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Oak Bay backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

Oak Bay, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Hens allowedYes, 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.Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 26; Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), s. 4.18.2, 4.18.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
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.
Most hens5 poultry on a parcel of 1,114 m² or less; 10 on a parcel larger than 1,114 m².Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 26(3), (4); Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), s. 4.18.4, 4.18.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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
RoostersNot allowed.Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 20 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
farm animal, wild animal, rooster, bantam, pigeon, or fur bearing animal.
Coop rulesCoop 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.Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 26(6); Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), s. 4.18.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
is located at least 4.6 metres from the rear lot line and side lot lines of the
Permit or registrationRegistration 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.Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), s. 26(7) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
BeesAllowed 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.Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), ss. 29, 30.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), ss. 4.18.7, 4.18.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
Bees may not be kept other than on land zoned for residential use Zones under Part 6
must be located in the
Rear Yard.
Other livestockFarm 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.Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), ss. 1, 20 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
BylawAnimal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), ss. 20, 26, 29 to 30.5; Zoning Bylaw (No. 3531), s. 4.18Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013), title; Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated), s. 4.18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
BYLAW NO. 4013
This Bylaw may be cited as the ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW, 1999.
KEEPING OF POULTRY / BEES

How it works

The Animal Control Bylaw 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 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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Victoria · Saanich · Esquimalt · View Royal · Colwood · Langford

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Animal Control Bylaw, 1999 (Bylaw No. 4013) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 3531 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846, 2023 (consolidated) (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. How answers are checked.