---
title: North Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?"
place: North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/north-vancouver
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of North Vancouver
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# North Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in part. The City of North Vancouver allows up to eight hens (no roosters) as an accessory use at homes in zones that permit it, and up to two beehives in the one-unit RS-1 zone only. No permit or fee is stated for hens. Other livestock is prohibited by the Zoning Bylaw.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of North Vancouver, https://www.cnv.org)  
**Cost:** No permit is required for hens, and no fee is stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Engineering (general questions), 604-983-7333
- Email: Engineering, eng@cnv.org
- Phone: Bylaw Services (complaints), 604-982-8302
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylaw@cnv.org

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, hens only, as an accessory use. The Zoning Bylaw permits Accessory Hen Keeping in the RS-1 and RS-2 zones and lists it as an accessory use in several other residential zones (RS-4B, RG-2, RG-2A, RG-3, RG-4, RM-2); the City page says only Single Unit Residential (OCP-R1) dwellings. Hens are for personal use only; no sale of eggs or products.
  - Source: [Urban Chicken Keeping, Urban Chicken Keeping page](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Social-Planning/Local-Food/Urban-Chicken-Keeping)
  - Official wording: "Only residents living in Single Unit Residential (OCP-R1) zoned dwellings are permitted to keep chickens" … "No sale of eggs or slaughter of chickens is permitted"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1995 No. 6700, Zoning Bylaw s. 501(1)(h)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "permitted in the RS-1 and RS-2 One-Unit Residential Zones:" … "Accessory Hen Keeping, with customarily incidental Accessory" … "(d) Accessory Hen Keeping subject to Sections 412 and 514"
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 2](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Hens shall be kept for personal use only, and eggs, manure, meat, and other products"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Up to eight hens in aggregate per permitted premises.
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 2](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "more than eight (8) hens in aggregate."
  - Source: [Urban Chicken Keeping, Urban Chicken Keeping page](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Social-Planning/Local-Food/Urban-Chicken-Keeping)
  - Official wording: "Residents are permitted to keep up to eight hens"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. The keeping of roosters is prohibited.
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 2](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of roosters is prohibited."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** No hen-specific coop rules. A coop that is a building follows Zoning s. 514: behind the front of the house; in the rear 25% of the lot if over 10 m²; 1.22 m from the rear line, 0.61 m from an interior side line, 3.048 m from the house; height 3.658 m; all accessory buildings together limited to the lesser of 0.1 times lot area or 55.7 m². Build predator-proof; no slaughter on site.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1995 No. 6700, Zoning Bylaw s. 501(1)(h)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Structures subject to Section 412, and customarily incidental" … "Accessory Buildings subject to Section 514 of this bylaw."
  - Source: [RS and RT Zone Accessory Structures handout (excerpt of Zoning Bylaw section 412), Zoning Bylaw s. 412(1)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Zoning/RS-RT-Accessory-Structure-Handout.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall not exceed a Height of 3.658 metres (12 feet);"
  - Source: [Urban Chicken Keeping, Urban Chicken Keeping page](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Social-Planning/Local-Food/Urban-Chicken-Keeping)
  - Official wording: "Minimize the risk of predation and foraging by bears, coyotes, skunks, rats, and raccoons through proper and secure construction of pen and coop"
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 2](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Hens shall not be slaughtered or euthanized on the property."
  - Source: [Accessory Building Handout, Zoning Bylaw s. 514(1), (4), (5)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Zoning/Accessory-Building-Handout.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be sited behind the front face of the Principal Building, and when" … "(a) 1.22 metres (4 feet) from the Rear Lot Line;" … "(e) 0.61 metres (2 feet) from the Interior Side Lot Line." … "The total floor area for all Accessory Buildings on the Lot shall not exceed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** No permit is required, and no fee is stated.
  - Source: [Urban Chicken Keeping, Urban Chicken Keeping page](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Social-Planning/Local-Food/Urban-Chicken-Keeping)
  - Official wording: "No permits are required"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Hobby beekeeping is allowed in the RS-1 One-Unit Residential zone only: at most 2 hives, behind the principal building, entrance facing away from neighbours' dwellings, 7.5 m from the neighbouring property line unless raised 2.5 m or behind a solid fence or hedge 1.83 m high. The apiary must be registered under the provincial Bee Act.
  - Source: [Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985, s. 4, s. 5](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Hobby Bee Keeper shall only keep bees within the RS-1 One Unit" … "A maximum of two (2) hives shall be permitted;" … "Hives shall not be located within 7.5 meters of an adjacent property line" … "be raised a minimum of 2.5 meters above grade" … "Bee Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 29"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** The Zoning Bylaw prohibits in all zones an agricultural use involving the keeping of horses, livestock, swine, fur bearing animals, poultry, pigeons, doves, bees or other animals or birds. Goats and ducks are not named. Hens (Bylaw 4213) and hobby bees (Bylaw 7985, Zoning s. 401(5)) are the exceptions.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1995 No. 6700, Zoning Bylaw s. 402(5)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Uses shall be prohibited in all zones:" … "An agricultural Use involving mushroom growing or the keeping of horses," … "livestock, swine, fur bearing animals, poultry, pigeons, doves, bees, or" … "(5) Hobby Bee Keeper and Educational Bee Keeper subject to the regulations"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw, 1970, No. 4213 (hens); Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw, 2009, No. 7985 (bees); Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700
  - Source: [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012), s. 4](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw, 1970, No. 4213"
  - Source: [Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985, s. 1](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw, 2009, No. 7985"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1995 No. 6700, Title](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Hens are allowed under the [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf) and the [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf), which permits Accessory Hen Keeping in the RS-1 and RS-2 zones and lists it as an accessory use in several other residential zones (RS-4B, RG-2, RG-2A, RG-3, RG-4, RM-2). The City's chicken page is narrower: it says only Single Unit Residential (OCP-R1) dwellings, so confirm your zone with Planning. Hobby bees fall under the [Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf).

## Good to know

- Hens: up to eight in aggregate per permitted premises. No roosters. For personal use only, with no sale of eggs or products. No slaughter on site.
- Coops: there are no hen-specific coop rules. A coop that is a building follows the Zoning Bylaw's accessory building rules (s. 514): behind the front of the house; in the rear 25% of the lot if over 10 m²; 1.22 m from the rear lot line, 0.61 m from an interior side line and 3.048 m from the house; height up to 3.658 m. Build it predator-proof.
- Bees: RS-1 zone only, at most 2 hives, behind the principal building, entrance facing away from neighbours' dwellings. Keep hives 7.5 m from the neighbouring property line unless raised 2.5 m or behind a solid fence or hedge 1.83 m high. The apiary must be registered under the provincial Bee Act.
- Other livestock: the Zoning Bylaw prohibits in all zones the keeping of horses, livestock, swine, fur bearing animals, poultry, pigeons, doves, bees or other animals or birds, apart from hens and hobby bees. Goats and ducks are not named; ask Bylaw Services at 604-982-8302.

## Official forms and pages

- [Urban Chicken Keeping](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Social-Planning/Local-Food/Urban-Chicken-Keeping)
- [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf)
- [Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/backyard-chickens.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Urban Chicken Keeping, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Social-Planning/Local-Food/Urban-Chicken-Keeping) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Small Creatures Limitation Bylaw 1970 No. 4213 (consolidated September 20, 2012) (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/4213-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Hobby Bee Keeping Bylaw 2009 No. 7985 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Hobby-Bee-Keeping/Hobby-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw-7985-2009.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1995 No. 6700 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Accessory Building Handout, City of North Vancouver (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Zoning/Accessory-Building-Handout.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [RS and RT Zone Accessory Structures handout (excerpt of Zoning Bylaw section 412)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Zoning/RS-RT-Accessory-Structure-Handout.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens/_