North Saanich backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

North Saanich, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes, in North Saanich's single-family residential zones on lots of 1,115 square metres or more. Animal Control Bylaw 751 allows 10, 20 or 30 birds depending on lot size, in a coop that meets set rules. Roosters are mostly banned, and bee hives must be 20 feet from property lines.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Yes, in the single-family residential (R) zones, on lots of 1,115 m² (12,000 sq. ft.) or more within the limits below. Poultry may not be kept in the multi-family (RM-1, RM-2), commercial (C-1 to C-4, CS-1), marine (M-1 to M-7), community use (P-1), public assembly (P-2) and park (P-4) zones.Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, ss. 1.1 "Residential Zone", 9.1, 9.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording “Residential Zone” means parcels within the Single Family Residential Zones 1,115 m2 (12,000 sq. ft.) to 4,047 m2 (one acre) 10 head No person shall keep or harbour any poultry on land situated in the following zones:
Most hens	In residential zones: 10 birds on lots of 1,115 m² to 4,047 m² (one acre); 20 on lots over 0.4 ha up to 8,094 m² (two acres); 30 on lots over 8,094 m². The bylaw does not limit poultry numbers on parcels in the Agricultural Land Reserve.Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, ss. 9.1, 9.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 1,115 m2 (12,000 sq. ft.) to 4,047 m2 (one acre) 10 head over 0.4 ha (one acre) up to 8,094 m2 (two acres) 20 head over 8,094 m2 (two acres) 30 head this bylaw does not limit the maximum number of poultry that can be kept on parcels within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Roosters	Not allowed in residential zones, except one rooster on a parcel over 7,082 m² (1.75 acres), only with hens in the same coop, kept in a secure coop overnight (sunset to sunrise, blocking light and crowing). Animal Control Bylaw 751 says 7,028 m²; the Zoning Bylaw applies the more restrictive rule.Sources differ: The two bylaws give different areas for 1.75 acres: Animal Control Bylaw s. 9.4 says 7,028 m² and Zoning Bylaw s. 107.1.2(d) (and 107.1.1(i)) says 7,082 m² (1.75 acres is about 7,082 m²). The 7,028 figure looks like a typo, but the text was not reconciled; the Zoning Bylaw also limits the rooster to one, secured overnight in a coop.Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, ss. 9.4, 9.6; Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 (consolidated 2023), s. 107.1.2(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Roosters are not permitted in a Residential Zone, except one rooster may be kept on parcels over 7,028 m2 (1.75 acres) and only if there are hens in the same coop. in a manner that eliminates any light intrusion and prevents early morning crowing. A parcel must exceed 7,082 square metres (1.75 acres) in area; only when hens are present; parcel must exceed 7,082 square metres (1.75 acres) in area otherwise only in accordance with the more restrictive of setbacks
Coop rules	Floor area of at least 0.37 m² per bird and no more than 9.2 m²; a roofed outdoor enclosure of at least 0.92 m²; no taller than 2 m; sited at least 7.6 m from all property lines; a perch (15 cm) and a nest box for each bird; birds secured inside from sunset to sunrise. Keep coops clean and keep existing trees and hedges along adjacent boulevards and property lines as buffers.Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, ss. 9.5, 9.7, 9.8; Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 (consolidated 2023), definition of "structure" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording provide at least .37 m2 (4 ft 2) of coop floor area per each head of poultry; be no larger than 9.2m2 (100 ft2) in floor area; provide a minimum of .92 m 2 (10ft 2) of roofed outdoor enclosure; be no more than 2 m (6.5 ft.) in height; be sited and setback no less than 7.6 m from all property lines; be secured from sunset to sunrise, with poultry kept within. Existing trees and hedges along adjacent boulevards and property lines must be retained as buffer zones where poultry are kept. (g) coops (poultry) established in accordance with the Animal Control Bylaw;
Permit or registration	Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
Bees	Allowed as an accessory use. A hive or other bee-housing device must be at least 20 feet from any property line, unless used with a greenhouse operation. In single-family residential (R) zones, beekeeping is permitted only as a non-commercial use unless set up as a home occupation.Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, s. 13.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 (consolidated 2023), s. 107.1.2(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall place any hive or other device for the housing of bees on any parcel of land unless the said hive or device is located at least 20 feet from any property line the accessory keeping of bees provided that: unless established in accordance with the home occupation provisions. permissible as a secondary permitted use only, except for lands within the ALR or Rural Agricultural Zones
Other livestock	Residential lots: farm animals other than horses need a lot of at least 4,000 m² (one animal; two over 8,000 m²). Horses need at least 3,400 m² (two animals; four over 6,000 m²). No farm animals in the multi-family, commercial, marine, community use, public assembly or park zones. Fur-bearing animals may not be raised.Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, ss. 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording unless said parcel is at least 4000 square metres in area. Where a parcel exceeds 8000 square metres, two farm animals may be kept. unless said parcel is at least 3400 square metres in area. four animals of the equine family may be kept. No person shall keep or harbor any farm animal on land situated in the No parcel of land within the Municipality may be used for the raising of fur-
Bylaw	District of North Saanich Animal Control By-law (1993), Bylaw No. 751 (poultry, bees, farm animals); District of North Saanich Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 (rooster and bee rules, s. 107.1)Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, s. 22.1 and title; Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 (consolidated 2023), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording District of North Saanich Animal Control By-law (1993) ANIMAL CONTROL BY-LAW NO. 751 DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH ZONING BYLAW NO. 1255

How it works

Poultry, bees and farm animals are governed by Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, with some rules in the Zoning Bylaw No. 1255. Poultry means chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and other birds raised for food or eggs.

Chickens and other poultry

Poultry is allowed in the single-family residential (R) zones on lots of 1,115 square metres (12,000 square feet) or more. The bylaw does not address smaller R-zone lots, so ask the District.
The limit counts all poultry, not only hens: 10 birds on lots of 1,115 to 4,047 square metres; 20 on lots over 0.4 hectares up to 8,094 square metres; 30 on lots over 8,094 square metres. The bylaw sets no limit on parcels in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Coop: floor area of at least 0.37 square metres per bird and no more than 9.2 square metres, a roofed outdoor enclosure of at least 0.92 square metres, no taller than 2 metres, and at least 7.6 metres from all property lines. Provide a perch (15 centimetres) and a nest box for each bird.
Keep the birds inside the coop from sunset to sunrise, and keep the coop clean.
Poultry is not allowed in the multi-family, commercial, marine, community use, public assembly or park zones.

Roosters

Roosters are not allowed in residential zones, except one rooster on a parcel over 7,082 square metres (1.75 acres), kept only with hens in the same coop and in a secure coop overnight.

Bees and farm animals

Hives must be at least 20 feet from any property line, unless used with a greenhouse operation. In R zones, beekeeping is non-commercial unless set up as a home occupation.
Farm animals other than horses need a lot of at least 4,000 square metres (one animal; two over 8,000). Horses need at least 3,400 square metres (two animals; four over 6,000). Fur-bearing animals may not be raised.

Good to know

The Animal Control Bylaw says 7,028 square metres for a rooster, while the Zoning Bylaw says 7,082. The Zoning Bylaw says the more restrictive rule applies, so confirm with the District.
Strata rules, covenants and other restrictions can still prohibit poultry.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Sidney · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · Langford · View Royal

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 (consolidated 2023) (PDF) (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.