Mackenzie backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Mackenzie?

Mackenzie, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Mackenzie, you can keep backyard hens or ducks with a District permit on R1, R2 and R3 lots with a single-detached dwelling. The limit is 4 hens or ducks combined on a lot of 500 m² or less, up to 8 on larger lots. Roosters are prohibited.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Yes, with a Backyard Hen or Duck Permit, on properties zoned R1, R2 and R3 where the dwelling is a single-detached dwelling. The RR1 and RR2 zones are not subject to the backyard hen and duck rules (they follow the livestock rules).Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 11(d)(i); Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Industrial and Townsite Maps, Backyard Hen Enclosures & Bee Keeping (R2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Backyard hens and ducks are permitted on properties zoned R1, R2 and R3, subject to the following conditions: The dwelling on the property is a single-detached welling; The RR1 and RR2 residential zones are not subject to the backyard hen or duck regulations. Backyard hen enclosures and bee keeping are only permitted on parcels containing a single detached dwelling.
Most hens	4 hens or ducks combined on a lot of 500 m² or less, plus one more for each additional full 100 m² of lot area, up to 8 hens or ducks combined.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Industrial and Townsite Maps, Backyard Hen Enclosures; Backyard Hen and Duck Enclosure Checklist, Zoning Bylaw s. 4.24, as reproduced in the Backyard Hen and Duck Enclosure Checklist · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording A maximum of four (4) hens may be kept. On properties 500 m2 or less a maximum of four (4) hens or ducks may be kept. For each additional full 100 m2 of lot area one additional hen or duck may be kept to a maximum of eight (8) hens or ducks combined.
Roosters	No. Roosters are prohibited.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 11(d)(i)g. · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording subject to the following conditions: i. Roosters are prohibited; ii. The dwelling on the property is a single-detached welling;
Coop rules	In the backyard, fully fenced; coop at most 8 m² floor area and 2 m high; at least 0.37 m² of enclosure per bird; coop and pen at least 4 m from the property lines. Hens and ducks stay in the coop or pen; feed stored so it does not attract wildlife; manure kept enclosed, no more than 3 cubic feet.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Industrial and Townsite Maps, Backyard Hen Enclosures; Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 11(d)(i)g.; Backyard Hen and Duck Enclosure Checklist, Zoning Bylaw s. 4.24 and Checklist items 7 and 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Backyard hen enclosures must be located in a fenced backyard and the dwelling unit must be between the backyard hen enclosure and the front parcel line The maximum size of a coop is 8.0 metres² in floor area and 4.0 metres in height The coop and the pen must be placed at least 4 metres from the exterior side parcel line All hens and ducks remain within the coop or pen at all times; no more than 0.085m3 (3 cubic feet) of manure is The maximum size of a coop is 8.0 metres² in floor area and 2.0 metres in A minimum enclosure of 0.37 m2 (4 ft2) must be provided per chicken or Maintain a distance of at least 4.0m between any part of the hen and/or duck coop and
Permit or registration	Yes. A Backyard Hen or Duck Permit from the District is required: submit the application form, pass an inspection by the Bylaw Enforcement Officer or other District staff, and pay a one-time $25 application fee. The permit is not transferable.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 11(d)(i)a.; Animal Licences & Control, Annual Licence Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording A hen or duck owner must obtain a Backyard Hen or Duck Permit from the District to keep hens or ducks. Paying a one-time fee for obtaining a Backyard Hen or Duck Permit The Backyard Hen or Duck Permit is not transferable to another person or property. Backyard Hens and Ducks Permit Application \| $25.00
Bees	Yes, with a Backyard Beekeeping Permit ($25 one-time application fee, inspection required) on R1, R2 and R3 lots with a single-detached dwelling; the keeper needs a provincial Beekeeper ID, a fully fenced backyard and water within 2 m of each hive. Max 2 colonies on a parcel under 1,100 m² and 1 colony on a parcel under 600 m²; no hive within 6.5 m of any parcel line.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 11(d)(ii); Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Industrial and Townsite Maps, Bee Keeping · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording A beekeeper must obtain a Backyard Beekeeping Permit Backyard Bees are permitted on properties zoned R1, R2, and R3 A permanent and adequate water source must be located within two (2) metres of each hive on a property; No more than two colonies of bees are permitted on a parcel having an area less than 1,100 metres² A beehive is not permitted within 6.5 metres of any parcel line.
Other livestock	Under s. 11, livestock (domestic use, penned) are allowed in RR1, RRB1 and RRC1 up to: 5 horses, donkeys, llamas or hinnies; 2 cows, goats, sheep or pigs; 15 rabbits; or 25 chickens, turkeys, geese or ducks. RR2 has lower limits (2 horses, 20 chickens or ducks). None on a parcel under 0.4 ha. Ducks on R1, R2, R3 lots need the hen and duck permit.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 11(a), (b), (c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording An Owner is permitted to Keep Livestock on the Owner’s Premises located within the Rural Residential Zone (RRI) 5 horses; or 20 chicken or turkeys or geese or ducks or No Livestock are permitted on a Land Parcel that is smaller than .4 hectares (1 acre). An Owner is permitted to Keep Livestock on the Owner’s Premises located within the Rural Residential 2 Zone (RR2), subject to the following:
Bylaw	Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016 (s. 11, as amended by Nos. 1377 and 1501) and Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (s. 4.24, Backyard Hen and Duck Enclosures).Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated, s. 11(d); Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Industrial and Townsite Maps, Backyard Hen Enclosures; Backyard Hen and Duck Enclosure Checklist, Checklist, Regulations from Zoning Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Backyard Hen and Duck Enclosure and Beekeeping Regulations 1371 27-NOV-2017 Rezone A2 to RR1 on DL 13173, Cariboo, Plan 6TU1957 1378 27-NOV-2017 Backyard Hen Enclosures changes 1389 28-MAY-2018 Cannabis definition changes assembled, HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. That "District of Mackenzie Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017" be amended as follows: (a) By removing sections 4.18 (1) (iii) and replaced as follows: Regulations from Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 Section 4.24 Backyard Hen and Duck Enclosures

How it works

The District of Mackenzie allows backyard hens and ducks under its Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354 (s. 11) and its Zoning Bylaw No. 1368. You need a Backyard Hen or Duck Permit, on R1, R2 or R3 lots where the dwelling is a single-detached dwelling. RR1 and RR2 lots follow the livestock rules instead.

Steps

Submit the permit application form to the District.
Pass an inspection by the Bylaw Enforcement Officer or other District staff.
Pay the one-time $25 application fee. A failed inspection means reapplying and paying again.

Good to know

Number: 4 hens or ducks combined on a lot of 500 m² or less, plus one for each additional full 100 m² of lot area, up to 8. No roosters.
Coop: at most 8 m² floor area and 2 m high, at least 0.37 m² of enclosure per bird, and the coop and pen at least 4 m from the property lines. The backyard must be fully fenced and the birds kept in the coop or pen.
The permit holder must live on the property (tenants need landlord approval), and the permit is not transferable. It can be revoked for non-compliance.
Bees: a Backyard Beekeeping Permit ($25, inspection) on R1, R2 and R3 lots needs a provincial Beekeeper ID, a fully fenced backyard and water within 2 m of each hive. No more than 2 colonies on a parcel under 1,100 m² and 1 on a parcel under 600 m²; no hive within 6.5 m of a parcel line.
Other livestock, penned for domestic use, are allowed on RR1, RRB1 and RRC1 land: 5 horses, donkeys, llamas or hinnies; 2 cows, goats, sheep or pigs; 15 rabbits; or 25 chickens, turkeys, geese or ducks. RR2 has lower limits (2 horses, 20 chickens or ducks). None on a parcel under 0.4 ha.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge · Fort St James · Vanderhoof · Fort St. John · Taylor

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1354, 2016, consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Industrial and Townsite Maps (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Backyard Hen and Duck Enclosure Checklist (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Animal Licences & Control, District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)

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