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Granisle backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Granisle?

Granisle, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Granisle, the Zoning Bylaw allows up to six hens, no roosters, on lots zoned R-1, R-3, R-3A, RR-1 and RR-2. Older Village bylaws ban poultry and bees, and the bylaws do not say which prevails. Confirm with the Village Office first.

Key facts

Hens allowedZoning Bylaw s. 3.19 allows hens on residential or rural property zoned R-1, R-3, R-3A, RR-1 and RR-2. Hens are not allowed in R-2, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, I-3, P-1 or P-2.Sources differ: Conflict: Poultry and Bees By-Law No. 203 (1989) bans keeping poultry and bees in the Village, and Bylaw 339 s. 38 says no fowl may be kept; the newer Zoning Bylaw No. 508 (2019) permits hens. No repeal of Bylaw 203 was found; the bylaws do not say which prevails.Zoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019, s. 3.19.1, 3.19.2; Poultry and Bees By-Law No. 203, By-Law No. 203, s. 2; Dog, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 339, 2001, s. 38 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
is permitted to possess:
No persons shall keep or harbor hens on land situated in the following
No person or persons shall keep or harbour poultry and bees within the boundaries of
No fowl or, animal shall be kept, or, run at large within the Village.
Most hensSix hens.Zoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019, s. 3.19.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
a maximum of six (6) hens
RoostersNo roosters on residential or rural lots in R-1, R-3, R-3A, RR-1 and RR-2.Zoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019, s. 3.19.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No roosters shall be permitted on any lot residential and rural property
Coop rulesHens must be in a coop: 0.37 m² per hen (max 9.2 m²) plus 0.92 m² of roofed outdoor run; 2 m high at most; rear or side of a single-family dwelling only; 4 m from any property line and 5 m from any dwelling; a nest box per hen; secured sunset to sunrise.Zoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019, s. 3.19.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A minimum of 0.37 m2 floor area per hen, with the provision that
the height shall not exceed 2 metres (6.56 feet), as measured
shall be located only to the rear or side of a single-family
the setback from any property line shall not be less than 4
the setback from any dwelling shall not be less than 5 metres
be secured from sunset to sunrise, with hens kept within.
Permit or registrationNone set. Granisle's Zoning Bylaw sets no permit, licence, registration or fee for hens.
BeesNot allowed under the Poultry and Bees By-Law and Bylaw 339 s. 42 ("unlawful to maintain an apiary"). The Zoning Bylaw lists "the keeping of bees" as a permitted use in the RR-1 and RR-2 rural zones if buildings are at least 25 m from property lines and 10 m from any dwelling.Sources differ: Conflict between the older bans and the 2019 Zoning Bylaw; the bylaws do not say which prevails.Poultry and Bees By-Law No. 203, By-Law No. 203, s. 2; Dog, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 339, 2001, s. 42; Zoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019, s. 7.1.1(j) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No person or persons shall keep or harbour poultry and bees within the boundaries of
It shall be unlawful to maintain an apiary and keep bees within the Village.
kennels, the keeping of bees, horses, pigeons, poultry,
Other livestockBylaw 339 s. 36 says no animal (horses, cattle, goats, swine, fur-bearing or wild animals) may be kept in the Village. The Zoning Bylaw permits keeping horses, pigeons, poultry, sheep and fur-bearing animals in RR-1 and RR-2 if buildings are 25 m from property lines and 10 m from any dwelling, and livestock grazing (no feed lots).Sources differ: Conflict between Bylaw 339 and the 2019 Zoning Bylaw; unresolved on the face of the documents.Dog, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 339, 2001, s. 36; Zoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019, s. 7.1.1(j), (k) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No animal shall be kept or harboured within the boundaries of the Village.
purposes, provided that all buildings and structures used for such purposes are located not less than 25 m from any
livestock, grazing excluding feed lots;
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019 (s. 3.19 Laying Hens); Village of Granisle Poultry and Bees By-Law No. 203, 1988; Dog, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 339, 2001Zoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019, s. 3.19; Poultry and Bees By-Law No. 203, s. 3; Dog, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 339, 2001, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
3.19 Laying Hens .1 Notwithstanding the provisions of this Bylaw, any residential or rural that is zoned
VILLAGEOF GRANISLE ZONING BYLAWNO. 508, 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Granisle Poultry and Bees By-Law No. 203,
Dog, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 339, 2001

How it works

The newer Zoning Bylaw No. 508 (s. 3.19) allows hens on residential or rural property zoned R-1, R-3, R-3A, RR-1 and RR-2. Hens are not allowed in R-2, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, I-3, P-1 or P-2. Older bylaws say otherwise (see Good to know).

Rules for hens

  • Up to six hens. No roosters.
  • Hens must be in a coop: 0.37 m² per hen (9.2 m² at most) plus 0.92 m² of roofed outdoor run, and no more than 2 m high.
  • The coop goes at the rear or side of a single-family dwelling only, 4 m from any property line and 5 m from any dwelling.
  • A nest box per hen, and the hens are secured from sunset to sunrise.
  • The bylaw sets no permit, licence, registration or fee for hens.

Good to know

  • The Poultry and Bees By-Law No. 203 bans poultry and bees in the Village, and the Dog, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 339 says no fowl or apiary may be kept (ss. 38, 42). No repeal was found, and the bylaws do not say which prevails.
  • Bees: the Zoning Bylaw lists keeping bees as permitted in RR-1 and RR-2 if buildings are at least 25 m from property lines and 10 m from any dwelling.
  • Other livestock: Bylaw 339 s. 36 bars horses, cattle, goats, swine, and fur-bearing or wild animals. The Zoning Bylaw permits horses, pigeons, poultry, sheep and fur-bearing animals in RR-1 and RR-2 on the same distances, and livestock grazing (no feed lots).
  • Call the Village Office, 250.697.2248, to confirm before you buy birds or hives.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Telkwa · Smithers · Houston · Burns Lake · New Hazelton · Fort St James

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 508, 2019 (PDF), Village of Granisle (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Poultry and Bees By-Law No. 203 (PDF), Village of Granisle (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Dog, Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 339, 2001 (PDF), Village of Granisle (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.