---
title: Houston backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Houston?"
place: Houston, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/houston
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Houston
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Houston backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Houston, https://houston.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Municipal Office, 3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays)
- Phone: Municipal Office, 250-845-2238 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** 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).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 6.5(1), (3) and R1 secondary uses](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, Definitions: Agriculture, Light](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "including but not limited to farming, horticulture, or the keeping of bees, poultry, dairy livestock, and horses"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Most hens:** None set. The Zoning Bylaw sets no maximum number of hens.
- **Roosters:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Coop rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 6.5(2)](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit or registration:** None set. The Zoning Bylaw states no permit or registration for hens.
- **Bees:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, Definitions: Agriculture, Light; ss. 10.1, 10.2](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "including but not limited to farming, horticulture, or the keeping of bees, poultry, dairy livestock, and horses" … "(c) Agriculture, Light" … "(a) Agriculture, Light"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other livestock:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 9, s. 57](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, Definitions: Agriculture, Light; s. 10.1](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "including but not limited to farming, horticulture, or the keeping of bees, poultry, dairy livestock, and horses" … "(b) Agriculture, Intensive"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (s. 6.5 Hen Keeping); Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, Part 9 (livestock).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, title and s. 6.5](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw will be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026.”" … "6.5 HEN KEEPING"
  - Source: [Development Bylaw Repeal Bylaw No. 1238, 2026, s. 1](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149517/)
  - Official wording: "Development Bylaw No. 1040, 2013 and all amendments thereto are hereby repealed."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

[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.

## Good to know

- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/how-many-pets.md)
- [Houston unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/unsightly-property.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/backyard-chickens.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Development Bylaw Repeal Bylaw No. 1238, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149517/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control, District of Houston](https://houston.ca/community/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, District of Houston](https://houston.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

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