{"title":"Kent backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Kent?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/kent","name":"Kent","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 Kent","url":"https://www.kentbc.ca"},"short_answer":"In Kent, hens are allowed as a \"light agricultural\" use in the Rural Residential 1, 2 and 3 zones and in the Agricultural zone, but not in other residential zones. Roosters are excluded. The Zoning Bylaw allows up to 24 poultry per 0.2 ha (0.5 acre), on lots of at least that size.","aliases":["backyard chickens kent bc","hens agassiz","keep chickens kent","bees kent bc","livestock kent zoning"],"cost":"No permit or fee found for keeping hens.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"District of Kent Municipal Hall (bylaw enforcement)","value":"604-796-2235","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf"},{"title":"FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)","url":"https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Kent","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Kent zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Kent noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/noise-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/chilliwack","name":"Chilliwack","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hope","name":"Hope","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/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/"},{"place":"ca/bc/pitt-meadows","name":"Pitt Meadows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/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, as a 'light agricultural' use in the Rural Residential 1, 2 and 3 zones, and as farm use in the Agricultural zone. Roosters are excluded. Poultry in other zones must be permitted by zoning.","short":"Yes in Rural Residential 1, 2, 3 and Agricultural zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf","title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 9.2.1.1","quotes":["The following auxiliary uses shall be permitted in a RR1 zone","light agricultural","The following principal uses shall be permitted in an A zone:","poultry (excluding roosters), geese,"]},{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf","title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Definitions","quotes":["the keeping of livestock, poultry (excluding roosters)"]},{"url":"https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf","title":"FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 35","quotes":["A person must ensure that any livestock or poultry or animals typically requiring the presence of an aviary or apiary are not kept on any real property, except as permitted pursuant to all applicable zoning"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"24 head of poultry (no roosters) for every 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) of lot, on lots of at least 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) in RR1 and RR2, and at least 0.4 ha (1 acre) in RR3.","short":"24 poultry per 0.2 ha of lot","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf","title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 9.2.1.2.5(c) (RR1)","quotes":["Poultry – twenty-four (24) head of poultry for every 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres)"]},{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf","title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 9.2.3.2.4(c) (RR3)","quotes":["with the minimum lot size of 0.4 hectares (1 acres)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"Not as a light agricultural use: the zoning definition covers poultry 'excluding roosters'. Roosters are not otherwise addressed in the Zoning Bylaw.","short":"Not addressed; excluded from light agriculture","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf","title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Definitions: light agricultural use","quotes":["poultry (excluding roosters)","poultry (excluding roosters), geese,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Keeping animals that need an apiary is banned except where zoning permits it.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf","title":"FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 35","quotes":["animals typically requiring the presence of an aviary or apiary are not kept on any real property, except as permitted pursuant to all applicable zoning"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Light agricultural zones (RR1, RR2, RR3, P3): large livestock (159 kg or more) 1 per 0.2 ha with lot of at least 0.4 ha; smaller livestock except swine 3 per 0.2 ha, lot at least 0.4 ha; geese, ducks, rabbits, pigeons, doves 24 per 0.4 ha, lot at least 0.4 ha.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf","title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 9.2.1.2.5","quotes":["Livestock with a mature weight of 159 kg (350 lbs) or greater – one (1)","Livestock with the exception of swine, with a mature weight that is less than 159 kg (350 lbs) – three (3) livestock for every 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres)","twenty-four (24) geese or ducks or rabbits or pigeons or doves"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001; FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf","title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Title","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001"]},{"url":"https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf","title":"FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Title","quotes":["Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013"]}],"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\nKeeping hens is a zoning matter in Kent. The [Zoning Bylaw 1219](<https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf>) allows \"light agricultural\" use, which covers poultry excluding roosters, in the Rural Residential 1, 2 and 3 zones (and P3), and farm use in the Agricultural zone. Other residential zones did not list it. Poultry elsewhere must be permitted by zoning.\n\n## Limits\n\n- Poultry: 24 head (no roosters) for every 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) of lot. The lot must be at least 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) in RR1 and RR2, and at least 0.4 ha (1 acre) in RR3.\n- Geese, ducks, rabbits, pigeons and doves: 24 per 0.4 ha, on a lot of at least 0.4 ha.\n- Large livestock (159 kg or more): 1 per 0.2 ha, on a lot of at least 0.4 ha. Smaller livestock except swine: 3 per 0.2 ha, on a lot of at least 0.4 ha.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Roosters are not allowed as a light agricultural use. The bylaw does not otherwise address them.\n- No hen permit, licence or registration was found, and no coop size or placement rule beyond the general accessory-building rules.\n- Bees: the FVRD's [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206](<https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf>) bans keeping animals that need an apiary except where zoning permits it. The Zoning Bylaw has no beekeeping rules.\n- Ask the District of Kent planning department (604-796-2235, planning@kentbc.ca) which zone your lot is in.","sources":[{"url":"https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf","title":"District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf","title":"FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.kentbc.ca/living-here/bylaw-enforcement/","title":"Bylaw Enforcement, District of Kent","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/kent/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/backyard-chickens.json"}}