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

# Peachland backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Peachland, https://www.peachland.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit or fee found in the Zoning Bylaw or the District's bylaw pages.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Hall (ask for planning), 250-767-2647
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-767-3710 (bylaw@peachland.ca; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** 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. (Sources differ: Applies to land outside the Agricultural Land Reserve. Zoning Bylaw 2400 consolidated July 20, 2026.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, s. 5.37.1](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, s. 5.37.1](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400)
  - Official wording: "six (6) chickens are permitted, provided that the buildings and structures for the" … "Twelve (12) poultry, excluding roosters; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Coop rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, s. 5.37.1.2, 5.37.2](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bees:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, s. 5.31](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, s. 5.37.1.1, 5.37.2](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (s. 5.37 keeping of animals, s. 5.31 apiculture)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, s. 1.1](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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).

## Steps

1. Check your lot size and zone with Municipal Hall (250-767-2647).
2. Make sure your coop meets the accessory building rules.
3. Ask the District about the setbacks for shelters (see below) before you build.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- Roosters: the bylaw does not say in plain words whether they are allowed or banned. Ask the District.
- 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.
- We found no hen permit, licence or registration requirement.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2275, 2020 (PDF), District of Peachland](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/bylaw-no-2275-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/how-many-pets.md)
- [Peachland fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/fence-rules.md)
- [Peachland zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (PDF), District of Peachland](https://www.peachland.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-no-2400) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Services, District of Peachland](https://www.peachland.ca/bylaw-services) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Peachland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/backyard-chickens/_