Fort St. John backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
Not chickens on an ordinary residential lot. Fort St. John's Animal Control Bylaw says no one may keep fowl within the city limits, though the Zoning Bylaw's agriculture rules seem to conflict, so check with the City. Bees are allowed under the Beekeeping Bylaw.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | No on ordinary residential lots: the Animal Control Bylaw says no person shall keep fowl within the city limits. The Zoning Bylaw does allow agriculture, including a poultry commodity group, on large parcels in the I-2 and I-3 Integration Zones, which seems inconsistent; check with the City.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 3 ("Fowl"), 48; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (consolidated), ss. 28.2, 28.4 (I-2 Zone); 29.4 (I-3 Zone) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording“FOWL” means any Galliform including, but not limited to, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys No person shall Keep Fowl within the city limits. The following uses and no others are permitted in the I-2 Zone: Agriculture use is permitted on parcels 4 ha and larger. |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Not confirmed. The sources read give no coop rules, hen limit or permit. |
| Roosters | No. Roosters are fowl and no fowl may be kept in the city.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 48 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall Keep Fowl within the city limits. |
| Coop rules | Not confirmed. The sources read give no coop rules, hen limit or permit. |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. The sources read give no coop rules, hen limit or permit. |
| Bees | Allowed under the Beekeeping Bylaw. Hives must be in the rear yard, at least 3 m from neighbouring property lines, and either inside a solid 1.8 m fence or at least 2.4 m off the ground. Limit: 2 colonies plus 2 nucleus colonies on a parcel under 1,000 m²; 4 plus 4 on a larger parcel.Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2373, 2017, ss. 4-5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingnot locate a Beehive within 3 meters of any neighboring property line solid 1.8 meter high fence minimum of 2.4 meters off the ground locate Beehives in the rear yard of the property two (2) Colonies and two (2) nucleus Colonies four (4) Colonies and four (4) nucleus Colonies |
| Other livestock | Livestock may be kept only as part of an agricultural use of land permitted under the Zoning Bylaw, and is subject to zoning. Ducks, geese and other fowl are banned. Exotic animals listed in Schedule B are prohibited.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), ss. 50-51 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall Keep Livestock, unless the keeping is part of an agricultural use of land permitted is subject to the No person shall Keep Fowl within the city limits. |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to include Bylaw 2584, 2023); Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2373, 2017Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023), s. 1; Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2373, 2017, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021”. City of Fort St. John Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2373, 2017 |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw says no person shall keep fowl within the city limits, so hens and roosters are not allowed on ordinary residential lots. The Zoning Bylaw does allow agriculture, including a poultry commodity group, on large parcels in the I-2 and I-3 Integration Zones. That seems inconsistent with the fowl ban, so check with the City before buying birds. No coop rules, hen limit or permit exist in the sources.
Bees
The Beekeeping Bylaw allows bees if you:
- keep hives in the rear yard, at least 3 metres from neighbouring property lines;
- put the hive inside a solid 1.8-metre fence or at least 2.4 metres off the ground;
- keep no more than 2 colonies plus 2 nucleus colonies on a parcel under 1,000 square metres, or 4 plus 4 on a larger parcel.
Good to know
- Livestock may be kept only as part of an agricultural use permitted by the Zoning Bylaw, and is subject to zoning. Ducks, geese and other fowl are banned. Exotic animals in Schedule B are prohibited.
- A bylaw notice for keeping fowl or livestock, or breaking the beekeeping bylaw, is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 on days 31–60).
- Check your lot's zone and any exception with Bylaw Services at 250-787-8150.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Taylor · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge · Mackenzie
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 2556, 2021 (consolidated to Bylaw 2584, 2023) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2373, 2017 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Services, City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 3 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.