Kimberley backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
Short answer
No chickens or rabbits in the City of Kimberley. The Animal Control Bylaw bans poultry and rabbits on any parcel and livestock in the City, with no zone exceptions. Bees are allowed only on land zoned Industrial. The Zoning Bylaw appears to allow horses in one zone, so ask the City.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | No. No parcel of land in the City may be used for keeping, harbouring or raising poultry or rabbits. The bylaw has no zone exceptions.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 47, s. 4(t) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo parcel of land within the City may be used for the keeping, harbouring or raising of poultry Poultry means any bird or fowl normally raised for food or egg production; |
|---|---|
| Most hens | None. Poultry may not be kept on any parcel.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 47 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo parcel of land within the City may be used for the keeping, harbouring or raising of poultry |
| Roosters | Not allowed. The ban covers all poultry, defined as any bird or fowl normally raised for food or egg production.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 47, s. 4(t) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPoultry means any bird or fowl normally raised for food or egg production; No parcel of land within the City may be used for the keeping, harbouring or raising of poultry |
| Coop rules | None set. There are no coop rules or registration because poultry is banned in the City. |
| Permit or registration | None set. There are no coop rules or registration because poultry is banned in the City. |
| Bees | Not allowed, except on land zoned Industrial in the Zoning Bylaw. No other limits are stated.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 48 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWith exception of lands zoned as no parcel of land within the City may be used for the keeping, harbouring or raising of bees. |
| Other livestock | Animal Control Bylaw s. 46 bans livestock (horses, swine, sheep, llama, goat, mule, donkey, cattle) and s. 47 bans poultry, including ducks. But the Zoning Bylaw permits equestrian facilities in the CD-6 zone, with horse pasture on at least 3 acres. The two bylaws conflict for horses; ask the City.Sources differ: Zoning Bylaw No. 1850 (Jan. 14, 2026 consolidation) sets a minimum 3 acres for parcels used for equestrian facilities or horse pasture in one zone, which sits oddly with the Animal Control Bylaw ban; the Animal Control Bylaw text was followed.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 46, s. 4(p); Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, s. 7.25 (CD-6) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingLivestock shall not be permitted to be kept, harboured or raised within the City. Livestock means an animal raised as part of a farm operation and includes horses, swine, each parcel used for equestrian facilities or pasture for horses shall be a minimum of 12,141 m² (3 acres) in size |
| Bylaw | City of Kimberley Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016 (ss. 46 to 48); fines under Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2540, 2016Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016, City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017), s. 1; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2540, 2016, Schedule 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCity of Kimberley Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016 Keeping of livestock 46 75 150 Keeping of poultry or rabbits 47 75 150 Keeping of bees 48 75 150 |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016 restricts farm animals in the City of Kimberley:
- Livestock (horses, swine, sheep, llamas, goats, mules, donkeys and cattle) may not be kept, harboured or raised in the City (s. 46).
- Poultry and rabbits: no parcel of land may be used for keeping, harbouring or raising them (s. 47). Poultry means any bird or fowl normally raised for food or egg production, so chickens, roosters and ducks are all banned. The bylaw has no zone exceptions, and offers no permit or registration.
- Bees are not allowed, except on land zoned Industrial in the Zoning Bylaw (s. 48). No other limits are stated.
Good to know
- A municipal ticket for each of these offences is $75 for a first offence and $150 for each later one.
- The City's Zoning Bylaw No. 1850 permits equestrian facilities in the CD-6 zone, with horse pasture on at least 3 acres. That sits oddly with the livestock ban in the Animal Control Bylaw. The other official source says otherwise, so confirm with the City before keeping horses.
- Complaints about a neighbour's animals go to the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-427-9663 or bylaw@kimberley.ca. Except for urgent risks, they must be in writing with your name, address and phone number.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Cranbrook · Canal Flats · Fernie · Creston · Kaslo · Sparwood
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 2544, 2016 (PDF), City of Kimberley (consolidated for convenience, March 10, 2017) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2540, 2016 (PDF), City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1850 (PDF), City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Enforcement, City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.