Lantzville backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
Short answer
Outside the Agricultural Land Reserve in Lantzville, the poultry limit is zero below 1,000 m² and 15 on parcels of at least 8,000 m². The bylaw’s two middle rows list six and ten birds but print inconsistent area ranges. Ask the District to confirm the limit for a parcel between those sizes. Roosters are prohibited.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Poultry (which includes chickens) may be kept outside the Agricultural Land Reserve on parcels of 1,000 m² or more, subject to the limits and rules in s. 2.3. Parcels under 1,000 m² may keep none.District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), s. 2.3 Farm Animals; District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), Definitions ("Poultry") · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingParcel Area Poultry Other Farm Animals < 1,000 m2 0 0 1,000 ≥ 2,500 m2 6 0 2,500 > 8,000 m2 10 0 1,000 ≥ 2,500 m2 6 0 2,500 > 8,000 m2 10 0 ≥ 8,000 m2 15 2 2,500 > 8,000 m2 10 0 ≥ 8,000 m2 15 2 2. Farm animals are permitted only if all the following requirements are met and maintained: domesticated birds kept for eggs, meat, feathers, hide, or cosmetic or |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Outside the Agricultural Land Reserve, parcels under 1,000 m² may keep no poultry. The limit is 15 on parcels of at least 8,000 m². The two middle rows list six and ten birds, but their printed inequality signs are inconsistent. Confirm the limit for an intermediate parcel with the District.District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), s. 2.3 Farm Animals · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording2.3 FARM ANIMALS 1. Outside of the Agricultural Land Reserve, the keeping of farm animals is permitted only as follows: Maximum Number of Maximum Number of Parcel Area Poultry Other Farm Animals < 1,000 m2 0 0 1,000 ≥ 2,500 m2 6 0 2,500 > 8,000 m2 10 0 ≥ 8,000 m2 15 2 |
| Roosters | Not allowed. Roosters, cocks, cockerels, peacocks and the like are prohibited.District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), s. 2.3(2)(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRoosters, cocks, cockerels, peacocks and the like are prohibited |
| Coop rules | At least 1 m² of enclosure space per bird. A poultry structure must be at least 4 m from any parcel line (or the zone setback, whichever is greater). Structures must be kept clean and free of odours and vermin; manure must be stored at least 15 m from any parcel line.District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), s. 2.3(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga minimum of 1 m2 of space is provided for each poultry animal in an enclosure a structure that houses poultry must be at least 4 m from any parcel line, or in structures housing farm animals are kept clean, free of odours and free of vermin manure must be stored at least 15 m from any parcel line |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bees | None set. The bylaws read set no rule on bees. |
| Other livestock | Other farm animals are not allowed on parcels under 8,000 m²; on parcels of 8,000 m² or more, up to 2. Their structures must be at least 15 m from any parcel line. This applies outside the Agricultural Land Reserve only.District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), s. 2.3 Farm Animals; District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), s. 2.3(2)(i); District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), Definitions ("Farm Animal") · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingParcel Area Poultry Other Farm Animals < 1,000 m2 0 0 1,000 ≥ 2,500 m2 6 0 2,500 > 8,000 m2 10 0 1,000 ≥ 2,500 m2 6 0 2,500 > 8,000 m2 10 0 ≥ 8,000 m2 15 2 2,500 > 8,000 m2 10 0 ≥ 8,000 m2 15 2 2. Farm animals are permitted only if all the following requirements are met and maintained: a structure that houses a farm animal must be at least 15 m from any parcel line, or in means livestock, poultry, or exotic animals; |
| Bylaw | District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020, Schedule A, s. 2.3 Farm AnimalsDistrict of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026), s. 2.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording2.1 SECONDARY SUITES AND CARRIAGE HOUSES ............................................................................ 49 2.2 HOME BUSINESSES .................................................................................................................... 50 2.3 FARM ANIMALS .......................................................................................................................... 52 2.4 FENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 53 Schedule 'A' to District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 1 |
How it works
Zoning Bylaw No. 180, section 2.3, covers farm animals outside the Agricultural Land Reserve in Lantzville. Chickens count as poultry. Lots under 1,000 m² may keep none. The limit is for all poultry together, not hens only.
Good to know
- Enclosure space: at least 1 m² per bird.
- A poultry structure must be at least 4 m from any lot line, or the zone setback if that is greater. No maximum coop size is set.
- Keep structures clean and free of odours and vermin. Store manure at least 15 m from any lot line.
- No slaughtering poultry on the lot.
- Roosters, cocks, cockerels, peacocks and the like are prohibited.
- Other farm animals are not allowed on lots under 8,000 m²; on 8,000 m² or more, up to 2. Their structures must be at least 15 m from any lot line. "Farm animal" includes livestock, poultry and exotic animals, and "poultry" includes ducks and geese.
- No permit, licence or registration for poultry was found.
- The bylaws we read do not set any rule on bees. Ask Municipal Hall at 250-390-4006.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Nanaimo · Parksville · Qualicum Beach · Sechelt · Ladysmith · Gibsons
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (consolidated to Bylaw 433, July 8, 2026) (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; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.