Fruitvale backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Fruitvale?
Short answer
In Fruitvale you may keep up to 4 hens if you register with the Village first. Roosters are not allowed except on land zoned for agriculture. Bees are allowed in all zones, up to 2 hives per parcel. The registration fee is not stated.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes, hens only, if registered with the Village. On a two-family property such as a duplex, the rear yard must be fully fenced and the part used by the hen owner fenced off separately. The Village's guide is written for residential-zoned properties.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, ss. 74, 76, 79 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA maximum of 4 Hens are permitted on lands within the Village. unless the rear yard of the two-family property is fully fenced A person may not keep a Hen unless that person first submits a completed Hen registration application |
|---|---|
| Most hens | 4 hens.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, s. 74 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA maximum of 4 Hens are permitted on lands within the Village. |
| Roosters | No, except on lands zoned to allow agriculture.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, s. 75 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person is permitted to keep any rooster on lands within the Village except on lands zoned to allow for agriculture. |
| Coop rules | Coop and outdoor enclosure must be in a fully fenced rear yard (fence 1.2 m to 2 m high), within the zoning setbacks, and not visible from any highway or street. Each hen needs 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of enclosed outdoor run, plus a nest box and a perch of at least 15 cm. The coop must be kept in good repair and sanitary, and secured from sunset to sunrise. Hens must be in the enclosed coop between dusk and dawn.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, ss. 83, 84 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingensure the Coop and Outdoor Enclosure are situated within a completely fenced rear yard with a minimum fence height of 1.2 metres and not greater than 2 metres at least 0.37 square metres (4 square feet) of interior, fully enclosed Coop floor area ensure the Coop is not visible from any highway or street |
| Permit or registration | Registration with the Village is required before keeping hens. The applicant must own and live on the lot, or live there with the owner's written consent, and must provide a BC Poultry Premises Identification number from the Ministry of Agriculture. Registration cannot be transferred and ends if the owner or occupier changes.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, ss. 79 to 82 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA person may not keep a Hen unless that person first submits a completed Hen registration application to the Village and receives validation from the Village. a valid British Columbia Poultry Premises Identification number obtained A validated Hen registration is not transferable from one person to another or |
| Bees | Allowed in all zones. Maximum 2 hives per parcel, in the rear yard (or the location set by the Regional Apiary Inspector), with water supplied and swarming reasonably prevented. A clear flight path of 7.5 m ahead and 3 m at the sides and rear to any property line, with reductions for a 2 m solid fence or a hive raised 2.5 m.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, ss. 86 to 89 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe keeping of Bees is permitted in all Zones of the Village. is two (2). Any beehive must be sited so as to allow a clear flight path of at least 7.5 metres |
| Other livestock | Bylaw 984 allows hens (4), bees, rabbits (3) and up to 3 other companion animals (pigs, lizards, snakes, large turtles); exotic animals are banned. Zoning Bylaw 846 allows hobby farms (animals for the occupants' own use) only in the RLP 1 and RR1 zones.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, ss. 68, 71, 72; Zoning Bylaw No. 846, consolidated, s. 3 definition of HOBBY FARM; ss. 12.1.2, 13.1.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA maximum of three (3) three other companion animals such as pigs, lizards, must seek SPCA approval first and then Village approval No person shall either on a temporary basis or permanent basis HOBBY FARM means a small farm on which the occupants cultivate crops and/or domestic/household or agricultural animals primarily for their own use and not for commercial use. |
| Bylaw | Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, Parts 4H (urban chickens) and 4I (bees); coop setbacks come from Zoning Bylaw 846. Wildlife Attractant Control Bylaw No. 965, 2024, s. 5.2 also requires domestic animals to be kept so they do not attract wildlife.Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025, Part 1; Wildlife Attractant Control Bylaw No. 965, 2024, s. 5.2(viii), (ix) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw shall be known and cited for all purposes as “Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025”. any domestic animal(s) kept on a property are kept in such a manner as to |
How it works
The Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984 (Part 4H) allows hens only, and only if registered with the Village. The applicant must own and live on the lot, or live there with the owner's written consent, and must provide a BC Poultry Premises Identification number from the Ministry of Agriculture. On a two-family property such as a duplex, the rear yard must be fully fenced and the hen owner's part fenced off separately.
Steps
- Check you meet the registration rules above, then register with the Village Office before getting hens.
- Build to these coop rules:
- Coop and outdoor run: in a fully fenced rear yard (fence 1.2 m to 2 m high), within zoning setbacks, and not visible from any highway or street.
- Space per hen: 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of enclosed run, plus a nest box and a perch of at least 15 cm.
- Keep the coop in good repair and sanitary. Hens must be in the coop from dusk to dawn, and the coop secured from sunset to sunrise.
Good to know
Bees and other animals:
- Bees (Part 4I): allowed in all zones, up to 2 hives per parcel, in the rear yard (or where the Regional Apiary Inspector sets), with water supplied. Keep a clear flight path of 7.5 m ahead and 3 m at the sides and rear to any property line, less with a 2 m solid fence or a hive raised 2.5 m.
- Rabbits (3) and up to 3 other companion animals (pigs, lizards, snakes, large turtles) are allowed. Exotic animals are banned.
- Under Zoning Bylaw 846, hobby farms (animals for the occupants' own use) are allowed only in the RLP 1 and RR1 zones.
Other points:
- The bylaw does not name goats, horses or ducks. Ask the Village Office at 250-367-7551 before getting them.
- Keep animals so they do not attract wildlife (Wildlife Attractant Control Bylaw 965, s. 5.2).
- The Village's hen guide still quotes the older Bylaw 922. Follow Bylaw 984.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Trail · Warfield · Rossland · Salmo · Castlegar · Nelson
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 984, 2025 (PDF), Village of Fruitvale (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 846, consolidated (PDF), Village of Fruitvale (read 2026-11-08)
- Wildlife Attractant Control Bylaw No. 965, 2024 (PDF), Village of Fruitvale (read 2026-11-08)
- Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 982, 2025, consolidated (PDF), Village of Fruitvale (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Enforcement, Village of Fruitvale (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.