Lake Cowichan backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
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.
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).Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, Backyard Hens; Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 10.1, 10.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingwhere the lot is greater than 450 m2. Suburban (R-1),Urban (R-2) and Medium Density (R-4) Residential Zones 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 |
|---|---|
| Most hens | 6 hens.Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 10.2; Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, Backyard Hens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person may keep more than 6 hens on a property. A maximum of six (6) hens may be kept |
| Roosters | No on lots under 2 acres: a rooster is a 'restricted animal' that may not be kept on a parcel under 2 acres.Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 2.1; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 12.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRESTRICTED ANIMAL shall mean any horse, mule, cattle, ass, swine, sheep, goat, animal of bovine species, rooster, turkey, goose, duck, or on any parcel of land within the Town having an area of less than two (2) acres. |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, Backyard Hens; Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 10.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinglocated 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; the area surrounding the backyard hen enclosure is completely fenced; all chicken feed is secured in airtight containers |
| 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.Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, s. 2.1; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019, s. 12.1, s. 12.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRESTRICTED ANIMAL shall mean any horse, mule, cattle, ass, swine, on any parcel of land within the Town having an area of less than two (2) acres. |
| 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).Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021, Title; Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAnimal Control Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No.1052-2021 GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR BACKYARD HENS |
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
The same question in other places
Ladysmith · Duncan · North Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 1052-2021 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 1019-2019 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (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. How answers are checked.