Keremeos backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Keremeos?
Short answer
Yes. In Keremeos you may keep up to 5 hens on a Low Density Residential One (RS1) lot of at least 500 m², with a free Backyard Hen Licence from the Village. Roosters are not allowed. Bees and other livestock have separate rules.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes. Urban hens may be kept on a parcel zoned Low Density Residential One (RS1) that is at least 500 m² in area. Agricultural-zone parcels may keep poultry if at least 100 m from residential, commercial or industrial zones.Backyard Hens, Backyard Hens page; Backyard Hen Licence Application and Information Guide · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingUrban hens (female chickens) may be kept on a parcel zoned Parcels zoned “Agricultural” continue to be allowed to keep poultry and other farm animals, however, they must be kept at least 100m from any zone designated residential, commercial or industrial. chickens can now be kept in the backyard of single family & duplex lots |
|---|---|
| Most hens | 5 hens on an RS1 lot. A minimum of two is recommended.Backyard Hens, Backyard Hens page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingYou may keep a maximum of five (5) hens on an RS1 zoned property. |
| Roosters | Not allowed.Backyard Hens, Backyard Hens page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRoosters are not permitted. |
| Coop rules | Coop: at least 0.37 m² per hen and at most 9.2 m² total floor area; meets RS1 accessory building setbacks; one perch of at least 15 cm per hen; one nesting box per four hens. Run: fenced and roofed; at least 1 m² per hen; under 2 m high; behind the front face of the house; at least 2.0 m from property lines and 3.0 m from any door or window of a residence. Manure under 1.0 m³ in an enclosed container.Backyard Hens, Backyard Hens page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRun Design and Siting: Is located to the rear of the front face of the principal building Is sited at least 2.0m from all property lines and at least 3.0m from any doors or windows of any residential building, including neighbouring properties; and Has at least one perch that is at least fifteen (15) cm long per hen and one nesting box per four hens that is large enough for the hen to turn around and sit. Meets the setback requirements for accessory buildings or structures as provided for RS1 zoned properties in the Zoning Bylaw; and |
| Permit or registration | Yes. A no-cost Backyard Hen Licence from the Village is required (application with a site plan; a signed landlord letter if renting). A BC Poultry Premises Identification Number from the Ministry of Agriculture is also required (no cost).Backyard Hens, Backyard Hens page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingIn order to keep hens in the Village you will be required to apply for a no-cost Backyard Hen Licence. If you are not the owner of the property, a signed letter of permission to keep hens from your landlord will be required. You will also be required to provide a BC Poultry Premises Identification Number obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture. |
| Bees | The ticket schedule lists "Keeping of bees in prohibited zone" (s. 21) and "Failure to locate colony in rear yard" (s. 23.6), so bees are regulated by zone and colony location; the full rules are in the scanned Animal Control Bylaw.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 803, 2013 (consolidated April 2026), Schedule 2 (Animal Control Bylaw 843, 2025) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingKeeping of bees in prohibited zone Failure to locate colony in rear yard |
| Other livestock | Parcels zoned Agricultural may keep poultry and other farm animals, but at least 100 m from any residential, commercial or industrial zone. Rules for other livestock on residential lots are not stated on readable pages.Backyard Hens, Backyard Hens page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingParcels zoned “Agricultural” continue to be allowed to keep poultry and other farm animals, however, they must be kept at least 100m from any zone designated residential, commercial or industrial. |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 843, 2025, and Zoning Bylaw No. 851 (RS1 zone and setbacks).Backyard Hens, Backyard Hens page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAnimal Control Bylaw No. 843, 2025 Village of Keremeos Zoning Bylaw No. 851, 2020 |
How it works
The Village of Keremeos allows hens on a parcel zoned Low Density Residential One (RS1) that is at least 500 m². The Village page says this covers most low density residential properties. You may keep 5 hens at most; the Village recommends a minimum of two. Roosters are not allowed.
Steps
- Check that your lot is RS1 and at least 500 m².
- Apply for the Backyard Hen Licence (no cost) with a site plan, plus a signed landlord letter if you rent.
- Get a Premises Identification Number from the BC Ministry of Agriculture (no cost).
- Build a coop and run that follow the rules below.
Good to know
- Coop: at least 0.37 m² per hen and at most 9.2 m² total floor area, meeting RS1 accessory building setbacks, with one perch of at least 15 cm per hen and one nesting box per four hens.
- Run: fenced and roofed, at least 1 m² per hen, under 2 m high, behind the front face of the house, at least 2.0 m from property lines and 3.0 m from any door or window of a residence.
- Keep manure under 1.0 m³ in an enclosed container.
- Bees: the ticket schedule lists keeping bees in a prohibited zone and failing to locate a colony in the rear yard, so bees are regulated by zone and location. The zones and limits are not readable online; ask the Village.
- Other livestock: agricultural parcels may keep poultry and other farm animals if at least 100 m from any residential, commercial or industrial zone. Rules for livestock on residential lots are not stated on readable pages.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Osoyoos · Penticton · Summerland · Princeton · Peachland · West Kelowna
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Backyard Hens, Village of Keremeos (read 2026-11-08)
- Backyard Hen Licence Application and Information Guide (PDF), Village of Keremeos (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 803, 2013 (consolidated April 2026) (PDF), Village of Keremeos (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.