District of North Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in the District of North Vancouver?

District of North Vancouver, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In the District of North Vancouver (not the City of North Vancouver), you can keep 2 to 6 hens, but only in single family residential (RS) zones, with a District hen permit and an inspected enclosure. Roosters are banned. Bees are allowed under a separate bylaw.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Yes, but only on properties in the single family residential (RS) zones, with a District hen permit and an inspected enclosure.Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, ss. 3, 4(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The keeping of hens is permitted on properties located in any of the single family residential (RS) zones No person shall keep hens unless they
Most hens	No more than 6 hens on a lot, and if you keep hens you must keep at least 2. Only one enclosure per lot.Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, s. 6(c)-(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording keep or permit to be kept more than 6 hens on any single family residential lot keep fewer than 2 hens, if hens are kept have or permit more than one enclosure per single family residential lot
Roosters	No. Roosters are prohibited, and so are chickens younger than 4 months.Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, s. 6(a)-(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording keep or permit to be kept any rooster on property that they own or occupy keep or permit to be kept any chicken younger than 4 months on property that
Coop rules	Enclosure (coop plus run) in the rear yard only, never front or side yard. Setbacks: 1.2 m from rear lot line, 1.5 m from side lot line, 1.2 m from a dwelling. Fully enclosed by electric fencing at least 2 m high; coop at least 0.4 m² per hen (max 5 m²); run at least 1 m² per hen.Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, s. 4(c); Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, s. 6(k) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording be constructed only in a rear yard From a rear lot line 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) minimum From an interior side 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) minimum From a dwelling unit 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) minimum be at least two metres in height a floor area of at least 0.4 square metres per hen, provided that no coop at least 1 square metre of floor area per hen construct or permit to be constructed an enclosure in the front yard or side yard
Permit or registration	Yes. A permit is needed: application fee $66 and annual permit fee $66, and the enclosure must be inspected before the permit is issued and every year after.Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, ss. 4(a)-(b), 5; Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481, Schedule A, Domestic Hens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording obtain a permit for the hens from the District by filling out all fields of the hen must be inspected annually thereafter Permit application fee $66.00 Annual permit fee $66.00
Bees	Allowed under the Bee Keeping Bylaw. Not more than 2 colonies on a parcel under 1,100 m². A hive may not be within 7.5 m of a parcel line unless it is 2.5 m or more above the ground, or under 2 m above the ground behind a solid fence or hedge over 2 m high that extends 6 m past the hive. Provide water; prevent swarming.Bee Keeping Bylaw 6474, ss. 2, 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Not more than 2 colonies of bees are permitted on a parcel having an area less than 1100 square A beehive is not permitted within 7.5 metres of any parcel line except provide adequate water to prevent the bees from seeking water from other sources when the hive is situated less than 2 metres above adjacent ground level and behind a solid fence or hedge more than 2 metres in height running parallel to any parcel line and extending at least 6 metres beyond the hive in both directions.
Other livestock	Zoning Bylaw 403A bans animal husbandry (poultry, boarding, animals other than household pets) unless specifically permitted. Hens are allowed under the Hens bylaw. Horses are allowed with a permit for each horse under the Regulation of Horses Bylaw 4298, on a lot of at least 1,100 m² for the first horse and 370 m² for each more.Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 403A(1)(b); Regulation of Horses Bylaw 4298, ss. 3, 4, 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording animal husbandry including: the keeping of poultry; the keeping of animals, except that household pets, other than The keeping of horses is permitted subject only to the provisions of this Bylaw. An occupier of property on which it is proposed to keep a horse or horses shall hold a valid permit for shall have a minimum of 1,100 square metres of lot
Bylaw	Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, 2016; Bee Keeping Bylaw 6474; Zoning Bylaw 3210 (s. 403A).Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, s. 1; Bee Keeping Bylaw 6474, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 403A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, 2016 THE DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER BEE KEEPING BYLAW BYLAW 6474 Effective Date - October 27, 1992 Uses Prohibited in All Zones

How it works

In the District of North Vancouver, hens are allowed under the Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211, only on properties in the single family residential (RS) zones. You need a District permit and an enclosure inspected before the permit is issued and every year after.

Steps

Check that your lot is in an RS zone. Ask the Planning Department on 604-990-2387 if unsure.
Apply for the permit. Fees are $66 to apply and $66 a year, from the Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481. How to apply is not on the bylaw; check dnv.org or call 604-990-2311.
Build the enclosure and have it inspected.

Good to know

2 to 6 hens on a lot (at least 2 if you keep any), one enclosure per lot. No roosters. No chickens younger than 4 months.
The coop and run go in the rear yard only: at least 1.2 m from the rear lot line, 1.5 m from the side lot line and 1.2 m from a dwelling.
Fully enclosed by electric fencing at least 2 m high; coop at least 0.4 m² per hen (up to 5 m²); run at least 1 m² per hen.
Hens must be locked in the coop from dusk to dawn. No selling eggs or meat, and no burying dead hens.
Bees are allowed under the Bee Keeping Bylaw 6474: no more than 2 colonies on a parcel under 1,100 m². The bylaw states no limit for larger parcels. Keep a hive 7.5 m from a parcel line unless it is 2.5 m or more above ground, or under 2 m above ground behind a solid fence or hedge over 2 m high that extends 6 m past the hive. Provide water and prevent swarming.
The Zoning Bylaw 3210 (s. 403A) bans other animal husbandry unless specifically permitted. Horses need a permit each under the Regulation of Horses Bylaw 4298, on a lot of at least 1,100 m² for the first horse and 370 m² for each more.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

North Vancouver · Belcarra · West Vancouver · Port Moody · Vancouver · Burnaby

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-single-family-residential-edgemont-zone.pdf (read 2026-11-06)
https://docs.dnv.org/documents/str-owner-authorization-form.pdf (read 2026-11-06)
Keeping of Domestic Hens Bylaw 8211 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
Bee Keeping Bylaw 6474 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
Regulation of Horses Bylaw 4298 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
Zoning Bylaw 3210 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)
Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF), District of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-06)

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