Golden backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Golden?
Short answer
In Golden, you can keep up to six backyard hens or ducks per property if you register with the Town. Roosters are not allowed anywhere in town. The bylaw and the Town's page state no rule on bees or other livestock.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes. Backyard hens or ducks (females over 4 months) are allowed with a Town registration, kept by a resident on the property. Renters need written permission from the property owner. Land zoned for agriculture is not covered by these rules.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 7.1, 7.3(a); "Backyard Hen"; Backyard Hens and Ducks, Backyard Hens & Ducks · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAn Owner must not keep Backyard Hens unless they have submitted a Backyard Hen if renting a property, obtain written permission from persons owning said property This does not include land zoned for agricultural uses as defined by the Zoning Bylaw. You are allowed to keep backyard hens/ducks in your backyard if you follow these steps: |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Six hens or ducks per property.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 7.3(b); Backyard Hens and Ducks, Key guidelines · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingkeep no more than six (6) Backyard Hens on a property You may only keep a maximum of six (6) hens or ducks in your backyard. |
| Roosters | No. Roosters are not allowed anywhere within the Town boundary at any time.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 7.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmust not, at any time, keep Roosters within the Town boundary |
| Coop rules | Enclosure: at least 0.92 m² per hen, closed on all sides and top, not attached to another structure, and at least 5 m from a neighbour's windows or doors. Coop: at least 0.37 m² floor area per hen, up to 2 m high and no more than 10 m², with a perch and nest box per hen. Hens inside a coop from sunset to sunrise.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 7.3(c)-(h), 7.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingsupply a Backyard Hen Enclosure that is at least 0.92 square meters not attach the Backyard Hen Enclosure to any other structure or dwelling on the within five (5) meters (16.4 feet) of a neighbouring dwelling provide one Coop at least 0.37 square meters maximum size of the Coop is less than or equal to 10 metres squared kept within a secure Coop from sunset to sunrise |
| Permit or registration | Yes. Hens must be registered with the Town before you keep them. Register with the online form, or email or mail the PDF form. No fee is stated.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 7.1; Backyard Hens and Ducks, Step 3: Register · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinghas issued them a Backyard Hen Keeping Registration. Complete the online registration form. Download and complete a PDF copy of the registration form and email to enquiries@golden.ca |
| Bees | Not confirmed. The Zoning Bylaw copy is a poor scan, and no bee or other livestock rule was found. |
| Other livestock | Not confirmed. The Zoning Bylaw copy is a poor scan, and no bee or other livestock rule was found. |
| Bylaw | Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control (Part 3, Backyard Hen Keeping); also the Zoning BylawBylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 1.1, 7.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control except in accordance with this Bylaw, the Zoning |
How it works
Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 (Part 3, Backyard Hen Keeping) allows backyard hens or ducks (females over 4 months) with a Town registration. You must be a resident of the property. Renters need written permission from the owner. Land zoned for agriculture is not covered by these rules. The bylaw says hens must also follow the Zoning Bylaw, and does not say which residential zones allow them.
Steps
- Register with the Town before you keep birds, using the online form or the PDF form (email or mail it). See the Town's Backyard Hens and Ducks page.
- Keep no more than six hens or ducks per property. No roosters, at any time.
- Build the enclosure and coop to the bylaw rules below.
Coop rules
- Enclosure: at least 0.92 m² per hen, closed on all sides and top, not attached to another structure, and at least 5 m from a neighbour's windows or doors.
- Coop: at least 0.37 m² floor area per hen, up to 2 m high and no more than 10 m², with a perch and a nest box per hen.
- Keep hens inside the coop from sunset to sunrise.
Good to know
- Bees: no beekeeping rule was found in the pet bylaw or the Zoning Bylaw.
- Other livestock: the pet bylaw covers hens and ducks only. No rule for other livestock on residential lots was found. Ask the Town before buying animals.
- No registration fee is stated.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Revelstoke · Invermere · Nakusp · Sicamous · Canal Flats · Silverton
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Backyard Hens and Ducks, Town of Golden (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.