---
title: Township of Langley backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in the Township of Langley?"
place: Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/langley-township
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Township of Langley
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Township of Langley backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

**Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in the Township of Langley?

**Short answer:** In the Township of Langley (not the City of Langley), chickens are permitted in agricultural zones only, not in residential zones. The readable sources give no hen limit and do not mention roosters. Hobby beekeeping is allowed in zones that list it, on lots of 650 m² or more, with limits on hives.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Langley, https://www.tol.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit or registration for chickens is mentioned on the Township's Animal Control page. Bylaw notice for keeping animals where zoning prohibits them: $200.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Zoning and development inquiries, 604-533-6034
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 604-532-7551 (bylaw@tol.ca; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Chickens (poultry) are permitted in agricultural zones only, under the Zoning Bylaw. They are not permitted in residential zones.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Chickens (poultry)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/animal-control.aspx)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of chickens (poultry) is permitted in agricultural zones only, regulated by the Township’s Zoning Bylaw. Chickens (poultry) are not permitted in residential zones."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Roosters:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Coop rules:** In rural (RU) zones, a building or structure used to shelter or house animals or poultry must be at least 15 metres from any property line. No size or coop-specific rule found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, Section 200 Rural Zones, s. 201.7 2) (RU-1; repeated in other RU zones)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-200-Rural-Zones.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2) No building or structure used to shelter or house any animals or poultry shall" … "be sited less than 15 metres from any property line."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bees:** Hobby beekeeping is allowed only in zones that list it, on lots of 650 m² or more: 2 hives and 2 nucleus colonies under 2,000 m², 4 and 4 at 2,000 m² or more. Hives must be behind the principal building, behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.83 m high, or 7.5 m from a lot line.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 104.18](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "c) Notwithstanding a) and b) above, hobby beekeeping shall not be permitted" … "2) Beehives shall be located to the rear of the principal building on the lot; and be"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** The Zoning Bylaw defines agricultural use to include keeping poultry, pigeons, doves, bees or other livestock, and horses. Livestock in residential zones is not permitted unless the zone permits it (s. 104.7).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, Zoning Bylaw 2500, s. 101 definitions and s. 104.7](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of poultry, pigeons, doves, bees, or other livestock, but excluding fur farms," … "No animals, other than household pets and guard dogs, may be kept in any zone"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500 (s. 101 "agricultural use", s. 104.7 keeping of animals, s. 104.18 hobby beekeeping, RU zone sections).
  - Source: [Animal Control, Chickens (poultry)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/animal-control.aspx)
  - Official wording: "regulated by the Township’s Zoning Bylaw"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 104.7](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No animals, other than household pets and guard dogs, may be kept in any zone"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Township's [Animal Control page](<https://www.tol.ca/en/services/animal-control.aspx>) says chickens (poultry) are permitted in agricultural zones only, under the [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500](<https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf>). They are not permitted in residential zones. About 75 per cent of the Township is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, so check your zone first. The Township of Langley is a separate municipality from the City of Langley.

## Steps

1. Find your property's zone (see the zoning lookup answer).
2. If it is an agricultural zone, ask the Township about hen numbers and coop rules. The readable sources set no hen limit, do not mention roosters, and require no permit.
3. For bees, check that your zone lists hobby beekeeping.

## Good to know

- In rural (RU) zones, a building used to shelter animals or poultry must be at least 15 metres from any property line. No coop size rule was found.
- Hobby beekeeping needs a lot of 650 m² or more. Limits are 2 hives and 2 nucleus colonies on lots under 2,000 m², and 4 and 4 at 2,000 m² or more.
- Hives must be behind the principal building, behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.83 m high, or 7.5 m from a lot line.
- The Zoning Bylaw (s. 104.7) says no animals other than household pets and guard dogs may be kept in any zone unless that zone specifically permits them. Agricultural use includes poultry, pigeons, doves, bees, other livestock and horses.
- A bylaw notice for keeping animals where zoning prohibits them is $200.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control, Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/animal-control.aspx)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, Section 100 Administration (PDF), Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, Section 200 Rural Zones (PDF), Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-200-Rural-Zones.pdf)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2008 No. 4703 (PDF), Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Other-Bylaws/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-2008-(No.-4703%29.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/how-many-pets.md)
- [Township of Langley dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/dog-licence.md)
- [Township of Langley zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Township of Langley fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/backyard-chickens.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control, Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/animal-control.aspx) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, Section 100 Administration (PDF), Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, Section 200 Rural Zones (PDF), Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-200-Rural-Zones.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2008 No. 4703 (PDF), Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Other-Bylaws/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-2008-(No.-4703%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 3 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Township of Langley. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/backyard-chickens/_