--- title: Lake Cowichan backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Lake Cowichan?" place: Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/lake-cowichan category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: Town of Lake Cowichan sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-chickens/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-chickens.json" --- # Lake Cowichan backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules **Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Lake Cowichan? **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. **Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Lake Cowichan, https://www.lakecowichan.ca) **Cost:** No hen permit or fee found. **How long:** Not applicable. **Where:** - In person: Town Hall, 39 South Shore Road, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) - Phone: Town Hall (bylaw and animal control; leave a message), 250-749-6681 ## Key facts - **Hens allowed:** 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). - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, Backyard Hens](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf) - Official wording: "where the lot is greater than 450 m2." … "Suburban (R-1),Urban (R-2) and Medium Density (R-4) Residential Zones" - Source: [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 10.1, 10.3](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Most hens:** 6 hens. - Source: [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 10.2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - Official wording: "No person may keep more than 6 hens on a property." - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, Backyard Hens](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf) - Official wording: "A maximum of six (6) hens may be kept" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Roosters:** No on lots under 2 acres: a rooster is a 'restricted animal' that may not be kept on a parcel under 2 acres. - Source: [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 2.1](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - Official wording: "RESTRICTED ANIMAL shall mean any horse, mule, cattle, ass, swine," … "sheep, goat, animal of bovine species, rooster, turkey, goose, duck, or" - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 12.1](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - Official wording: "on any parcel of land within the Town having an area of less than two (2) acres." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Coop rules:** 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. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, Backyard Hens](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf) - Official wording: "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;" - Source: [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 10.5](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - Official wording: "the area surrounding the backyard hen enclosure is completely fenced;" … "all chicken feed is secured in airtight containers" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Bees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Other livestock:** '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. - Source: [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 2.1](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - Official wording: "RESTRICTED ANIMAL shall mean any horse, mule, cattle, ass, swine," - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 12.1, s. 12.2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - Official wording: "on any parcel of land within the Town having an area of less than two (2) acres." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** 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). - Source: [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, Title](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - Official wording: "Animal Control Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No.1052-2021" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf) - Official wording: "GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR BACKYARD HENS" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works Hens are allowed under [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021]() and the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021](). A hen is a female chicken at least 4 months old. The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019]() covers other livestock. ## Good to know - 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. - The keeper must own the property or have the owner's written permission. - Maximum 6 hens. Hens may not be kept in a dwelling, balcony or deck, or in a cage (except for transport). - 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. - Not within 30 m of the Cowichan River, 15 m of other watercourses, or 7.5 m of a lake, swamp or pond. - The area around the enclosure must be fully fenced, feed must be in airtight containers, and no slaughtering is allowed. - 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. - No permit or registration for hens was found. No beekeeping rules were found in either bylaw; ask Town Hall at 250-749-6681. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf) ## Related questions - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/how-many-pets.md) - [Lake Cowichan noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/noise-rules.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md) - [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/backyard-chickens.md) - [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/backyard-chickens.md) - [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-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 - [Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1052-2021%20Amendment%20to%20Animal%20Control.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1019-2019%20Animal%20Control.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) _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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Lake Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-chickens/_