Maple Ridge backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
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.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | 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.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, definition of Agricultural; s. 605.11, 610.11, 611.11; Bylaw Enforcement, FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingpoultry; 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 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. |
|---|---|
| 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 | 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.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, s. 610.7 (same numbers in RS-1, RS-3, A-1, A-2, A-3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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 |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bees | 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.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, s. 402.13; Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018 (consolidated), s. 4.5.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga 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; bee hives are inaccessible to Wildlife; |
| Other livestock | 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.Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012, s. 11.1.1, 11.1.2, definition of Livestock · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 7600-2019; Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012; Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018 (bee hives)Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, title; Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012, title; Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018 (consolidated), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCITY OF MAPLE RIDGE ZONING BYLAW NO. 7600-2019 Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012 Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437 - 2018 |
How it works
Maple Ridge has no separate backyard-hen bylaw. Under the 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.
Good to know
- Number of hens: the Zoning Bylaw and the Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw set no limit that we found.
- Roosters: neither bylaw mentions them. The Noise Control Bylaw bans animal or bird noise that disturbs the neighbourhood.
- Permit: no permit, licence or registration for hens was found.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Questions: call 604-467-7305.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Pitt Meadows · Port Coquitlam · Anmore · Township of Langley · Port Moody · Belcarra
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019 (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Enforcement, City of Maple Ridge (read 2026-11-05)
- Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw No. 7437-2018 (consolidated) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 6908-2012 (read 2026-11-05)
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. How answers are checked.