Fernie backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

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

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.

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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Most hens	6 female chickens or ducks, or any combination of them, per parcel in the RWF and RWF1 zones.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 6 female chickens or ducks or any combination thereof
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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2, 2.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 10.5, 10.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Schedule B; s. 10.7(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 2 beehives On parcels <0.403ha: 2 On parcels >0.403ha: 6 have completed the BC Bee Masters course Unless listed below
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.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, s. 1.2, 2.1, 2.2; Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, RR zone, permitted uses · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. keeping of small farm animals;
Bylaw	Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (Part 10, Schedule B); Zoning Bylaw No. 1750Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021, Part 10, Schedule B; Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021 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

How it works

The Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 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 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

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.
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.
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

The same question in other places

Sparwood · Cranbrook · Elkford · Kimberley · Canal Flats · Creston

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, to Bylaw 2551 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Services, City of Fernie (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. How answers are checked.