{"title":"Lake Cowichan backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Lake Cowichan?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Lake Cowichan","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca"},"short_answer":"In Lake Cowichan, up to 6 hens are allowed on a single improved parcel over 450 m² in the R-1, R-2 and R-4 zones. Roosters and other livestock are not allowed on lots under 2 acres. No hen permit is required. Bee rules were not found.","aliases":["backyard chickens lake cowichan","keep hens lake cowichan","chicken bylaw lake cowichan","livestock lake cowichan"],"cost":"No hen permit or fee found.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"39 South Shore Road, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall (bylaw and animal control; leave a message)","value":"250-749-6681"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf"},{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Lake Cowichan noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/noise-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":"Yes, on a single improved parcel in the R-1 Suburban, R-2 Urban and R-4 Medium Density Residential zones where the lot is greater than 450 m². The keeper must own the property or have the owner's written permission. Hens may not be kept in a dwelling, balcony or deck, or in a cage (except for transport).","short":"Yes, R-1, R-2, R-4 lots over 450 m²","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Part IV, Backyard Hens","quotes":["where the lot is greater than 450 m2.","Suburban (R-1),Urban (R-2) and Medium Density (R-4) Residential Zones"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 10.1, 10.3","quotes":["is the registered owner of the property on which the hens are kept; or","within a residential dwelling unit, or on a balcony or deck"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"6 hens.","short":"6 hens","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 10.2","quotes":["No person may keep more than 6 hens on a property."]},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Part IV, Backyard Hens","quotes":["A maximum of six (6) hens may be kept"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No on lots under 2 acres: a rooster is a 'restricted animal' that may not be kept on a parcel under 2 acres.","short":"No on lots under 2 acres","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 2.1","quotes":["RESTRICTED ANIMAL shall mean any horse, mule, cattle, ass, swine,","sheep, goat, animal of bovine species, rooster, turkey, goose, duck, or"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 12.1","quotes":["on any parcel of land within the Town having an area of less than two (2) acres."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Coop and pen in the rear yard, at least 1.0 m from rear, exterior side and interior side lot lines and 3.0 m from any door or window of a dwelling unit, not more than 3 m high. Not within 30 m of the Cowichan River, 15 m of other watercourses, 7.5 m of a lake, swamp or pond. The area around the enclosure must be fully fenced; feed in airtight containers; no slaughtering.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Part IV, Backyard Hens","quotes":["located not less than 1.0 m from the rear parcel line, exterior side parcel line and","located not less than 3.0 m from any door or window of a dwelling unit;","not more than 3 m in height.","30 metres of the natural boundary of the Cowichan River;"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 10.5","quotes":["the area surrounding the backyard hen enclosure is completely fenced;","all chicken feed is secured in airtight containers"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"'Restricted animals' (horse, mule, cattle, ass, swine, sheep, goat, rooster, turkey, goose, duck, other fowl) may not be kept on a parcel under 2 acres, and may not run at large.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 2.1","quotes":["RESTRICTED ANIMAL shall mean any horse, mule, cattle, ass, swine,"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 12.1, s. 12.2","quotes":["on any parcel of land within the Town having an area of less than two (2) acres."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 as amended by Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (backyard hens); Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (general provisions for backyard hens).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Title","quotes":["Animal Control Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No.1052-2021"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Part IV","quotes":["GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR BACKYARD HENS"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":2},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nHens are allowed under [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021](<https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf>) and the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021](<https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf>). A hen is a female chicken at least 4 months old. The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019](<https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf>) covers other livestock.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Hens are allowed on a single improved parcel in the R-1 Suburban, R-2 Urban and R-4 Medium Density Residential zones where the lot is greater than 450 m².\n- The keeper must own the property or have the owner's written permission.\n- Maximum 6 hens. Hens may not be kept in a dwelling, balcony or deck, or in a cage (except for transport).\n- The coop and pen go in the rear yard, at least 1.0 m from rear, exterior side and interior side lot lines and 3.0 m from any door or window of a dwelling unit, and not more than 3 m high.\n- Not within 30 m of the Cowichan River, 15 m of other watercourses, or 7.5 m of a lake, swamp or pond.\n- The area around the enclosure must be fully fenced, feed must be in airtight containers, and no slaughtering is allowed.\n- Roosters, horses, mules, cattle, asses, swine, sheep, goats, turkeys, geese, ducks and other fowl are \"restricted animals\". They may not be kept on a parcel under 2 acres or run at large.\n- No permit or registration for hens was found. No beekeeping rules were found in either bylaw; ask Town Hall at 250-749-6681.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-chickens.json"}}