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

# Fernie backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fernie, https://www.fernie.ca)  
**Cost:** The sources read state no fee, permit or registration for keeping urban agricultural animals.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-423-2244
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylawservices@fernie.ca
- Phone: Planning (City Hall), 250-423-6817

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Schedule B](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 6 female chickens or ducks, or any combination of them, per parcel in the RWF and RWF1 zones.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Schedule B](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "6 female chickens or ducks or" … "any combination thereof"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2, 2.2](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 10.5, 10.6](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bees:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Schedule B; s. 10.7(b)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "2 beehives" … "On parcels <0.403ha: 2" … "On parcels >0.403ha: 6" … "have completed the BC Bee Masters course" … "Unless listed below"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Agricultural animals (cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry) are prohibited except on parcels zoned for agricultural use. Ungulates, feral animals and wildlife are prohibited. (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.)
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2, 2.1, 2.2](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, RR zone, permitted uses](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "keeping of small farm animals;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (Part 10, Schedule B); Zoning Bylaw No. 1750
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Part 10, Schedule B](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021"
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, Title](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

## Schedule B limits (as written)

- **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.
- **Roosters:** not allowed. They count as poultry, a prohibited agricultural animal, except on parcels zoned for agricultural use.
- **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).

## Rules if allowed

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

## Good to know

- **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.
- Ungulates, feral animals and wildlife are prohibited.
- Officers may inspect.
- Confirm your parcel's zone with Planning at 250-423-6817.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), Part 10 and Schedule B](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927)
- [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/how-many-pets.md)
- [Fernie dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/bylaw-services-business-licences.html) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Fernie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/backyard-chickens/_