Merritt backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

Merritt, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Merritt you may keep 2 to 6 hens (no roosters) on parcels zoned R1, R3, P2 or P3, and bees with a City beekeeping permit on R1 or R3 lots. Other livestock and poultry are banned on residential lots.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Yes, backyard hens are allowed only on parcels zoned R1, R3, P2 or P3, and never in a structure used for human habitation. The keeping of hens must not cause a nuisance.Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, consolidated with Amendment 2413, 2026, s. 4.39.1; Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 49, 50 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Backyard Hens are restricted to Parcels in the R1, R3, P2 and P3 zones. A property owner or occupant may only keep Hens in accordance with the following provisions: a person must not keep Hens in, upon, or under any structure used for human habitation
Most hens	Minimum of two and maximum of six hens per property.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 50(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording a minimum of two and a maximum of six (6) Hens may be kept on any such property
Roosters	Not allowed. The zoning definition of Backyard Hens excludes roosters, and the Animal Control Bylaw bans poultry and fowl unless a bylaw allows them (it provides only for hens).Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, consolidated with Amendment 2413, 2026, s. 2 definition; Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 3, 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording BACKYARD HENS means hens that may be kept in the rear yard of a residential Parcel, but excludes roosters. “Hen” means a female domestic chicken no horses, mules, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry or fowl shall be harboured within the City
Coop rules	One hen structure per property, in the rear yard behind the principal building, at least 1.2 m from any parcel line, not visible from the street, predator- and rodent-proof. Enclosure needs a run, at least 0.4 m² floor per hen, a wooden floor 0.3 m above ground or a concrete floor, one nest box, and 20 cm of perch per hen.Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, consolidated with Amendment 2413, 2026, s. 4.39.2-4.39.3; Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 52 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Only one Structure containing Backyard Hens is permitted on each property. Setback a minimum of 1.2 metres from any Parcel Line, not be visible from the street a minimum enclosed floor area of 0.4 square metres (4 square feet) per Hen a wooden floor at least 0.3 metres above grade, or a concrete floor for each Hen, a minimum of 20cm of perching space
Permit or registration	Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
Bees	Allowed with a City beekeeping permit, issued before bees arrive, with written consent from abutting neighbours (refusal only on medical grounds). Bees only on R1 or R3 lots. Hive limits: 2 on lots under 1,000 m², 4 on 1,000 to 2,000 m², 6 over 2,000 m². Hives in the rear yard, 2 m from side and rear lines.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 53, 56; Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, consolidated with Amendment 2413, 2026, s. 4.40; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2386, Schedule M · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording possess a valid beekeeping permit, which must be procured prior to any bees arriving on the property only one (1) permit per residence will be issued. Bees may only be kept on Parcels zoned R1 or R3. No more than 2 beehives on a Parcel of less than 1,000 m2, 4 beehives on a Parcel that is between 1,000 m2 and 2,000 m2, and 6 beehives on a Parcel that is over 2,000 m2. Beehives have Interior Side, Exterior Side and Rear Setbacks of 2.0 metres. Bee Project Permit Fee $57.88 $60.77 $63.80
Other livestock	Not on residential lots: no horses, mules, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry or fowl except as the Zoning or Animal Control Bylaw allows (hens only). AR1 agricultural zoning permits agricultural use, which includes livestock.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 13; Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, consolidated with Amendment 2413, 2026, s. 2 Agriculture, Urban · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Except as may be allowed in the City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw, or provision of this Bylaw, no horses, mules, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry or fowl shall be harboured within the City. This Use includes Backyard Hens and Beekeeping, but excludes fur bearing animals or other livestock and fungi. The following principal uses are permitted in the zoning district designated AR1: the indoor or outdoor growing, rearing, producing, harvesting, or sale of agricultural crops, fur bearing animals, poultry or other livestock
Bylaw	City of Merritt Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018 (ss. 49-59); City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (ss. 4.39, 4.40).Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, consolidated with Amendment 2413, 2026, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw shall be cited as the “City of Merritt Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018”. Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020

How it works

The City of Merritt's Animal Control Bylaw 2241 bans horses, mules, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and fowl in the City, except as the Zoning Bylaw 2284 or the Animal Control Bylaw allows. Hens (not ducks or geese, which fall under "poultry or fowl") and bees are the allowed exceptions. Agricultural AR1 zoning permits agricultural use, which includes livestock, but its animal rules were not read.

Steps

Hens

Check that your parcel is zoned R1, R3, P2 or P3. The zone names have changed (R1 is now "Low Density Residential"), so check the City zoning map for your lot.
Keep 2 to 6 hens. Roosters are not allowed, and hens may never be kept in a structure used for human habitation. The keeping of hens must not cause a nuisance.
Build one hen structure in the rear yard behind the principal building, at least 1.2 m from any parcel line, not visible from the street, and predator- and rodent-proof. The enclosure needs a run, at least 0.4 m² of floor per hen, a wooden floor 0.3 m above ground or a concrete floor, one nest box and 20 cm of perch per hen.

Bees

Confirm your lot is zoned R1 or R3.
Get a City beekeeping permit before the bees arrive, with written consent from abutting neighbours (they may refuse only on medical grounds), and pay the fee.
Renew by December 31 each year.

Good to know

Eggs are for eating only, not for sale. No slaughtering on the property. Manure must be composted or disposed of to prevent odours.
Hive limits: 2 on lots under 1,000 m², 4 on 1,000 to 2,000 m², 6 on lots over 2,000 m². Hives go in the rear yard, 2 m from side and rear lines.
Beekeeping permits are not transferable, issuing one is at the City's sole discretion, and one may be revoked after three or more complaints.
No permit, licence or fee for keeping hens was found in the bylaws or fee schedule.

What you'll need

Beekeeping permit application form (in the Animal Control Bylaw)
Written consent from abutting neighbours, or a refusal on medical grounds

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Logan Lake · Kamloops · Princeton · Ashcroft · Peachland · West Kelowna

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018 (PDF), consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, City of Merritt (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), consolidated with Amendment 2413, 2026, City of Merritt (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2386 (PDF), Schedule M, City of Merritt (read 2026-11-05)
Contact, City of Merritt (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.