{"title":"Hope backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Hope?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/hope","name":"Hope","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Hope","url":"https://www.hope.ca"},"short_answer":"In Hope, poultry are allowed only as part of a hobby farm, on parcels of at least 0.8 hectares (2 acres) in the L-1, RU-1 and CR-1 zones and some Comprehensive Development zones. The limit is six birds or fewer per 0.1 hectare (0.25 acre). Ordinary residential zones list no hens use.","aliases":["backyard chickens hope bc","keep hens hope","bees hope bc","hobby farm hope zoning"],"cost":"No permit or registration fee found.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"325 Wallace Street, Hope, BC V0X 1L0"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning","value":"planning@hope.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (PDF)","url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf"},{"title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240, 2008","url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86976/Good_Neighbour_Bylaw_consolidated_to_Dec._2023"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Hope","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Hope noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/noise-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Hope zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Hope bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/kent","name":"Kent","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chilliwack","name":"Chilliwack","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/princeton","name":"Princeton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/abbotsford","name":"Abbotsford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mission","name":"Mission","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/maple-ridge","name":"Maple Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":"Poultry are covered only as part of a hobby farm: a listed use in the L-1, RU-1 and CR-1 zones and in some Comprehensive Development zones (CD-2, CD-4, CD-9), on parcels of at least 0.8 hectares (2 acres). The bylaw lists no hens use in ordinary residential zones.","short":"Only hobby farms, parcels of at least 0.8 hectares","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 9.3.2 and 9.3.3 (RU-1 Zone)","quotes":["A hobby farm shall be limited to parcels with a minimum lot area of 0.8 hectares (2 acres) or larger;","The following principal uses shall be permitted in Areas A and B of Attachment 1 which forms","A hobby farm shall be limited to parcels with a minimum lot area of 0.8 hectares (2 acres) or"]},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"Definitions","quotes":["the keeping of pigeons, rabbits, poultry, doves, bees, and other animals or birds of like kind."]},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 5.1.1","quotes":["Any use not expressly permitted in this Bylaw is prohibited in all zones"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"Poultry: six birds or fewer per 0.1 hectare (0.25 acre) on a hobby farm.","short":"Six per 0.1 hectare on a hobby farm","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 9.3.3 (RU-1 Zone)","quotes":["On a hobby farm the keeping of poultry is permitted in concentrations of six (6) birds or less"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Buildings for housing animals on a hobby farm must meet the accessory building setback rules of that zone. No coop size or placement rule is given for poultry.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 9.3.3 (RU-1 Zone)","quotes":["Buildings or structures for housing animals associated with a hobby farm shall be subject to","the accessory building or structure setback conditions as stated in this zone."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Bees count as a hobby farm use (for the owner's personal or home-based-business use) in the rural zones, on parcels of at least 0.8 hectares (2 acres). No hive limit is stated.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"Definitions (hobby farm)","quotes":["for the personal or home based business use of the owner only","the keeping of pigeons, rabbits, poultry, doves, bees, and other animals or birds of like kind."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"On a hobby farm (parcel of at least 0.8 hectares / 2 acres): horses, sheep, goats, cattle or similar animals, three animals or fewer per 2 acres.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 9.3.3 (RU-1 Zone)","quotes":["On a hobby farm the keeping of horses, sheep, goats, cattle or other animals of like kind is","permitted in concentrations of three (3) animals or less per 2 acres;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (consolidated to March 20, 2025); also Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240, 2008 for animal noise","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"Title page","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW NO. 1324, 2012"]},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86976/Good_Neighbour_Bylaw_consolidated_to_Dec._2023","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240, 2008, consolidated to December 2023, District of Hope","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["Good Neighbour Bylaw Number 1240, 2008"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":2},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn Hope, the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324](<https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf>) covers poultry only as part of a **hobby farm**. A hobby farm is a listed use in the L-1, RU-1 and CR-1 zones and in some Comprehensive Development zones (CD-2, CD-4, CD-9), on parcels of at least 0.8 hectares (2 acres). A use not listed for a zone is prohibited there, and the bylaw lists no hens use in ordinary residential zones.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your property's zone and parcel size. Ask Planning at planning@hope.ca if you are unsure.\n2. If your parcel qualifies, keep to the hobby farm limits below.\n3. Keep any coop or animal building within the setback rules for that zone.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Poultry:** six birds or fewer per 0.1 hectare (0.25 acre). The bylaw says \"poultry\" and does not single out hens.\n- **Roosters:** the Zoning Bylaw does not mention them. The [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240](<https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86976/Good_Neighbour_Bylaw_consolidated_to_Dec._2023>) bans keeping any animal or bird whose cries unduly disturb the neighbourhood.\n- **Coops:** buildings for housing animals must meet the accessory building setbacks of the zone. No coop size or placement rule is given for poultry.\n- **Bees:** count as a hobby farm use (for the owner's personal or home-based-business use) in the rural zones, on parcels of at least 0.8 hectares (2 acres). No hive limit is stated.\n- **Other livestock:** horses, sheep, goats, cattle or similar animals, three animals or fewer per 2 acres.\n- No permit or registration for poultry was found.\n- Zoning offences: a bylaw notice is $500 ($400 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $1,000.","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86976/Good_Neighbour_Bylaw_consolidated_to_Dec._2023","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240, 2008, consolidated to December 2023, District of Hope","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136112/1627%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136113/1628%20-%20Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/backyard-chickens.json"}}