--- title: Fort St James backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Fort St James?" place: Fort St James, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/fort-st-james category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: District of Fort St James sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/backyard-chickens/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/backyard-chickens.json" --- # Fort St James backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules **Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Fort St James? **Short answer:** In Fort St James, up to four hens are allowed in the R-1 (Residential - Single Family) zone, for personal use only. Roosters are not allowed. Bees are allowed in R-1 and rural residential zones. No permit or fee for hens is stated in the bylaw. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Fort St James, https://www.fortstjames.ca) **Cost:** No permit or fee is stated for keeping hens. The fine for bees contrary to the bylaw is $100. **How long:** Not applicable. **Where:** - In person: Municipal Hall, 477 Stuart Drive West, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) - Phone: District Office, 250-996-8233 - Phone: Bylaw Enforcement Officer, 250-996-8670 ext. 3 ## Key facts - **Hens allowed:** Yes, in the R-1 (Residential - Single Family) zoning district, for personal use, provided no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result. The keeper must live on the property or have the owner's written permission. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 5.2.1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "In the R-1 (Residential – Single Family) zoning district, the keeping of up to four" … "(4) backyard hens is permitted for personal use, provided that no neighbourhood" … "Reside on the property where the hens are kept, or obtain written permission" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Most hens:** Up to four hens. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 5.2.1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "the keeping of up to four" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Roosters:** Not allowed (prohibited). - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 5.2.1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "(4) backyard hens is permitted for personal use, provided that no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result. Roosters are prohibited. A person who keeps one or more hens, must:" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Coop rules:** Hens in a fully fenced back or side yard. Coop at least 1.5 m from the property line and 3 m from windows and doors of the dwelling. At least 0.5 m² of coop floor and 1.0 m of roofed outdoor enclosure per hen; one perch (15 cm) per hen and a nest box in each coop; no cages; coop fully enclosed, sanitary and in good repair. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 5.2.1(b)-(g)](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "Situate hens in a back or side yard which is fully fenced;" … "Situate coops at least on and a half meters from the property line and three" … "meters from windows and doors off dwelling;" … "Provide each hen with at least 0.5 meters squared of coop floor area" … "Not keep hens in a cage;" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. The bylaw states no permit, licence or fee for hens. - **Bees:** Allowed on R-1 parcels (maximum two colonies) and rural residential RU-1 to RU-3 parcels (maximum four colonies). Beekeepers must register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and follow Bee Regulation 3/2015, on a parcel of at least 370 m², with hives in the rear yard, and must notify surrounding neighbours. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 5.3.3](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "A person must not keep more than two (2) colonies of bees on a parcel" … "designated Single Family (R-1)." … "four (4) colonies of bees on a parcel designated Rural Residential (RU-1, RU-2 or RU-3)." - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 5.3.1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "All beekeepers in the District of Fort St. James must register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture" … "(e) Keep bees on a parcel of land which is equal to or greater than 370 m2." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Other livestock:** Domestic farm animals (horse, mule, donkey, emu, llama, ostrich, pot belly pig, swine, sheep, goat, cow) not in a house, duplex or apartment, and only where zoning permits. Poultry, including ducks and geese, only on R-1 or RU-1 to RU-3 parcels, not in a dwelling. - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 5.2.2-5.2.3](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "A person must not keep a domestic farm animal in any single-family dwelling," … "A person must not keep a domestic farm animal on any parcel except as permitted" … "Poultry means a chicken, rooster, turkey, goose, duck, fowl, or other bird normally" - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 2.19](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "Domestic Farm Animal means a horse, mule, donkey, emu, hinny, llama, ostrich," - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006 (office consolidation March 27, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1081, 2025) - Source: [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025, s. 1.1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - Official wording: "“District of Fort St. James Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006”" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works The District's [Animal Regulation Bylaw 833]() allows hens only in the R-1 (Residential - Single Family) zoning district, for personal use, provided no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result. The keeper must live on the property or have the owner's written permission. A hen is a female chicken at least four months old. ## Rules for hens - Up to four hens. Roosters are prohibited. - Hens must be in a fully fenced back or side yard. - The coop must be at least 1.5 m from the property line and 3 m from the windows and doors of the dwelling. - Each hen needs at least 0.5 m² of coop floor and 1.0 m of roofed outdoor enclosure, one 15 cm perch, and a nest box in each coop. No cages. The coop must be fully enclosed, sanitary and in good repair. - Eggs and other products may not be sold, and hens may not be slaughtered on the property. ## Good to know - The bylaw states no permit, licence or fee for hens. - Bees are allowed on R-1 parcels (maximum two colonies) and rural residential RU-1 to RU-3 parcels (maximum four colonies). Beekeepers must register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture, follow Bee Regulation 3/2015, have a parcel of at least 370 m², keep hives in the rear yard, and notify surrounding neighbours. The fine for bees contrary to the bylaw is $100. - Other poultry, including ducks and geese, only on R-1 or RU-1 to RU-3 parcels, and not in a dwelling. - Farm animals (horse, mule, donkey, emu, llama, ostrich, pot belly pig, swine, sheep, goat, cow) are allowed only where zoning permits and not in a house, duplex or apartment. Ask the District office at 250-996-8233 about your zone. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1101, 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/1101%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20-%20Signed.pdf) ## Related questions - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/how-many-pets.md) - [Fort St James dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dog-licence.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md) - [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/backyard-chickens.md) - [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/backyard-chickens.md) - [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-chickens.md) - [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/backyard-chickens.md) - [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens.md) - [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/backyard-chickens.md) ## Sources - [Animal Regulation Bylaw No. 833, 2006, office consolidation March 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/833%20Animal%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20March%202025%5D.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1101, 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/1101%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20-%20Signed.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Contact Us, District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/contact-us) (read 2026-11-08) _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 District of Fort St James. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/backyard-chickens/_