---
title: North Cowichan backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in North Cowichan?"
place: North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/north-cowichan
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: Municipality of North Cowichan
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# North Cowichan backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In North Cowichan, poultry is allowed on lots over 8,000 m² (1.98 acres). On lots over 1,675 m² and under 8,000 m², you can keep no more than 12 rabbits or poultry in total. No permit was found, and coops must be 15 m from every lot line.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Municipality of North Cowichan, https://www.northcowichan.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit or fee for backyard poultry was found. Improper keeping of bees: bylaw notice $100, or municipal ticket $150.  
**How long:** Not applicable. The rules apply as long as you keep the animals.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-746-3108
- Online: Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF), https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons) may be kept on any lot over 8,000 m² (1.98 acres). On lots from 1,675 m² (0.41 acre) up to 8,000 m², only a limited number (see max_hens). The zoning text gives no permission on lots of 1,675 m² or less.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, s. 48.1](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of farm animals and poultry is permitted on a lot greater than 8000 m2 (1.98 ac) in" … "The keeping of farm animals and poultry is not permitted on a lot less than 8000 m2 (1.98 ac)"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, s. 48.1, s. 1 definitions](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)
  - Official wording: "“poultry” means chickens, turkeys, ducks, gees and pigeons"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Lots over 1,675 m² and under 8,000 m²: no more than 12 rabbits or poultry in total (on lots 4,000 to under 8,000 m² this is alongside up to 2 farm animals). Lots over 8,000 m²: no number is stated.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, s. 48.1, s. 48.1(2)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)
  - Official wording: "a total of not more than 12 rabbits or poultry" … "a total of not more than 12 rabbits or poultry and a total of not more"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Coop rules:** Any structure that houses farm animals or poultry must be at least 15 m from every lot line (or the zone's larger setback, if bigger). Manure storage structures must also be 15 m from any lot line.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, s. 48.1, s. 48.1(3)-(5)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)
  - Official wording: "Any structure to house farm animals, or poultry must be set back at least 15 m from any lot line" … "Any structure used for the storage of manure must be set back at least 15 m from any lot line"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bees:** Allowed under the Animal Responsibility Bylaw if the keeper provides adequate water for the bees on their own property and keeps them in a way that reasonably prevents swarming. Bees are not counted as animals that must not trespass (s. 28).
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 3740, 2019, s. 5](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/Animal%20Responsibility%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Person who keeps bees must" … "maintain the bees in a condition that will reasonably prevent swarming"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Farm animals (cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, llamas, swine etc.) are not allowed on lots under 8,000 m². On lots from 4,000 m² (0.99 acre) to under 8,000 m² no more than 2 farm animals. Allowed on lots over 8,000 m² (1.98 acres). Rabbits must be in a secure pen.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, s. 48.1](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)
  - Official wording: "than 2 farm animals"
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 3740, 2019, s. 4](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/Animal%20Responsibility%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must not keep rabbits in an outdoor Pen, cage or run, unless the Pen, cage or run is securely enclosed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (s. 48.1, added by Bylaw 3758); Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 3740, 2019 (s. 5 bees).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, s. 48.1, title](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW 1997 No. 2950 CONSOLIDATION Current to September 14, 2026 Last amended on September 8, 2026"
  - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 3740, 2019, s. 1](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/Animal%20Responsibility%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 3740, 2019”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The rules come from the Zoning Bylaw (section 48.1) and the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw](<https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/Animal%20Responsibility%20Bylaw.pdf>).

- **Lots over 8,000 m² (1.98 acres):** poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons) is allowed, and no number is stated. Farm animals are allowed too.
- **Lots over 1,675 m² and under 8,000 m²:** no more than 12 rabbits or poultry in total. On lots from 4,000 m² (0.99 acre) to under 8,000 m², you may also keep up to 2 farm animals.
- **Lots of 1,675 m² or less:** the zoning text gives no permission for poultry.

## Steps

1. Check your lot size on your property record or the zoning maps.
2. Keep any structure that houses poultry or farm animals at least 15 m from every lot line (or the zone's larger setback, if bigger). Manure storage must also be 15 m from any lot line.
3. Keep rabbits in a secure pen.
4. Ask Bylaw Services at 250-746-3108 if your situation is unclear.

## Good to know

- No permit, licence or registration for backyard poultry was found.
- The bylaws do not mention roosters, and no coop size rules were found.
- Farm animals (cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, llamas, swine and so on) are not allowed on lots under 8,000 m².
- Bees are allowed if you provide adequate water for them on your own property and keep them in a way that reasonably prevents swarming. No zoning limit on hives was found.
- Improper keeping of bees is $100 by bylaw notice ($50 if paid within 14 days, $120 after 28 days) or $150 by municipal ticket.
- The 15 m setback is large, so on many small lots a coop cannot meet it.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/backyard-chickens.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw directory | Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/bylaw-directory) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Tickets &amp; Notices | Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/tickets-notices) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, s. 48.1 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 3740, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/Animal%20Responsibility%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Municipality of North Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-chickens/_