---
title: Greenwood backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?"
place: Greenwood, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/greenwood
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Greenwood
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Greenwood backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

**Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

**Short answer:** In the City of Greenwood you can keep hens (5 on lots of at least 465 m², 10 on lots of at least 929 m²) and bees (2 or 3 hives) on residential or agricultural-use lots, with an annual licence. Other livestock is allowed only in the Rural zone.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Greenwood, https://www.greenwoodcity.com)  
**Cost:** An annual licence fee applies, set in the Fees and Charges Bylaw. The fee amount could not be found because that bylaw is a scanned image.  
**How long:** Licences are annual. Processing time is not stated.  
**Where:**
- Online: Keeping of Backyard Bees Registration Form, https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Keeping-of-Backyard-Bees-Registration-Form
- Phone: City Hall, 250-445-6644
- Email: City Hall reception, reception@greenwoodcity.ca

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, on residentially zoned properties or properties that permit agricultural use under the Zoning Bylaw. Hens must be at least four months old to count as backyard hens; the flock must be licensed annually.
  - Source: [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025, s. 5.1, s. 4](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "5.1 The keeping of backyard hens are permitted to be kept on residentially zoned properties or" … "properties that permit agricultural use as defined in the City of Greenwood Zoning Bylaw." … "at least four months old"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 5 hens on lots of at least 465 m² (5,000 sq. ft.); 10 hens on lots of at least 929 m² (10,000 sq. ft.).
  - Source: [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025, s. 5.2](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the maximum number of hens is five (5);" … "the maximum number of hens is ten (10)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** Not allowed.
  - Source: [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025, s. 5.14](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw and the City of Greenwood Zoning Bylaw have been satisfied. 5.14 Roosters are prohibited. 6. BACKYARD BEES REGULATIONS"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** A fully enclosed predator-proof coop with an attached covered outdoor run is required: at least 0.5 m² per hen inside the coop and 1 m² per hen in the run, one perch and one nest per hen. Hens must stay in the coop or run at all times. No setbacks stated.
  - Source: [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025, s. 5.3-5.4](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Coops must provide one perch and one nest per hen." … "minimum 1 m2 (10.76 square feet) of outdoor enclosure per hen." … "Backyard hens must be housed completely within either a coop or an outdoor enclosure at"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Yes. An annual licence from the City is required, with the fee set in the Fees and Charges Bylaw. A City inspection is needed first, and a renter needs the owner's written consent.
  - Source: [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025, s. 5.13](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "keeping of backyard hens is subject to the owner licensing the backyard hen flock with" … "the City annually and paying the applicable licensing fee prescribed in the City of Greenwood" … "Fees and Charges Bylaw." … "must inspect the property upon which"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Allowed on residentially zoned or agricultural-use properties: 2 hives on lots of at least 465 m², 3 hives on lots of at least 929 m². Beekeeper must live on the property, register the apiary with the Province, and license the bees annually with the City after an inspection. Honey for personal use only. (Sources differ: The City's Backyard Bees Registration Form (older wording) says beehives must be in a rear-yard secure enclosure at least 15 m from the front lot line and 4.5 m from side and rear lot lines, and only in Residential 1 and 2 zones; Bylaw No. 1034 states none of this. The bylaw wins. The form also lists penalties of $100 to $200.)
  - Source: [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025, s. 6.1-6.8](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "6.1 The keeping of backyard bees are permitted to be kept on residentially zoned properties or" … "the maximum number of beehives is two (2);" … "the maximum number of beehives is three (3)." … "The Beekeeper must be a resident of the property where the backyard bees are kept." … "They register their apiary location with the Province of British Columbia." … "Honey produced by backyard bees is for personal use only"
  - Source: [Keeping of Backyard Bees Registration Form, Registration form, Regulations](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Keeping-of-Backyard-Bees-Registration-Form)
  - Official wording: "Beehives must be kept in secure enclosures in the rear yard." … "Permitted in the Residential 1 Zone (Single and Two-Family) and the Residential 2 Zone (Mobile Home Subdivision)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Livestock counts as agricultural use, which the Zoning Bylaw permits in the Rural (RU) zone (minimum lot 16 ha), not in the residential zones. In the RU zone, animal enclosures, troughs and manure storage must be 20 m from any lot line abutting residential, commercial or institutional land.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 410.2, 410.3, 410.5](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Agricultural uses (excluding intensive agricultural uses);" … "The minimum lot area shall be 16 hectares (40 acres)." … "No drinking or feed trough, no manure storage area and no enclosure, structure" … "or building used for housing or keeping of animals, shall be located within 20"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025 ("A bylaw to regulate the keeping of bees and hens in the City of Greenwood"); replaced Backyard Hens Bylaw No. 1003, 2023 and Backyard Bees Bylaw No. 1004, 2023.
  - Source: [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025, s. 1, s. 8](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BEES AND HENS BYLAW NO. 1034, 2025" … "“Backyard Hens Bylaw No. 1003, 2023”,; “Backyard Bees Bylaw No. 1004, 2023” are hereby"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City's [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025](<https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf>) allows backyard hens and bees on residentially zoned properties, or properties that permit agricultural use under the Zoning Bylaw. Both need an annual City licence and a City inspection first. A renter needs the owner's written consent. Eggs and honey are for personal use only.

**Hens:** at least four months old to count as backyard hens. Up to 5 hens on a lot of at least 465 m² (5,000 sq. ft.); up to 10 on a lot of at least 929 m² (10,000 sq. ft.). Roosters are not allowed.

**Coop:** a fully enclosed, predator-proof coop with an attached covered outdoor run. Allow at least 0.5 m² per hen inside the coop and 1 m² per hen in the run, with one perch and one nest per hen. Hens must stay in the coop or run at all times. The bylaw states no setback distances. Slaughter and burial of hens on residential lots are not allowed.

**Bees:** up to 2 hives on a lot of at least 465 m²; up to 3 hives on a lot of at least 929 m². The beekeeper must live on the property and register the apiary with the Province.

**Other livestock:** Bylaw 1034 covers only hens and bees. Under the [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997](<https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf>), livestock counts as agricultural use, which is permitted in the Rural (RU) zone (minimum lot 16 ha), not in the residential zones. In the RU zone, animal enclosures, troughs and manure storage must be 20 m from any lot line abutting residential, commercial or institutional land.

## Steps

1. Confirm your lot size and zoning with City Hall at 250-445-6644.
2. Ask City Hall for the licence application, and book the inspection. The City's [bees registration form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Keeping-of-Backyard-Bees-Registration-Form) says hens must not be kept until the registration form has been reviewed.
3. Pay the annual licence fee. The fee amount is not available to us; ask City Hall.

## Good to know

- The City's older bees registration form describes hive setbacks and limits bees to certain residential zones. Bylaw 1034 does not state those, so confirm with City Hall which applies.
- The manure limit, sealed feed storage and other hen rules are in sections 5.7 to 5.11 of the bylaw.

## What you'll need

- Written consent of the property owner, if you rent

## Official forms and pages

- [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025 (PDF)](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf)
- [Keeping of Backyard Bees Registration Form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Keeping-of-Backyard-Bees-Registration-Form)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025 (PDF), City of Greenwood](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/wn2kul4e/bylaw-no-1034-2025-bees-and-hens-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Keeping of Backyard Bees Registration Form, City of Greenwood](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Keeping-of-Backyard-Bees-Registration-Form) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997 (PDF), City of Greenwood](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Forms and Permits, City of Greenwood](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/forms-permits/) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Greenwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/backyard-chickens/_