Northern Rockies backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Northern Rockies?
Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has no rule written for hens or bees. Poultry counts as a "hobby farm" use, which the zoning bylaws allow in the RR-1 and RR-2 zones (and A-1 and A-2 in the townsite). The Animal Control bylaw does not cover birds. Ask the municipality before keeping hens.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | No hen-specific rule found. Keeping poultry counts as 'Hobby Farm' (Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016) or 'Hobby Farming' (Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 137, 2017), permitted in RR-1 and RR-2 zones (and A-1, A-2 in the townsite). The Animal Control bylaw does not cover birds.Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 2 Definitions, Hobby Farm; Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 6.6.2 (RR-2); Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 6.5.2 (RR-1); Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 137, 2017 (PDF, consolidated December 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 2 Hobby Farming; s. 9.1.2.1, 9.2.2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingincluding gardening, food production, and keeping of poultry, livestock and horses. j. Agriculture; k. Hobby Farm; l. Kennel. The following Uses, and no others, are permitted in the RR-1 Zone. gardening, the keeping of poultry, livestock and horses and 9.1 Rural Residential - Large Parcel (RR-1) Zone (2) Hobby Farming; |
|---|---|
| Most hens | None set. The zoning bylaws searched set no hen number, rooster rule, coop rules, permit or registration. |
| Roosters | None set. The zoning bylaws searched set no hen number, rooster rule, coop rules, permit or registration. |
| Coop rules | None set. The zoning bylaws searched set no hen number, rooster rule, coop rules, permit or registration. |
| Permit or registration | None set. The zoning bylaws searched set no hen number, rooster rule, coop rules, permit or registration. |
| Bees | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Other livestock | Cattle (defined to include horse, mule, llama, swine, sheep, goat, cow) may not be kept inside the Animal Control boundary unless the Zoning Bylaw permits it. The Zoning Bylaw permits "Hobby Farm" (poultry, livestock and horses) in the RR-1, RR-2, A-1 and A-2 zones.Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 5.1, 10.6; Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 2 Definitions, Hobby Farm · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo cattle shall be permitted to be kept within the municipal boundaries any livestock including horse, mule, llama, swine, sheep, including gardening, food production, and keeping of poultry, livestock and horses. |
| Bylaw | Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009; Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016 (Townsite, consolidated May 2026); Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 137, 2017 (consolidated December 2024).Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, cover; Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, cover; Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 137, 2017 (PDF, consolidated December 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAnimal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016 Consolidated May 2026 for ease of public use Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 137, 2017 Consolidated December, 2024 for ease of public use |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016 (townsite) and the Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 137, 2017 permit a "hobby farm" (poultry, livestock and horses) in the RR-1 and RR-2 zones, and in the townsite's A-1 and A-2 zones. The bylaws searched set no number of hens, no rule on roosters, no coop rules, no permit or registration, and say nothing about bees. The Animal Control bylaw defines "animal" as excluding birds, so it does not regulate hens.
Steps
- Find out which zone your lot is in (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Ask Regional Development and Planning whether poultry or bees are allowed on your lot, at 250.774.2541 option 8.
- Get the answer in writing before buying birds.
Good to know
- The bylaws searched do not say whether the townsite's residential zones allow hens.
- Cattle (including horses, mules, llamas, swine, sheep, goats and cows) may not be kept inside the Animal Control boundary unless the Zoning Bylaw permits it.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Stewart · New Hazelton · Granisle · Mackenzie · Fort St. John · Chetwynd
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 137, 2017 (PDF, consolidated December 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 4 are recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.