{"title":"Peachland backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Peachland?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Peachland","url":"https://www.peachland.ca"},"short_answer":"In Peachland, you can keep up to 6 chickens on a residential lot smaller than 0.4 ha (1 acre), if the coop meets the accessory building rules. Larger lots outside the Agricultural Land Reserve allow 12 poultry per 0.4 ha. Bees are allowed in some rural and agricultural zones only.","aliases":["chickens peachland","backyard hens peachland","beekeeping peachland","livestock peachland"],"cost":"No permit or fee found in the Zoning Bylaw or the District's bylaw pages.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Hall (ask for planning)","value":"250-767-2647"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"250-767-3710","note":"bylaw@peachland.ca; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland","url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400"},{"title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2275, 2020 (PDF), District of Peachland","url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/bylaw-no-2275-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Peachland fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Peachland zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/west-kelowna","name":"West Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/summerland","name":"Summerland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kelowna","name":"Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/penticton","name":"Penticton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":"Yes. On residential lots smaller than 0.4 ha (1 acre), up to 6 chickens, if the coop meets the accessory building rules. On larger lots outside the ALR, 12 poultry per 0.4 ha.","short":"Yes, up to 6 on lots under 0.4 ha","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland","section":"s. 5.37.1","quotes":["For lots smaller than 0.4 ha (1.0 ac) and located in a residential zone, a maximum of","six (6) chickens are permitted, provided that the buildings and structures for the","Twelve (12) poultry, excluding roosters; and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Applies to land outside the Agricultural Land Reserve. Zoning Bylaw 2400 consolidated July 20, 2026."},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"6 chickens on lots under 0.4 ha (1 acre) in a residential zone. 12 poultry (not counting roosters) for every 0.4 ha on larger lots.","short":"6 on lots under 0.4 ha (12 per 0.4 ha larger)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland","section":"s. 5.37.1","quotes":["six (6) chickens are permitted, provided that the buildings and structures for the","Twelve (12) poultry, excluding roosters; and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Coops must meet the accessory building and structure rules. The bylaw also sets shelter setbacks of 30 m from the front and exterior side lot lines and 7.5 m from the rear and interior side lot lines.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland","section":"s. 5.37.1.2, 5.37.2","quotes":["provided that the buildings and structures for the","Front yard is 30.0 m (100 ft)","Rear yard is 7.5 m (25 ft)","Interior side yard is 7.5 m (25 ft)","Exterior side yard is 30.0 m (100 ft)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Allowed in the A1, A2, RR1 and RR2 zones only. Outside the ALR the lot must be at least 0.4 ha (1 acre), with 2 hives per 0.4 ha up to 20. Hives go behind the house, with entrances facing away from neighbours and 7.5 m from lot lines unless raised 2.5 m or behind a 1.8 m fence or hedge. Register with the Province.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland","section":"s. 5.31","quotes":["Apiculture or the keeping of bees and/or beehives in the A1, A2, RR1 and RR2 zones is","The minimum lot area for the use is 0.4 ha (1.0 ac).","Two beehives are permitted for every 0.4 ha (1.0 ac) of lot area to a maximum of 20","No hives shall be located within 7.5 m (24.6 ft) of a lot line unless located in"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Outside the ALR, for every 0.4 ha (1 acre): 2 livestock (cattle, horses and similar), 6 sheep or goats, 12 poultry (not roosters) and 20 rabbits. Shelters need 30 m front and exterior side and 7.5 m rear and interior side setbacks.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland","section":"s. 5.37.1.1, 5.37.2","quotes":["For every 0.4 ha (1.0 ac) of land the following number of animals is permitted on a lot:","Two (2) livestock;","Six (6) sheep or goats;","Twenty (20) rabbits","Front yard is 30.0 m (100 ft)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (s. 5.37 keeping of animals, s. 5.31 apiculture)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":2},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw 2400](<https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400>) (section 5.37) sets what animals you can keep. These rules apply to land outside the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). On a residential lot smaller than 0.4 ha (1 acre), up to 6 chickens are allowed, as long as the coop meets the accessory building and structure rules (section 5.8).\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your lot size and zone with Municipal Hall (250-767-2647).\n2. Make sure your coop meets the accessory building rules.\n3. Ask the District about the setbacks for shelters (see below) before you build.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Larger lots: for every 0.4 ha, 12 poultry (not counting roosters), 2 livestock (cattle, horses and similar), 6 sheep or goats, and 20 rabbits.\n- The bylaw sets shelter setbacks of 30 m from the front and exterior side lot lines and 7.5 m from the rear and interior side lot lines. It is unclear whether these apply to a 6-hen coop on a small lot, so ask the District.\n- Roosters: the bylaw does not say in plain words whether they are allowed or banned. Ask the District.\n- Bees are allowed in the A1, A2, RR1 and RR2 zones only. Outside the ALR the lot must be at least 0.4 ha, with 2 hives per 0.4 ha up to 20. Hives go behind the house with entrances facing away from neighbours, and 7.5 m from lot lines unless raised 2.5 m or behind a 1.8 m fence or hedge. Register with the Province.\n- We found no hen permit, licence or registration requirement.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.peachland.ca/bylaw-services","title":"Bylaw Services, District of Peachland","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/backyard-chickens.json"}}