---
title: Hope backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Hope?"
place: Hope, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/hope
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Hope
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Hope backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Hope, https://www.hope.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit or registration fee found.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 325 Wallace Street, Hope, BC V0X 1L0
- Email: Planning, planning@hope.ca

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 9.3.2 and 9.3.3 (RU-1 Zone)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, Definitions](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of pigeons, rabbits, poultry, doves, bees, and other animals or birds of like kind."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 5.1.1](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Any use not expressly permitted in this Bylaw is prohibited in all zones"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Poultry: six birds or fewer per 0.1 hectare (0.25 acre) on a hobby farm.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 9.3.3 (RU-1 Zone)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "On a hobby farm the keeping of poultry is permitted in concentrations of six (6) birds or less"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Coop rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 9.3.3 (RU-1 Zone)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bees:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, Definitions (hobby farm)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 9.3.3 (RU-1 Zone)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (consolidated to March 20, 2025); also Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240, 2008 for animal noise
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, Title page](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 1324, 2012"
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240, 2008, consolidated to December 2023, s. 1.1](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86976/Good_Neighbour_Bylaw_consolidated_to_Dec._2023)
  - Official wording: "Good Neighbour Bylaw Number 1240, 2008"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In 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.

## Steps

1. Find your property's zone and parcel size. Ask Planning at planning@hope.ca if you are unsure.
2. If your parcel qualifies, keep to the hobby farm limits below.
3. Keep any coop or animal building within the setback rules for that zone.

## Good to know

- **Poultry:** six birds or fewer per 0.1 hectare (0.25 acre). The bylaw says "poultry" and does not single out hens.
- **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.
- **Coops:** buildings for housing animals must meet the accessory building setbacks of the zone. No coop size or placement rule is given for poultry.
- **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.
- **Other livestock:** horses, sheep, goats, cattle or similar animals, three animals or fewer per 2 acres.
- No permit or registration for poultry was found.
- Zoning offences: a bylaw notice is $500 ($400 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $1,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (PDF)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240, 2008](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86976/Good_Neighbour_Bylaw_consolidated_to_Dec._2023)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/how-many-pets.md)
- [Hope noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/noise-rules.md)
- [Hope zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Hope bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1240, 2008, consolidated to December 2023, District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86976/Good_Neighbour_Bylaw_consolidated_to_Dec._2023) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136112/1627%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136113/1628%20-%20Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Hope. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/backyard-chickens/_