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

# Oak Bay backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Oak Bay, poultry are allowed in one-family residential zones R-1 to R-5 if you live on the lot (not in The Uplands), with registration. The limit is 5 birds on a lot of 1,114 m² or less and 10 on a larger lot. Roosters are not allowed.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Oak Bay, https://www.oakbay.ca)  
**Cost:** No registration or beekeeping permit fee was found. A municipal ticket for poultry and bee offences is $150 ($100 if paid within 30 days).  
**How long:** Registration and permit durations are not stated in the sources read.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement (Municipal Hall), 250-598-3311
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@oakbay.ca

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, poultry may be kept in residential zones R-1 to R-5 (one-family residential), if the owner lives on the parcel. Not allowed in The Uplands. Birds must be at least six months old.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 26](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no poultry may be kept other than on land zoned for one family" … "the owner of the poultry resides on the parcel where the poultry is kept;" … "the poultry must be at least six months of age;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), s. 4.18.2, 4.18.3](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No poultry may be kept other than on land in the following zones:" … "no poultry may be kept on any land that is within The Uplands."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 5 poultry on a parcel of 1,114 m² or less; 10 on a parcel larger than 1,114 m².
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 26(3), (4)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no more than five (5) poultry may be kept, housed, or confined on any" … "no more than ten (10) poultry may be kept, housed, or confined on any"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), s. 4.18.4, 4.18.5](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No more than five (5) poultry may be kept on any parcel having an area less than or" … "No more than ten (10) poultry may be kept on any parcel having an area greater than"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** Not allowed.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 20](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "farm animal, wild animal, rooster, bantam, pigeon, or fur bearing animal."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Coop in the back yard area only (behind the back wall of the house), at least 4.6 m from the rear and side lot lines (2 m from the rear line if on a lane), no taller than 2 m, at least 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of roofed run per bird, and no more than 9.8 m² in total.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 26(6)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is located at least 4.6 metres from the rear lot line and side lot lines of the" … "is no more than 2 metres in height," … "provides each poultry with at least .37 square metres of coop floor" … "area and at least .92 square metres of roofed outdoor enclosure" … "occupies an area of land not exceeding 9.8 square metres;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), s. 4.18.6](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is located at least 4.6 metres from the rear lot line and side lot lines of the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Registration is required: complete a registration form from the Municipality (date, owner's name and address, confirmation the owner lives on the property and has read the bylaw). No fee is stated in the bylaw.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 26(7)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the person keeping the poultry must register the poultry with the Municipality by" … "confirmation that the owner of the poultry resides on the property where"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Allowed with a beekeeping permit from the Licence Inspector. Zoned residential, commercial or institutional land only. Up to 2 hives on a parcel of 930 m² or less, 4 on larger parcels, at least 1.5 m from any boundary; in residential zones hives must be in the rear yard.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), ss. 29, 30.1](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "without first applying for and obtaining a beekeeping permit from the Licence" … "two (2) for a parcel of area less than or equal to 930 square" … "four (4) for a parcel of area greater than 930 square" … "no beehive is located closer than 1.5 metres to any boundary of the parcel;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), ss. 4.18.7, 4.18.10](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bees may not be kept other than on land zoned for residential use Zones under Part 6" … "must be located in the" … "Rear Yard."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Farm animals (cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, oxen), wild animals, bantams, pigeons and fur-bearing animals are not allowed. Ducks and geese count as poultry and follow the poultry rules.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), ss. 1, 20](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "includes cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys," … "No person shall keep, harbour, house, or confine within the Municipality any" … "includes chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, or artificially reared"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), ss. 20, 26, 29 to 30.5; Zoning Bylaw (No. 3531), s. 4.18
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), title](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 4013" … "This Bylaw may be cited as the ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW, 1999."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), s. 4.18](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "KEEPING OF POULTRY / BEES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animal Control Bylaw](<https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf>) allows poultry (chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks) in residential zones R-1 to R-5 if the owner lives on the parcel. They are not allowed in The Uplands. Birds must be at least six months old. The limit is 5 on a parcel of 1,114 m² or less and 10 on a larger parcel. Roosters are not allowed.

The coop must be in the back yard area only (behind the back wall of the house), at least 4.6 m from the rear and side lot lines (2 m from the rear line if it adjoins a lane), and no taller than 2 m. Allow at least 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of roofed run per bird, and no more than 9.8 m² in total.

## Steps

1. Complete a registration form from the District (date, your name and address, and confirmation that you live on the property and have read the bylaw). No fee is stated.
2. For bees, get a beekeeping permit from the Licence Inspector. Hives are allowed on residential, commercial or institutional land only: up to 2 hives on a parcel of 930 m² or less, 4 on larger parcels, at least 1.5 m from any boundary. In residential zones, hives must be in the rear yard.
3. Build the coop to the setbacks and sizes above.

## Good to know

- Keep bees so they do not swarm or become aggressive, and give them enough water.
- Not allowed: farm animals (cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, oxen), wild animals, bantams, pigeons and fur-bearing animals.
- The [Zoning Bylaw](<https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf>) bans keeping animals, fowl or rodents except as the Animal Control Bylaw permits.
- A ticket is $150 ($100 if paid within 30 days) under [Bylaw No. 4846](<https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bylaw-4846-Municipal-Ticket-Info-Consolidate.pdf>).

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/how-many-pets.md)
- [Oak Bay dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/dog-licence.md)
- [Oak Bay zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Oak Bay bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-chickens.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4013-Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846, 2023 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bylaw-4846-Municipal-Ticket-Info-Consolidate.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Oak Bay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/backyard-chickens/_