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

# Osoyoos backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Osoyoos, no. Poultry (including chickens) and honeybee hives are prohibited in every zone except the Agriculture (AG) zone, so they are not allowed on ordinary residential lots. The bylaws set no hen number, rooster or coop rules.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Osoyoos, https://www.osoyoos.ca)  
**Cost:** Not applicable. The ticket schedules list keeping livestock and honeybees contrary to the Zoning Bylaw at $200.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control, 8707 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V0 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays)
- Phone: Town Hall (Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control), 250-495-6515

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** No, except in the Agriculture (AG) zone. Keeping poultry is prohibited in every other zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 6.5.4](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "The use of land for the keeping of poultry or honeybee hives is prohibited in all zones" … "except the Agriculture (AG) Zone."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** None set. Osoyoos bylaws set no hen number, rooster rule, coop rules or registration for hens.
- **Roosters:** None set. Osoyoos bylaws set no hen number, rooster rule, coop rules or registration for hens.
- **Coop rules:** None set. Osoyoos bylaws set no hen number, rooster rule, coop rules or registration for hens.
- **Permit or registration:** None set. Osoyoos bylaws set no hen number, rooster rule, coop rules or registration for hens.
- **Bees:** Honeybee hives are prohibited in every zone except the Agriculture (AG) zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 6.5.4](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "The use of land for the keeping of poultry or honeybee hives is prohibited in all zones" … "except the Agriculture (AG) Zone."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Not allowed on residential lots: the Zoning Bylaw prohibits unlisted uses, and "agriculture", which includes rearing livestock, is listed only in the AG zone. Livestock shelters in the AG zone need 15 metre setbacks.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, Definition "agriculture"; 5.4.2; 19.1.5 d)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "uses not listed in respect of a particular zone are prohibited." … "animals and range grazing of horses, cattle, sheep, and other livestock, composting operation and" … "Despite Section 19.1.5(a), livestock shelters, equestrian centres, generator sheds,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (zones and prohibited uses); Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026 (general animal care)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, cover](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 1395, 2024"
  - Source: [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, s. 1](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/)
  - Official wording: "Animal Care and Control Bylaw No.1393, 2026."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Town of Osoyoos's [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/) prohibits keeping poultry in every zone except Agriculture (AG). Poultry means domestic fowl and pigeons. Residential lots are not in the AG zone, so backyard hens are not allowed. The same section prohibits honeybee hives outside the AG zone.

The bylaws set no hen numbers, no rooster rule, no coop or run rules and no registration for hens, because hens are not allowed outside AG land.

## Other livestock

- Livestock (horses, cattle, sheep, swine, llamas, goats and similar) is not allowed on residential lots. The Zoning Bylaw prohibits unlisted uses, and rearing livestock is listed only under "agriculture" in the AG zone.
- In the AG zone, livestock shelters need 15 metre setbacks.
- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/), section 38, sets general shelter rules for any animal kept outdoors.

## Good to know

- The ticket schedules list "Keeping livestock and honeybees contrary to regulations" (Zoning Bylaw section 6.5.4) at $200.
- If your land is zoned AG, ask Planning and Development Services at 250-495-6191 or plan@osoyoos.ca what applies to your parcel.
- Report concerns to Bylaw Enforcement at bylaw@osoyoos.ca or 250-495-6515.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/how-many-pets.md)
- [Osoyoos dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Greenwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Short-Term Rental Accommodation and Bed and Breakfast Operation | Osoyoos | Canada's warmest welcome](https://www.osoyoos.ca/short-term-rentals) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control & Licensing | Osoyoos | Canada's warmest welcome](https://www.osoyoos.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/animal-control-licensing) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 1393, 2026, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/160422/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011, Town of Osoyoos (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/82635/) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 4 are recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Osoyoos. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/backyard-chickens/_