--- title: Kent backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Kent?" place: Kent, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/kent category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: District of Kent sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/backyard-chickens/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/backyard-chickens.json" --- # Kent backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules **Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Kent? **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. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Kent, https://www.kentbc.ca) **Cost:** No permit or fee found for keeping hens. **How long:** Not applicable. **Where:** - Phone: District of Kent Municipal Hall (bylaw enforcement), 604-796-2235 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) ## Key facts - **Hens allowed:** 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. - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 9.2.1.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "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," - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), Definitions](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "the keeping of livestock, poultry (excluding roosters)" - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), s. 35](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Most hens:** 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. - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 9.2.1.2.5(c) (RR1)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "Poultry – twenty-four (24) head of poultry for every 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres)" - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 9.2.3.2.4(c) (RR3)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "with the minimum lot size of 0.4 hectares (1 acres)." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Roosters:** Not as a light agricultural use: the zoning definition covers poultry 'excluding roosters'. Roosters are not otherwise addressed in the Zoning Bylaw. - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), Definitions: light agricultural use](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "poultry (excluding roosters)" … "poultry (excluding roosters), geese," - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Coop rules:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Bees:** Keeping animals that need an apiary is banned except where zoning permits it. - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), s. 35](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Other livestock:** 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. - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 9.2.1.2.5](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001; FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 - Source: [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025), Title](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001" - Source: [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated), Title](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) - Official wording: "Fraser Valley Regional District Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Keeping hens is a zoning matter in Kent. The [Zoning Bylaw 1219]() 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. ## Limits - 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. - Geese, ducks, rabbits, pigeons and doves: 24 per 0.4 ha, on a lot of at least 0.4 ha. - 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. ## Good to know - Roosters are not allowed as a light agricultural use. The bylaw does not otherwise address them. - No hen permit, licence or registration was found, and no coop size or placement rule beyond the general accessory-building rules. - Bees: the FVRD's [Animal Control Regulation Bylaw 1206]() bans keeping animals that need an apiary except where zoning permits it. The Zoning Bylaw has no beekeeping rules. - Ask the District of Kent planning department (604-796-2235, planning@kentbc.ca) which zone your lot is in. ## Official forms and pages - [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) - [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) ## Related questions - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/how-many-pets.md) - [Kent zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/zoning-lookup.md) - [Kent noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/noise-rules.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md) - [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/backyard-chickens.md) - [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/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) - [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/backyard-chickens.md) ## Sources - [District of Kent Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (consolidated October 6, 2025) (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [FVRD Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 1206, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Animal~Control/CONSOLIDATED%20-%20Animal%20Control%20Regulation%20Bylaw%201206,%202013.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Kent](https://www.kentbc.ca/living-here/bylaw-enforcement/) (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 Kent. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/backyard-chickens/_