---
title: Kitimat backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep backyard chickens, bees, or other livestock in Kitimat?"
place: Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kitimat
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Kitimat backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Kitimat you can keep 2 to 6 registered hens in the R1-A, R1-B, R1-C, R2-A and R2-B residential zones. Registration with the District is $0. Roosters are not allowed in residential zones. Other farm animals are not allowed in residential zones.

**Who handles it:** Municipal  
**Cost:** Registration is $0.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 270 City Centre, Kitimat, BC V8C 2H7 (Office hours are not stated in the documents we read.)
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-632-8900
- Email: Registration form (as the form says), dok@kitimat.ca

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes. Hens (2 to 6) are allowed in the single- and two-family residential zones R1-A, R1-B, R1-C, R2-A and R2-B if the property is registered and the conditions are met. Bylaws 2087 and 2088 (2026) were adopted in June 2026. Chickens in Greenbelt (G) zones follow Subdivision 13.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 9.4.1.28](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "reptile, poultry or fur-producing animal other than a pet rabbit, in"
  - Source: [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026, Subdivision 12, s. 1](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A minimum of 2 Hens or Chicks to a maximum of 6 Hens or Chicks may be kept"
  - Source: [Hen and Chicken Keeping registration form, Registration form](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The District requires you to register your property if you have hens or chickens"
  - Source: [Council agenda package, July 2026, Minutes June 15 (item 9.1) and June 22, 2026 (item 7)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-07-26-agenda.pdf)
  - Official wording: "third reading and adoption." … "THAT Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026 be adopted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 2 to 6 hens or chicks per property in residential (R) zones, if registered and no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result.
  - Source: [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026, Subdivision 12, s. 1](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A minimum of 2 Hens or Chicks to a maximum of 6 Hens or Chicks may be kept" … "provided that no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters are prohibited in residential zones. (Greenbelt zones: Subdivision 13 speaks of chickens generally.)
  - Source: [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026, Subdivision 12, s. 2](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf)
  - Official wording: "result and the conditions of Hen Keeping are met. 2. Roosters are prohibited. 3. All Hen Keeping shall comply with all related regulations in Part 9 - Planning of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Hens must be in a fully fenced rear or side yard (fence at least 1.2 m high). Coop at least 3 m from the principal building or any dwelling, not abutting side or rear lot lines, at least 0.5 m² per hen, with a 15 cm perch and a nesting box per hen; coop and pen 1 m to 3 m high; pen at least 1 m² per hen. Coop enclosed by an electrified fence per WildSafeBC guidelines, at least 1 m from the coop. Hens kept in a secure coop from sunset to 7:00 a.m.
  - Source: [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026, Subdivision 12, s. 6-7, 10-20](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Hens must be sited in a rear or side yard which is fully fenced." … "a minimum of 1.2 metres high" … "Coops must be sited a minimum of 3 metres from the principal building" … "Coops must be a minimum size of 0.5 square metres of floor area per Hen." … "Each Pen must be a minimum size of 1 square metres of floor area per Hen." … "Hens or Chicks must be kept in a secure Coop from sunset to 7:00 a.m." … "electrified fence that is designed and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Yes. Property must be registered with the District. The fee is $0.
  - Source: [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026, Subdivision 11, s. 1-2](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must register their property with the" … "The fee for registering Hens or Chickens with the District of Kitimat shall be $0."
  - Source: [Hen and Chicken Keeping registration form, Registration form](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Kitimat, BC V8C 2H7 250-632-8900 Fee: $0.00 dok@kitimat.ca The District requires you to register your property if you have hens or chickens. The"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Other livestock:** Horses, mules, asses, cows, sheep, swine, reptiles, poultry and fur-producing animals (other than a pet rabbit) are not allowed in any residential zone, unless otherwise permitted. The permitted exception is registered hens.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 9.4.1.28](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep any horse, mule, ass, cow, sheep, swine," … "reptile, poultry or fur-producing animal other than a pet rabbit, in"
  - Source: [Council meeting agenda June 15, 2026 with Bylaw No. 2087, 2026, Bylaw No. 2087, 2026, s. 3 (9.4.1.28 as amended)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-06-15-reg.pdf)
  - Official wording: "poultry or fur-producing animal other than a pet rabbit, in any residential zone," … "otherwise permitted elsewhere in the Kitimat Municipal Code."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Hen Keeping Residential Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2087, 2026 (Code Part 9, Division 4) and Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026 (Part 5, Division 5, Subdivisions 11 to 13), both adopted June 2026; fines in Bylaw No. 2092, 2026.
  - Source: [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026, Title](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026"
  - Source: [Council agenda package, July 2026, Minutes June 15 and June 22, 2026; staff report on Bylaw 2092](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-07-26-agenda.pdf)
  - Official wording: "third reading and adoption." … "THAT Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026 be adopted." … "At the June 22, 2026, meeting Council adopted Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Hen keeping is allowed in the single- and two-family residential zones R1-A, R1-B, R1-C, R2-A and R2-B if the property is registered with the District and the conditions are met. The rules are in the [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf), adopted in June 2026 along with Bylaw No. 2087, which amends the zoning. You may keep 2 to 6 hens or chicks per property if there are no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems. Roosters are prohibited in residential zones.

## Steps

1. Fill out the District's hen and chicken keeping registration form. Registration is $0. The form can be emailed to dok@kitimat.ca.
2. Build the coop and pen to the bylaw's standards.
3. Keep the hens in a secure coop from sunset to 7:00 a.m.

## Good to know

- Hens must be in a fully fenced rear or side yard (fence at least 1.2 m high).
- Coop: at least 3 m from the principal building or any dwelling, not abutting side or rear lot lines, at least 0.5 m2 per hen, with a 15 cm perch and a nesting box per hen. Coop and pen are 1 m to 3 m high; the pen is at least 1 m2 per hen. An electrified fence is required around the coop, at least 1 m from it, per WildSafeBC guidelines.
- Horses, mules, asses, cows, sheep, swine, reptiles, poultry and fur-producing animals (other than a pet rabbit) are not allowed in residential zones, unless otherwise permitted. Registered hens are the exception.
- Chickens in Greenbelt (G) zones follow a separate part of the bylaw.
- We found no beekeeping rule in the Code. Ask Municipal Hall at 250-632-8900.

## Official forms and pages

- [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf)
- [Hen and Chicken Keeping registration form, District of Kitimat (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/how-many-pets.md)
- [Kitimat noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/noise-rules.md)
- [Kitimat bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Hen and Chicken Keeping Animal Control Bylaw No. 2088, 2026 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping-1787872842789.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Hen and Chicken Keeping registration form, District of Kitimat (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/hen-and-chicken-keeping.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Council agenda package, July 2026, District of Kitimat (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-07-26-agenda.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Council meeting agenda June 15, 2026 with Bylaw No. 2087, 2026 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/2026-06-15-reg.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-chickens/_