{"title":"Maple Ridge backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/maple-ridge","name":"Maple Ridge","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Maple Ridge","url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca"},"short_answer":"In Maple Ridge, hens are an \"agricultural\" use. They are allowed only on lots of 0.4 hectares (1 acre) or more, in the RS-3 and agricultural zones, and in RS-1 or RS-2 only if the lot is in the Agricultural Land Reserve. No separate hen rules were found. Up to two bee hives are allowed.","aliases":["backyard hens maple ridge","keep chickens maple ridge","beekeeping maple ridge","livestock zoning maple ridge"],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw, Licensing and Community Safety","value":"604-467-7305"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw, Licensing and Community Safety","value":"Bylaws@MapleRidge.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019 (PDF)","url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019"},{"title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012 (PDF)","url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Maple Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Maple Ridge dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/dog-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/pitt-meadows","name":"Pitt Meadows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":"Chickens are an 'Agricultural' use: only on lots of 0.4 ha (1 acre) or more, in RS-3 and the A zones, and in RS-1 or RS-2 only if the lot is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (the Zoning Bylaw also accepts lots designated Agricultural in the OCP). No separate hen rules were found.","short":"Only lots of 0.4 ha or more (RS-3, A zones)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019","title":"Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019","section":"definition of Agricultural; s. 605.11, 610.11, 611.11","quotes":["poultry; pigeons; doves; bees; and other animals or birds.","shall not be permitted on a Lot of less than 0.4 hectares; and","shall not be permitted on a Lot unless the Lot is within the Agricultural Land Reserve"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/community-safety/bylaw-enforcement","title":"Bylaw Enforcement, City of Maple Ridge","section":"FAQ","quotes":["This is an agricultural use permitted on a property .4 ha (1 acre) or more.","This is permitted on lands zoned RS-1 and RS-2 if they are designated Agricultural Land Reserve."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Buildings and structures that involve keeping poultry must be at least 60 m from the front and exterior side lot lines, 30 m from the rear and interior side lot lines, 30 m from wells and 30 m from the face of a residential building.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019","title":"Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019","section":"s. 610.7 (same numbers in RS-1, RS-3, A-1, A-2, A-3)","quotes":["The minimum Setbacks for Buildings and Structures that involve mushroom growing, or the keeping of swine or poultry shall be not less than:","a. from a Front Lot Line 60.0 metres","d. from an Exterior Side Lot Line 60.0 metres","e. from all wells 30.0 metres"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Hobby beekeeping is an accessory use in the RS-1, RS-1a to RS-1d, RS-2, RS-3 and SRS zones: up to two hives per lot, behind the principal residential building, entrance facing the centre of the lot, and behind a solid fence or hedge at least 2 m high (extending 6 m past the hive each way) or raised 2.5 m. Hives must be inaccessible to wildlife.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019","title":"Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019","section":"s. 402.13","quotes":["a maximum of two (2) bee hives per Lot shall be permitted;","shall be oriented with the hive entrance facing toward the centre of the","the hive shall be raised a minimum of 2.5 metres above the Finished","b. Boarding; c. Detached Garden Suite Residential; d. Hobby Beekeeping; e. Home Occupation;"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/wildlife-and-vector-control-consolidated-bylaw-no-7437-2018","title":"Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018 (consolidated)","section":"s. 4.5.3","quotes":["bee hives are inaccessible to Wildlife;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Livestock, which includes horses, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, cattle and birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, may be kept only as the Zoning Bylaw permits (Agricultural use, lots of 0.4 ha or more in the zones above). Livestock may not stray onto highways, public places or other private land.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012","section":"s. 11.1.1, 11.1.2, definition of Livestock","quotes":["No Owner shall Keep or permit to be kept Livestock except as permitted","i) a horse, mule, ass, swine, emu, ostrich, llama, alpaca, sheep or goat;","animals of the avian species including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 7600-2019; Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012; Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018 (bee hives)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019","title":"Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019","section":"title","quotes":["CITY OF MAPLE RIDGE ZONING BYLAW NO. 7600-2019"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012","section":"title","quotes":["Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012"]},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/wildlife-and-vector-control-consolidated-bylaw-no-7437-2018","title":"Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018 (consolidated)","section":"title","quotes":["Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437 - 2018"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":3},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nMaple Ridge has no separate backyard-hen bylaw. Under the [Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019), chickens are an \"Agricultural\" use. That use is allowed only on lots of 0.4 ha (1 acre) or more, in the RS-3 zone and the A zones. In RS-1 or RS-2 it is allowed only if the lot is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (the Zoning Bylaw also accepts lots designated Agricultural in the Official Community Plan). The City's Bylaw Enforcement FAQ names the same zones.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Number of hens: the Zoning Bylaw and the Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw set no limit that we found.\n- Roosters: neither bylaw mentions them. The Noise Control Bylaw bans animal or bird noise that disturbs the neighbourhood.\n- Permit: no permit, licence or registration for hens was found.\n- Coops: buildings and structures that involve keeping poultry must be at least 60 m from the front and exterior side lot lines, 30 m from the rear and interior side lot lines, 30 m from wells and 30 m from the face of a residential building. No coop size rule was found.\n- Other livestock (horses, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, cattle, and birds such as turkeys, ducks and geese) may be kept only as the Zoning Bylaw permits. Livestock may not stray onto highways, public places or other private land. Rules for ducks and rabbits on residential lots were not found. Impounded poultry costs $10 per day.\n- Bees: hobby beekeeping is allowed in the RS-1, RS-1a to RS-1d, RS-2, RS-3 and SRS zones. Up to two hives per lot, behind the principal residential building, entrance facing the centre of the lot, behind a solid fence or hedge at least 2 m high (extending 6 m past the hive each way) or raised 2.5 m. Hives must be inaccessible to wildlife under the Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018.\n- Questions: call 604-467-7305.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019","title":"Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/community-safety/bylaw-enforcement","title":"Bylaw Enforcement, City of Maple Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/wildlife-and-vector-control-consolidated-bylaw-no-7437-2018","title":"Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018 (consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/animal-control-and-licencing-bylaw-no-6908-2012","title":"Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/backyard-chickens.json"}}