{"title":"Houston backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Houston?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","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 Houston","url":"https://houston.ca"},"short_answer":"In Houston, hens are allowed as an accessory use to a home in the R1 zone and in zones where agriculture is permitted. The Zoning Bylaw sets no maximum number of hens and does not mention roosters. Livestock is allowed only where zoning permits.","aliases":["chickens houston bc","backyard hens houston","keep bees houston","livestock bylaw houston"],"cost":"No permit, licence or registration for hens is stated in the Zoning Bylaw. Livestock in a restricted area: bylaw notice $150.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Office","value":"3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays"},{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Office","value":"250-845-2238","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/"},{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"unsightly-property","title":"Houston unsightly property rules and how to report","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/unsightly-property/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burns-lake","name":"Burns Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/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":"Yes. Hens are allowed as an accessory use to a home in the R1 (Neighbourhood Residential) zone, and in zones where agriculture is a permitted use (A1 and A2 allow \"Agriculture, Light\", which includes poultry).","short":"Yes, R1 zone and where agriculture is permitted","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 6.5(1), (3) and R1 secondary uses","quotes":["The keeping of hens is permitted in the R1 Zone, only as an accessory use to a dwelling","Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply or limit the keeping of hens in zones where agriculture","(d) Hen Keeping"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Definitions: Agriculture, Light","quotes":["including but not limited to farming, horticulture, or the keeping of bees, poultry, dairy livestock, and horses"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":null,"status":"none","note":"The Zoning Bylaw sets no maximum number of hens.","sources":[]},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"In the R1 zone: coop at most 6.0 m² and 2.0 m high, in the rear yard, coop and pen at least 2.5 m from the side and rear lot lines, securely fenced against predators and escape. These rules do not limit hens in zones where agriculture is permitted.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 6.5(2)","quotes":["The maximum size of a coop is 6.0 square metres in gross floor area and 2.0","must be placed at least 2.5 metres from an exterior","The coop and associated pen must be located in a rear yard; and","securely fenced so as to prevent predators","The keeping of hens is permitted in the R1 Zone, only as an accessory use to a dwelling used for residential purposes.","Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply or limit the keeping of hens in zones where agriculture is a permitted use."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"none","note":"The Zoning Bylaw states no permit or registration for hens.","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Beekeeping is not regulated by its own section. The Zoning Bylaw includes \"the keeping of bees\" in \"Agriculture, Light\", a permitted use in the A1 (Rural Agriculture) and A2 (Rural Residential) zones; the R1 secondary-use list does not name bees.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Definitions: Agriculture, Light; ss. 10.1, 10.2","quotes":["including but not limited to farming, horticulture, or the keeping of bees, poultry, dairy livestock, and horses","(c) Agriculture, Light","(a) Agriculture, Light"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Livestock may not be kept anywhere in the District except as the zoning rules allow. \"Agriculture, Light\" (poultry, dairy livestock, horses) is allowed in the A1 and A2 rural zones; intensive agriculture only in A1.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Part 9, s. 57","quotes":["A person must not own or have custody of any livestock in any area of the municipality except as provided for by Development Bylaw No. 1040, 2013 as amended."]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Definitions: Agriculture, Light; s. 10.1","quotes":["including but not limited to farming, horticulture, or the keeping of bees, poultry, dairy livestock, and horses","(b) Agriculture, Intensive"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (s. 6.5 Hen Keeping); Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 9 (livestock).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"title and s. 6.5","quotes":["This Bylaw will be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026.”","6.5 HEN KEEPING"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149517/","title":"Development Bylaw Repeal Bylaw No. 1238, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 1","quotes":["Development Bylaw No. 1040, 2013 and all amendments thereto are hereby repealed."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":2,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/) (section 6.5) allows hens as an accessory use to a home in the R1 (Neighbourhood Residential) zone. The A1 (Rural Agriculture) and A2 (Rural Residential) zones allow \"Agriculture, Light\", which includes poultry.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **R1 coop rules:** coop at most 6.0 m² and 2.0 m high, in the rear yard, and the coop and pen at least 2.5 m from the side and rear lot lines. It must be securely fenced against predators and escape. These coop rules do not limit hens in zones where agriculture is permitted.\n- **Number of hens, roosters, permits:** the Zoning Bylaw sets no maximum number of hens, does not mention roosters, and states no permit or registration. Ask Community Development at 250-845-2238.\n- **Bees:** the Zoning Bylaw includes \"the keeping of bees\" in Agriculture, Light, a permitted use in A1 and A2. R1 does not name bees. It sets no hive count or setback.\n- **Other livestock:** it may not be kept anywhere in the District except as the zoning rules allow. Horses and dairy livestock count as Agriculture, Light in A1 and A2; intensive agriculture is allowed only in A1. Livestock in a restricted area is a $150 bylaw notice offence.\n- The Animal Control Bylaw still cites Development Bylaw No. 1040, which [Repeal Bylaw No. 1238](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149517/) repealed. Zoning Bylaw 1225 replaced it.","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149517/","title":"Development Bylaw Repeal Bylaw No. 1238, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/","title":"Animal Control, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.ca/contact/","title":"Contact Us, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens.json"}}