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

# Ladysmith backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Ladysmith you can keep up to six hens (female chickens or ducks) on a property with a single-detached dwelling, in the RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2, R-2-B or R-3 zone, outside the exclusion areas. You need the owner's written consent. Roosters are not allowed. Bees: up to two hives per parcel.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Ladysmith, https://www.ladysmith.ca)  
**Cost:** The Town's Backyard Poultry page mentions no permit, registration or fee.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Email: Backyard Poultry page, https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-245-6400 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Bylaw Compliance, 250-245-6446

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes: up to six hens (female chickens or ducks) on a property with a single-detached dwelling, in the RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2, R-2-B or R-3 zone, outside the Backyard Poultry Exclusion Areas (Schedule E of Bylaw 2238; map on the Town page). Written owner consent is required.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.12(a)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Where Backyard Poultry is a permitted Accessory Use on a Residential Parcel and" … "where the Principal Use is a Single Unit Dwelling," … "outside of the Backyard Poultry exclusion areas"
  - Source: [Backyard Poultry, Keeping Backyard Poultry](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry)
  - Official wording: "you may keep up to six (6) hens (i.e., female chickens or ducks):" … "R-2-B – Oyster Cove Residential Zone"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Six backyard poultry per parcel.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.12(a)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a maximum of six (6) Backyard"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters, drakes and chicks or ducklings are not allowed; backyard poultry means adult hens only (female chickens and ducks).
  - Source: [Backyard Poultry Info Guide, Key Rules and Regulations](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/backyard-poultry-info-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=dc22f1db_2)
  - Official wording: "Roosters, drakes and chicks/ducklings are not"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Coops and pens: not in the front yard, at least 1.0 m from any property line and 3.0 m from any dwelling, inside a continuous animal-proof fence. Coop: at least 0.37 m² floor and 0.6 m3 per hen, up to 10.0 m² or 30.0 m3, 3.0 m high at most. Pen: at least 0.93 m² and 1.0 m3 per hen, up to 10.0 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.12(a)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Backyard Poultry must be housed in a Coop and Pen." … "A Coop and Pen must be located at Finished Grade."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 5.9(j)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Coop and Pen used for Backyard Poultry are not considered Accessory Buildings or"
  - Source: [Backyard Poultry, Key requirements](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry)
  - Official wording: "Coops and pens are not allowed within the front yard of a property, and they must be located a minimum of 1.0 metre from any property line and a minimum of 3.0 metres from any dwelling unit." … "Minimum floor area of 0.37 square metres per hen and a minimum volume of 0.6 cubic metres per hen."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** The Town's Backyard Poultry page mentions no permit, registration or fee. It requires written consent of the property owner.
  - Source: [Backyard Poultry, Key requirements](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry)
  - Official wording: "Must have written consent of the property owner to keep backyard poultry on that property."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Allowed: a maximum of two hives per parcel, except in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.11(a)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of two (2) hives shall be permitted per Parcel, except in the Agricultural"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Female ducks count as backyard poultry under the same six-hen rules. No residential-lot rule for goats, horses or other livestock found in readable text.
  - Source: [Backyard Poultry, What does Backyard Poultry mean](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry)
  - Official wording: "domesticated adult hens (i.e., female chickens and female ducks)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2026, No. 2238 (including Schedule E, Backyard Poultry Exclusion Areas); Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, s. 6.12 (poultry) and s. 6.11 (bees)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.12(a)(iv)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control Bylaw 2024, No. 2167"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, title](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW 2014, NO.1860"
  - Source: [Backyard Poultry, Keeping Backyard Poultry](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry)
  - Official wording: "the Town of Ladysmith passed the Town of Ladysmith Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2026 No. 2238"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Ladysmith allows backyard poultry under section 6.12 of the [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf) and the Town's [Backyard Poultry page](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry). You may keep up to six hens (female chickens or ducks). The property must have a single-detached dwelling and be in the RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2, R-2-B or R-3 zone. It must also be outside the Backyard Poultry Exclusion Areas, which are shown on a map on the Town page and set in Schedule E of the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2026, No. 2238](<https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2238-animal-responsibility-bylaw-2026_redacted.pdf>). The owner's written consent is required.

## Coop and pen rules

- Not in the front yard.
- At least 1.0 m from any property line and 3.0 m from any dwelling.
- Inside a continuous animal-proof fence.
- Coop: at least 0.37 m² of floor and 0.6 m3 per hen, up to 10.0 m² or 30.0 m3, and 3.0 m high at most.
- Pen: at least 0.93 m² and 1.0 m3 per hen, up to 10.0 m².

## Bees and other animals

- Bees: a maximum of two hives per parcel, except in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
- Roosters, drakes, chicks and ducklings are not allowed; the Town's guide says backyard poultry means adult hens only.
- No residential-lot rule for goats, horses or other livestock was found in readable text. Ask the Town.

## Good to know

- Coops must also meet the animal bylaw's requirements, but that bylaw's text isn't readable online. The zoning text still cites the older animal bylaw for the exclusion areas, so check the Town's map before you build.
- Call Town Hall at 250-245-6400 or Development Services at 250-245-6415 to confirm.

## Official forms and pages

- [Backyard Poultry, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry)
- [Backyard Poultry Info Guide, Town of Ladysmith (PDF)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/backyard-poultry-info-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=dc22f1db_2)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Ladysmith dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/dog-licence.md)
- [Ladysmith zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Ladysmith fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/backyard-chickens.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Backyard Poultry, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/backyard-poultry) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Backyard Poultry Info Guide, Town of Ladysmith (PDF)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/backyard-poultry-info-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=dc22f1db_2) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2026, No. 2238 (PDF, scanned, no readable text)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2238-animal-responsibility-bylaw-2026_redacted.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Ladysmith. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/backyard-chickens/_