---
title: Midway backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Midway?"
place: Midway, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/midway
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Midway
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Midway backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

**Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Midway?

**Short answer:** In Midway, you can keep up to 3 hens with a Village hen permit, only on single-family residential (R1 and R2) lots of at least 512 m², with written consent from all abutting neighbours. Bees, roosters and other livestock are not allowed unless a bylaw says so.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Midway, https://www.midwaybc.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee is stated in the bylaw. Penalty schedule: $50 first offence, $100 second, $200 third.  
**How long:** A hen permit is renewed each year by December 31. It must be received before the hens arrive.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office (Municipal Hall), 661 Eighth Ave, Midway, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed on statutory holidays)
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement Officer, 250-449-8353
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement Officer, midwaybylaw@shaw.ca

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, up to 3 hens, only on parcels zoned single-family residential (R1 and R2) with a lot of at least 512 m², written consent from all abutting neighbours, and a hen permit from the Village.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, s. 40](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no more than three (3) hens may be kept on any parcel zoned for single family residential use (R1 and R2) provided that" … "the lot size is a minimum of 512 square metres (1/8 acre)"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, s. 40(ii)](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the property owner or renter has obtained and provided the City with written consent from all abutting neighbours"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Most hens:** 3 hens
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, s. 40](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no more than three (3) hens may be kept on any parcel zoned for single family residential use (R1 and R2)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Roosters:** Not named. The bylaw bans keeping poultry or fowl except as it or the Zoning Bylaw allows, and its exception covers only hens (female chickens).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, s. 3 (Hen), s. 12](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "means a female domestic chicken kept for the purposes of egg production" … "poultry or fowl shall be harboured within the Village"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coop rules:** Any hen structure at least 1.5 m from every property line and not in the front yard setback; only one structure per parcel; at least 0.4 m² enclosed area per hen; fenced against vermin and predators; kept clean.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, s. 40(iii) to (vii)](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "any structure housing hens, whether portable or stationary, is always located at least 1.5 metres from any property line" … "a minimum enclosed area of 0.4 square metres (4 square feet) is provided per hen" … "only one structure containing hens is permitted on a parcel" … "must not be located within the front yard setback"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit or registration:** Yes. A hen permit from the Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Schedule B form) must be received before the hens arrive. One permit per residence, renewed each year by December 31, not transferable; issued at the Village's sole discretion; Council can revoke it after 3 or more complaints.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, s. 40 (after (xiii))](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Applications to the Bylaw Enforcement Officer in the form of Schedule “B” attached to and forming part of this bylaw for a permit for hens must be received by the Village prior to the hens arriving on the property." … "Only one (1) permit per residence will be issued." … "Application must be made by the permit holder to the Village annually by December 31st to renew a hen project permit." … "issuance of a permit is at the sole discretion of the Village"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bees:** Not allowed unless the Zoning Bylaw or the Animal Control Bylaw allows it; the bylaw bans keeping bees in the Village except as those permit.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, s. 12](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no horses, mules, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, cattle, sheep, goats, bees, poultry or fowl shall be harboured within the Village"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other livestock:** Horses, mules, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, cattle, sheep, goats and other poultry or fowl are not allowed in the Village except as the Zoning Bylaw or the Animal Control Bylaw allows.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, s. 12](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Except as may be allowed in the Village of Midway Zoning Bylaw, or provision of this bylaw, no horses, mules, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, cattle, sheep, goats, bees, poultry or fowl shall be harboured within the Village."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012 (ss. 12 and 40); Zoning Bylaw No. 464, 2015
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012, ss. 1, 12, 40](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Village of Midway Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012"
  - Source: [Bylaws and Policies, Bylaws page](https://midwaybc.ca/bylaws-policies/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw 464 – Zoning Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf) bans keeping poultry, fowl, bees and most livestock in the Village, except as the Zoning Bylaw or the Animal Control Bylaw allows. The Animal Control Bylaw allows hens only. Roosters are not named in the bylaw text; its exception covers only hens (female chickens).

## Steps

1. Check that your lot is zoned R1 or R2 and is at least 512 m².
2. Get written consent from all abutting neighbours.
3. Get a hen permit from the Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Schedule B form) before the hens arrive. Phone 250-449-8353 or email midwaybylaw@shaw.ca.
4. Keep no more than 3 hens. Renew the permit each year by December 31.

## Good to know

- One permit per residence. It cannot be transferred, is issued at the Village's sole discretion, and Council can revoke it after 3 or more complaints. A refused applicant may appeal to Council.
- Coop: at least 1.5 m from every property line and not in the front yard setback; only one structure per parcel; at least 0.4 m² of enclosed area per hen; fenced against vermin and predators; kept clean.
- Manure must be composted or disposed of to avoid odours. Eggs are for personal use only, not for resale. No slaughtering.
- Bees, horses, mules, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, cattle, sheep, goats and other poultry or fowl are banned unless the Zoning Bylaw allows them. The posted Zoning Bylaw cannot be read online, so ask the Village Office (250-449-2222).
- The bylaw does not state a permit fee.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012 (PDF), Village of Midway](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/how-many-pets.md)
- [Midway noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Greenwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 438, 2012 (PDF), Village of Midway](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BYLAW-438-2012-Midway-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws and Policies, Village of Midway](https://midwaybc.ca/bylaws-policies/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Village Office, Village of Midway](https://midwaybc.ca/village-office/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form (PDF), Village of Midway](https://midwaybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2024-Complaint-Primary-Letter.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Midway. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/backyard-chickens/_