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Langford backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Langford, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. In the City of Langford, a residential lot of 550 m² or more may keep up to four chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits combined (more on lots of 4,000 m² or larger), in a secure fenced enclosure. Bees are allowed on lots of 550 m² or more. Horses, cattle, sheep and goats need 4,000 m².

Key facts

Hens allowedYes, as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling in a Residential Zone, on lots of 550 m² or more (4,000 m² or more has different limits). Birds must be kept in a secure, fenced enclosure.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12, s. 3.12.02, 3.12.03 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of domestic poultry and rabbits is permitted as an accessory use to the residential use of a one-family dwelling on any lot greater than or equal to 4,000 m2 (1 ac) in lot area in any Residential
The keeping of chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits for domestic purposes is permitted as an accessory use to the residential use of a one-family dwelling on any lot with a lot area less than 4,000 m2 (1 ac) but not less than 550 m2 (5,920.2 ft2) in any Residential Zone
Chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits must be kept in a secure, fenced enclosure;
Most hensLots of 550 m² to under 4,000 m²: 4 in total (chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits combined). Lots of 4,000 m² or more: one for each 166 m² of lot area, in total.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12, s. 3.12.02(1), 3.12.03(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
that may be kept on any lot is limited to four)
limited to one for each 166 m2 (1,786.8 ft2) of lot area;
RoostersOn lots of 4,000 m² (1 acre) or more, roosters are only permitted on land in the Agricultural Land Reserve. The rules for smaller lots do not mention roosters.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12, s. 3.12.02(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Roosters are only permitted on land that is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR);
Coop rulesLots under 4,000 m²: coops total at most 10 m² and 2.4 m high; at least 3 m from side and rear lot lines and no closer to the front lot line than the front of the house. Lots of 4,000 m² or more: same 3 m siting rule.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12, s. 3.12.03(3), (5), (6); 3.12.02(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
may not exceed a cumulative gross floor area of 10 m2 (107.6 ft2) per lot;
may exceed a height of 2.4 m (7.9 ft);
of any rear lot line or side lot line, or closer to a front lot line than the front face of the principal dwelling;
Permit or registrationNot confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
BeesAllowed in Residential Zones on lots of at least 550 m². Up to 2 hives on lots of 550 to 800 m²; one hive per 400 m² on lots over 800 m². Hives must be behind the front building line of the main building and at least 3 m from any lot line.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12, s. 3.12.04 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
is permitted as an accessory use to the residential use of a one-family dwelling on any lot in
The number of beehives shall not exceed two for any lot with a lot area greater than or equal to 550 m2
The number of beehives shall not exceed one per 400 m2 (4,305.6 ft2) of lot area on lots greater
All beehives must be sited to the rear of the front building line of any principal building and at least 3 m (9.8 ft) from any lot line.
Other livestockHorses, cattle, sheep and goats are allowed on residential lots of at least 4,000 m² (1 acre) with a one-family dwelling: one animal per 4,000 m², in a secure fenced enclosure; buildings and feed or manure storage at least 30 m from the front lot line and 15 m from other lot lines.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12, s. 3.12.01 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of horses, cattle, sheep, and goats for domestic purposes is permitted as an accessory use to the residential use of a one-family dwelling on any lot with an area of at least 4,000 m2 (1 ac) in any Residential Zone
Horses, cattle, sheep and goats must be kept in a secure, fenced enclosure;
within 30 m (98.4 ft) of any front lot line or within 15 m (49.2 ft) of any other lot line;
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 300 (cited as the Langford Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999), section 3.12Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12, s. 3.12; Citation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Langford Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999
The keeping of bees and beehives for domestic purposes

How it works

Langford's Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12, allows domestic poultry and rabbits as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling in a Residential Zone (zones starting with R, RS or RH), on lots of 550 m² or more. Birds must be kept in a secure, fenced enclosure. The bylaw has no provision for lots under 550 m².

Good to know

  • Lots of 550 m² to under 4,000 m²: four animals in total (chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits combined). Coops total at most 10 m² and 2.4 m high, at least 3 m from side and rear lot lines, and no closer to the front lot line than the front of the house.
  • Lots of 4,000 m² or more: one animal for each 166 m² of lot area, in total. The same 3 m siting rule applies; no size limit is stated for coops of chickens, ducks or pigeons.
  • Roosters: on lots of 4,000 m² or more they are allowed only on land in the Agricultural Land Reserve. The rules for smaller lots do not mention roosters.
  • Bees: up to 2 hives on lots of 550 to 800 m², and one hive per 400 m² on lots over 800 m². Hives must be behind the front building line of the main building and at least 3 m from any lot line.
  • Horses, cattle, sheep and goats: allowed on residential lots of at least 4,000 m² with a one-family dwelling, one animal per 4,000 m², in a secure fenced enclosure. Buildings and feed or manure storage must be at least 30 m from the front lot line and 15 m from other lot lines.
  • No permit, licence or registration for keeping hens was found in the bylaws. Ask City Hall (Planning) to confirm for your zone.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Highlands · Colwood · View Royal · Esquimalt · Metchosin · Sooke

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.12 (PDF), City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2239, 2026 (PDF), City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.