Gibsons backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Gibsons?
Mostly no. In Gibsons, animals other than household pets, including hens, are allowed only in the AG (agricultural) zone. Chickens are not household pets under the animal bylaw, and the wildlife bylaw says no poultry or beehives may be kept. Ask the Town about your lot.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Not allowed in any zone except AG (agricultural). Zoning Bylaw 1342 bans keeping animals other than household pets elsewhere, the Animal Care Bylaw says chickens are not household pets, and the Wildlife Attractant Bylaw says no poultry may be kept (citing old Zoning Bylaw 1065). Ask the Town.Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Zoning Bylaw 1342, s. 3.8.2.1; Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw, s. 1 'Household Pet'; Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1294, 2021, Wildlife Attractant Bylaw 1294, s. 3.5.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingother than household pets is prohibited in all zones except the AG zone. not include any type of horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat, chicken, turkey or captive No poultry or beehives are to be kept on the property as per Zoning Bylaw |
|---|---|
| Most hens | None set. None of the bylaws read for Gibsons sets a number of hens, a rooster rule, coop rules or a permit. |
| Roosters | None set. None of the bylaws read for Gibsons sets a number of hens, a rooster rule, coop rules or a permit. |
| Coop rules | None set. None of the bylaws read for Gibsons sets a number of hens, a rooster rule, coop rules or a permit. |
| Permit or registration | None set. None of the bylaws read for Gibsons sets a number of hens, a rooster rule, coop rules or a permit. |
| Bees | Wildlife Attractant Bylaw s. 3.5.7 says no poultry or beehives are to be kept on the property, citing the old Zoning Bylaw 1065. The current Zoning Bylaw does not mention bees; ask the Town. Notice for poultry or bees attracting wildlife: $200 ($150 early, $300 late).Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1294, 2021, s. 3.5.7; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Schedule A, Bylaw 1294 s. 3.5.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo poultry or beehives are to be kept on the property as per Zoning Bylaw 1294 3.5.6 $200 $150 $300 Yes wildlife 1294 3.5.7 Poultry/Bees attracting Wildlife $200 $150 $300 Yes Home Delivery Items attracting 1294 3.5.8 $100 $80 $120 No |
| Other livestock | Not allowed outside the AG (agricultural) zone: the Zoning Bylaw prohibits commercial agriculture and keeping animals other than household pets in all other zones. Horses, cows, pigs, sheep and goats are not household pets.Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Zoning Bylaw 1342, s. 3.8.2.1; Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw, s. 1 'Household Pet' · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe Use of land, Buildings, or Structures for commercial agriculture, and the keeping of animals other than household pets is prohibited in all zones except the AG zone. not include any type of horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat, chicken, turkey or captive |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025; Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1294, 2021; Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Title; Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1294, 2021, s. 1.1; Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBylaw No. 1342 | 2025 Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No.1294, This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Town of Gibsons Animal Care and |
How it works
Zoning Bylaw No. 1342 (s. 3.8.2.1) prohibits keeping animals other than household pets in every Gibsons zone except AG (agricultural). The Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw says a household pet does not include chickens, turkeys, horses, cows, pigs, sheep or goats. So hens are allowed only in the AG zone.
The Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1294 (s. 3.5.7) separately says no poultry or beehives are to be kept on the property. It still refers to the old Zoning Bylaw 1065, which the current zoning bylaw replaced in 2025, and the current zoning bylaw does not mention bees. Ask the Town before you buy birds or hives.
Good to know
- No number of hens, rule on roosters, coop or run rule, or hen permit or registration is set in any of these bylaws.
- Ducks are not named in the bylaws read.
- Bylaw notice for keeping animals outside the AG zone: $400 ($300 if paid early, $500 late). Poultry or bees attracting wildlife: $200 ($150 early, $300 late).
- Not sure of your zone? Check with Planning and Development at 604-886-2274 or planning@gibsons.ca.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Bowen Island · West Vancouver · Lions Bay · Sechelt · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
- Animal Care and Regulation Bylaw No. 1328, 2025, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
- Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1294, 2021, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Town of Gibsons (consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
- Contact us, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 4 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.