Nanaimo backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

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

Short answer

Yes, with limits. In the City of Nanaimo you may keep up to 6 hens or ducks on a residential lot of 0.045 to under 0.4 hectares, or 4 on a smaller lot, with no roosters. Beekeeping is allowed (1 hive on lots under 0.4 hectares). Other livestock is allowed only on land zoned for it.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Poultry may be kept only on parcels over 0.4 ha, except that hens or ducks are allowed on smaller residential parcels: up to 6 on parcels from 0.045 ha to under 0.4 ha, and up to 4 on parcels under 0.045 ha, with conditions. Not allowed inside a dwelling unit, on a balcony or deck, or in a cage (except to transport).Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, ss. 65-67 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Person shall keep or harbour any Poultry on any parcel of land unless that parcel of land has an area greater than .4 hectares. (a) a maximum of 6 hens or ducks, or combination thereof, on a parcel of land less than .4 hectares in size but greater than .045 hectares in size; or (b) if the parcel of land is smaller than .045 hectares in size, a maximum of 4 hens or ducks, within any Dwelling Unit, or on a balcony or deck; or
Most hens	4 hens or ducks combined on parcels under 0.045 ha; 6 on parcels from 0.045 ha to under 0.4 ha. The bylaw sets no hen cap above 0.4 ha, but the general 12-animal limit (s. 6) applies unless agriculture is a permitted use (s. 9.4(d)). City web page says 12 on 1 acre or more.Sources differ: The City web page (Animals in the City) gives "Less than .45 hectares: no more than 6" and "1 acre or more: 12"; the bylaw says 0.4 ha for the 6-hen tier and sets no hen-specific cap on larger parcels (general limits in s. 6 apply). Bylaw followed for small lots; the 12 figure is from the web page only.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 66; Animals in the City, web page FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording (a) a maximum of 6 hens or ducks, or combination thereof, on a parcel of land less than .4 (b) if the parcel of land is smaller than .045 hectares in size, a maximum of 4 hens or ducks, Unless expressly permitted by this Bylaw, no Person shall keep, on any Property, more than 12 Animals. The keeping of Livestock or Poultry on a Property on which agriculture is a permitted use pursuant to the applicable zoning bylaw. Less than .045 hectares: no more than 4 hens or ducks 1 acre or more: 12 hens or ducks maximum
Roosters	No roosters, cocks, cockerels or peafowl where hens or ducks are kept under the small-lot exception (parcels under 0.4 ha). The bylaw sets no rooster rule for larger parcels; the City web page wording on this is unclear.Sources differ: The bylaw condition is written as a proviso to the small-lot exception in s. 66; the web page states a city-wide ban. Roosters are named in the definition of Poultry.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 66(c); Animals in the City, web page FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording (c) no roosters, cocks, cockerels, or peafowl are kept on the Property; no roosters, cocks, cockerels, or peafowl are kept on the Property; may be kept on any property.
Coop rules	At least 0.37 m² of enclosure per hen or duck. Any enclosure, portable or fixed, must meet the setbacks of the zone; in AR1 and AR2 zones animal pens and enclosures must be at least 15 m from all lot lines. Keep enclosures clean, dry and free of odours; no butchering on the property.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 66; Zoning Bylaw 4500, section 6.10 Fence Height (consolidated), Zoning Bylaw 4500 s. 8.5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording (d) a minimum Enclosure of .37m2 must be provided per hen or duck; (e) any Enclosure containing hens or ducks, whether portable or stationary, must comply with the setback requirements of the zone; (f) Enclosures housing hens or ducks and the areas around them must be kept clean, dry, (h) no butchering or euthanizing of hens or ducks occurs on the Property; and buildings, structures, cages, enclosures, runs or pens used for the keeping of animals, drinking or feeding troughs or manure piles shall not be located less than 15m from all lot lines.
Permit or registration	None set. Nanaimo's bylaw and the City's page set no permit, licence or fee for keeping hens.
Bees	Allowed. On parcels under 0.4 ha: 1 hive (one hive box and no more than 2 nucs on top). On parcels over 0.4 ha: up to 3 hives per 0.4 ha. Hives at least 7.5 m from neighbours unless behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.83 m high with the entrance facing away; water within 1 m; keeper must be registered under the Bee Act.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, ss. 56-58 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Person shall keep or harbour bees in excess of 1 beehive, consisting of no more than 1 hive box and 2 nucs on top, on any parcel of land under .4 hectares. 3 beehives, consisting of no more than 1 hive box and 2 nucs per hive, per .4 hectares. Apiaries shall not be located within 7.5 meters of an adjacent property line unless: Every Person keeping Bees must be registered under the Bee Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter
Other livestock	Livestock (goats, horses, alpaca, sheep, swine) may be kept only on property zoned for it; the Zoning Bylaw permits Agriculture in the AR1 and AR2 zones, with animal pens at least 15 m from all lot lines. Not in a dwelling unit; no grazing on unfenced land unless tethered. Rabbits: pens 3 m from property lines, sterilized.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, ss. 69-73, 2 (Livestock); Zoning Bylaw 4500, section 6.10 Fence Height (consolidated), Zoning Bylaw 4500 s. 8.2.1, 8.5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Person shall keep any Livestock on any property, within the City, other than property zoned for such uses in the City’s Zoning Bylaw. cows, donkeys, emus, goats, horses, llamas, mules, ostriches, sheep, situated at least 3 metres away from each Property line. (b) 4 Hook Bill Birds, chinchillas, domestic ferrets, hedgehogs, Rabbits, sugar gliders, or A Person must not keep any Rabbit which is not Sterilized. Agriculture P P Roadside stands for agriculture or horticulture products grown on the lot are permitted shall not be located less than 15m from all lot lines.
Bylaw	Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316; enclosure setbacks come from the Zoning Bylaw No. 4500.Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw 4500, section 6.10 Fence Height (consolidated), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as “ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW 2021 NO. 7316.” City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw No. 4500

How it works

Chickens, bees and livestock in the City of Nanaimo are regulated by the Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316 together with the Zoning Bylaw. Poultry may be kept on parcels over 0.4 hectares; on smaller residential parcels hens or ducks are allowed with conditions. The bylaw and the City's page set no permit, licence or fee for keeping hens.

Hens and ducks

Parcels under 0.045 hectares: up to 4 hens or ducks combined.
Parcels from 0.045 to under 0.4 hectares: up to 6.
Parcels over 0.4 hectares: the bylaw sets no hen cap, so the general 12-animal limit applies unless agriculture is a permitted use.
No roosters, cockerels or peafowl on the smaller parcels (under 0.4 hectares) where hens are kept under this exception.
At least 0.37 m² of enclosure per bird. The enclosure must meet the zone's setbacks, and be kept clean, dry and free of odours.
Not inside a dwelling, on a balcony or deck, or in a cage except to transport.
No butchering on the property.

Bees

Lots under 0.4 hectares: 1 hive (one hive box and no more than 2 nucs on top). Larger lots: up to 3 hives per 0.4 hectares.
Hives at least 7.5 m from neighbours unless behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.83 m high with the entrance facing away.
Water within 1 m, and the keeper must be registered under the Bee Act.

Good to know

Livestock (goats, horses, alpaca, sheep, swine) only on property zoned for it. The Zoning Bylaw permits agriculture in the AR1 and AR2 zones, with animal pens at least 15 m from all lot lines. Not in a dwelling.
Rabbits: pens 3 m from property lines, and sterilized.
The City's Animals in the City page says 12 hens at 1 acre or more and describes the rooster ban as city-wide; the bylaw says otherwise, so confirm with Animal Control or Planning.

Official forms and pages

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Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animals in the City, City of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-05)
Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw 4500, section 6.10 Fence Height (consolidated) (read 2026-11-05)

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