Grand Forks backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
No City of Grand Forks bylaw permits backyard hens or bees. The Official Community Plan says only that the City will review zoning to allow small-scale animal husbandry, including backyard chickens and bees, where appropriate. The Zoning Bylaw allows commercial farm operations with animals only in the R-4 Rural Residential zone.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | No bylaw read permits backyard hens. The Official Community Plan (policy 6.7.3) says only that the City will review zoning to allow, where appropriate, small-scale animal husbandry, including backyard chickens, bees and other small livestock.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules, Section 6.7.3 (Local food production policies) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingReview zoning and other relevant regulations to allow, where appropriate, for small-scale animal husbandry, including backyard chickens, bees, and other small livestock for |
|---|---|
| Most hens | None set. No bylaw read for Grand Forks sets a limit on backyard hens. |
| Roosters | Not confirmed. No bylaw read for Grand Forks mentions this. |
| Coop rules | Not confirmed. No bylaw read for Grand Forks mentions this. |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. No bylaw read for Grand Forks mentions this. |
| Bees | No bylaw read mentions beekeeping. The Official Community Plan (policy 6.7.3) says only that the City will review zoning to allow, where appropriate, small-scale animal husbandry, including backyard chickens, bees and other small livestock.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules, Section 6.7.3 (Local food production policies) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinganimal husbandry, including backyard chickens, bees, and other small livestock for |
| Other livestock | The Zoning Bylaw permits 'farm operations (crops and/or animals)' in the R-4 Rural Residential zone only; 'farm operation (animal)' means rearing poultry, fowl, livestock or game farm animals for commercial purposes. R-4A allows crop farm operations only.Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, consolidated to A40, ss. 42.2, 43.2; Definitions; s. 7.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingfarm operations (crops and/or animals); Farm Operation (Animal) means the growing, rearing, producing of poultry, fowl, livestock or game farm animals for commercial purposes. farm operations (crops); No land, building or structures may be used for a use that is not specifically listed as a |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018; Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116.Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, consolidated to A40, Title; Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZoning Bylaw No. 2039 This bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116” |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw No. 2039 says no land may be used for a use not specifically listed as permitted in its zone. It lists "farm operations (crops and/or animals)" only in the R-4 Rural Residential zone, where a "farm operation (animal)" means rearing poultry, fowl, livestock or game farm animals for commercial purposes. The R-4A zone allows crop farm operations only.
No bylaw read mentions backyard hens, roosters, coops, hen permits or beekeeping, and none sets a limit on them. Policy 6.7.3 of the Official Community Plan says only that the City will review zoning to allow, where appropriate, small-scale animal husbandry, including backyard chickens, bees and other small livestock.
Good to know
- Under the Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116, "animal" includes livestock, fowl, poultry and rabbits, and an owner must not let one be at large.
- Land in the Agricultural Land Reserve is governed by the Agricultural Land Commission Act where the zoning bylaw conflicts.
- Ask City Hall at 250-442-8266 what applies to your lot before buying animals.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Greenwood · Midway · Rossland · Warfield · Trail · Castlegar
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, consolidated to A40, City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 2116 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules, City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Inspections and Bylaw Services, City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 3 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.