducks","includes: hens or","pullets, rooster or cockerels","Agricultural Animals are permitted on parcels that are zoned for agricultural use."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Animals must be in an enclosed rear-yard area at least 1.8 m high that extends below ground and deters bears and predators. Shelters need a 1.5 m side and rear setback, sit behind the house, face away from neighbours, and be no higher than 0.6 m above grade or 2.5 m total. Screening is needed within 7.5 m of a neighbour.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 10.5, 10.6","quotes":["contained within an enclosed area in the rear yard that","minimum height of 1.8m","all shelters have a minimum side and rear yard setback of 1.5m","all shelters are located to the rear of the principal dwelling","If a shelter is located within 7.5m of a side or rear property line"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Schedule B: 2 hives in R1, R1B, P1 and P2; in RR 2 hives on parcels under 0.403 ha and 6 on larger ones; 1 hive in RWF and RWF1. Keepers need the BC Bee Masters course (or equivalent, or five years as a registered beekeeper). These zone names are not in the current Zoning Bylaw; confirm with the City.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Schedule B; s. 10.7(b)","quotes":["2 beehives","On parcels <0.403ha: 2","On parcels >0.403ha: 6","have completed the BC Bee Masters course","Unless listed below"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Agricultural animals (cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry) are prohibited except on parcels zoned for agricultural use. Ungulates, feral animals and wildlife are prohibited.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 1.2, 2.1, 2.2","quotes":["Agricultural Animals Include:","Prohibited Animal means:","Agricultural Animals except for those listed as restricted","Agricultural Animals are permitted on parcels that are zoned for agricultural use."]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"RR zone, permitted uses","quotes":["keeping of small farm animals;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The Zoning Bylaw lists \"keeping of small farm animals\" as a permitted use in the Rural Residential (RR) zone, which is not an agricultural zone, while the Animal Responsibility Bylaw prohibits agricultural animals except on agriculturally zoned parcels. Ask the City how the two apply to RR parcels."},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (Part 10, Schedule B); Zoning Bylaw No. 1750","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Part 10, Schedule B","quotes":["ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021"]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Title","quotes":["The Corporation of the City of Fernie CONSOLIDATED ZONING BYLAW NO. 1750 Consolidated to Bylaws: 1786, Amend # 1 2043, Amend # 74 2159, Amend # 125 2302, Amend # 183 2421, Amend #235"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) treats only bees, female chickens and female ducks as urban agricultural animals, and Schedule B limits them by zone. It names zones (R1, R1B, RWF, RWF1) that the current [Zoning Bylaw](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505) no longer lists, so confirm with the City which parcels qualify.\n\n## Schedule B limits (as written)\n\n- **Hens:** up to 6 female chickens or ducks, or any combination, only in the RWF and RWF1 zones. Poultry is prohibited in R1, R1B, RR, P1 and P2.\n- **Roosters:** not allowed. They count as poultry, a prohibited agricultural animal, except on parcels zoned for agricultural use.\n- **Bees:** 2 hives in R1, R1B, P1 and P2; 1 hive in RWF and RWF1; in RR, 2 hives on parcels under 0.403 ha and 6 on larger ones. Keepers need the BC Bee Masters course (or equivalent, or five years as a registered beekeeper).\n\n## Rules if allowed\n\n1. Keep the animals in an enclosed rear-yard area at least 1.8 m high that extends below ground and deters bears and predators. Electric fencing built to WildSafeBC guidelines counts and must be on from March 1 to November 30.\n2. Place shelters behind the house, facing away from neighbours, with a 1.5 m side and rear setback and no higher than 0.6 m above grade or 2.5 m total.\n3. Screen shelters within 7.5 m of a neighbour with a solid fence or evergreen hedge at least 1.8 m high, running 12 m along the line.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Other livestock:** agricultural animals (cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry) are prohibited except on parcels zoned for agricultural use. The Zoning Bylaw lists \"keeping of small farm animals\" as a permitted use in the Rural Residential (RR) zone, which is not agricultural. The two bylaws differ, so ask the City how they apply to an RR parcel.\n- Ungulates, feral animals and wildlife are prohibited.\n- Officers may inspect.\n- Confirm your parcel's zone with Planning at 250-423-6817.","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/bylaw-services-business-licences.html","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Fernie","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 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/backyard-chickens.json"}}