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Ladysmith backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Ladysmith, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Hens allowedYes: 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.Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.12(a); Backyard Poultry, Keeping Backyard Poultry · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
you may keep up to six (6) hens (i.e., female chickens or ducks):
R-2-B – Oyster Cove Residential Zone
Most hensSix backyard poultry per parcel.Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.12(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a maximum of six (6) Backyard
RoostersNo. Roosters, drakes and chicks or ducklings are not allowed; backyard poultry means adult hens only (female chickens and ducks).Backyard Poultry Info Guide, Key Rules and Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Roosters, drakes and chicks/ducklings are not
Coop rulesCoops 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.Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.12(a); Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 5.9(j); Backyard Poultry, Key requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Backyard Poultry must be housed in a Coop and Pen.
A Coop and Pen must be located at Finished Grade.
A Coop and Pen used for Backyard Poultry are not considered Accessory Buildings or
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.
Permit or registrationThe Town's Backyard Poultry page mentions no permit, registration or fee. It requires written consent of the property owner.Backyard Poultry, Key requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Must have written consent of the property owner to keep backyard poultry on that property.
BeesAllowed: a maximum of two hives per parcel, except in the Agricultural Land Reserve.Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.11(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A maximum of two (2) hives shall be permitted per Parcel, except in the Agricultural
Other livestockFemale 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.Backyard Poultry, What does Backyard Poultry mean · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
domesticated adult hens (i.e., female chickens and female ducks)
BylawAnimal 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)Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 6.12(a)(iv); Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, title; Backyard Poultry, Keeping Backyard Poultry · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Animal Control Bylaw 2024, No. 2167
ZONING BYLAW 2014, NO.1860
the Town of Ladysmith passed the Town of Ladysmith Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2026 No. 2238

How it works

Ladysmith allows backyard poultry under section 6.12 of the Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 and the Town's Backyard Poultry page. 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. 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

The same question in other places

North Cowichan · Duncan · Lake Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Backyard Poultry, Town of Ladysmith (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Backyard Poultry Info Guide, Town of Ladysmith (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2026, No. 2238 (PDF, scanned, no readable text) (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. How answers are checked.