{"title":"Pitt Meadows backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/pitt-meadows","name":"Pitt Meadows","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":"City of Pitt Meadows","url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Pitt Meadows, hens are not allowed on ordinary town lots. Poultry counts as livestock, which is allowed only in agricultural zones, RR-1 to RR-4, and RS lots of 0.4 ha or more. Bees are allowed with limits, but not on lots under 400 m².","aliases":["backyard hens pitt meadows","chickens pitt meadows","beekeeping pitt meadows","livestock pitt meadows","urban chickens pitt meadows"],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning and Development Services / Bylaw Services","value":"604-465-2428"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"bylaw@pittmeadows.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2590, 2013 (PDF)","url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (PDF)","url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf"},{"title":"Agriculture, City of Pitt Meadows","url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/community-projects-and-initiatives/agriculture"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Pitt Meadows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/maple-ridge","name":"Maple Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/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":"Not on ordinary town lots. Zoning treats hens as poultry (livestock), allowed only as Light Agriculture in the agricultural zones, RR-1 to RR-4, and RS lots of 0.4 ha or more; other residential zones do not list it. The City FAQ says chickens are not permitted in residential zones. A 2014 backyard-hens amendment was removed in 2015.","short":"No on ordinary town lots","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/city-hall/bylaw-services/bylaw-violations-faqs","title":"Bylaw Violations FAQs, City of Pitt Meadows","section":"FAQ: backyard chickens","quotes":["Chickens are farm animals. They may be kept on properties in the agricultural zone but are not permitted in residential zones."]},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.3 (Livestock); amendments; s. 10.1.6","quotes":["any cattle, horse, sheep, goat, swine, donkey, mule, llama, fowl or poultry, pigeon, hare, or","Removal of Backyard Hens","Light agricultural uses involving the keeping of livestock shall be permitted only on lots 0.4 ha or greater.","Buildings for light agricultural use that involve the keeping of livestock shall be sited","Light agricultural uses involving the keeping of livestock shall be permitted only on"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Conflict: the FAQ says chickens are not permitted in residential zones, but the Zoning Bylaw lists Light Agriculture (which includes keeping livestock, and poultry is livestock) as a principal use in RR-1 to RR-4 and RS, which are residential zones. The bylaw is followed here. The 2014 backyard hens amendment (Bylaw 2662) was removed in 2015 (Bylaw 2697). Check conditions of use for each zone before keeping hens."},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"No number of hens is set. Light Agriculture is limited to four livestock units per 1 ha of lot area, and 25 poultry equal one livestock unit.","short":"No hen count set","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.3 (Light Agriculture; Livestock Unit)","quotes":["products, excluding mushrooms, and the keeping of livestock, limited to a maximum of four livestock units per 1 ha of lot area.","four sheep or 25 poultry or 12 rabbits"]}],"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":"Livestock buildings (such as a hen house) must be 30 m from front and exterior side lot lines, 15 m from rear and interior side lines, and 30.5 m from wells and watercourses in RR-1 to RR-4. In RS: 22 m, 6 m and 30.5 m. No coop size rule found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 10.1.5(b) (RS zone)","quotes":["22 m from front and exterior side lot lines;","6 m from rear and interior side lot lines;","30.5 m from all standpipes, wells, other sources of potable water, and the natural boundaries of watercourses","30 m from front and exterior side lot lines;","15 m from rear and interior side lot lines;"]},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 9.1.5(b) (RR-1 zone)","quotes":["30 m from front and exterior side lot lines;","15 m from rear and interior side lot lines;"]}],"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 with limits. Not permitted in multi-family, duplex, mixed-use, comprehensive-development or commercial zones, or on lots under 400 m² (Zoning s. 3.4(d)). Other non-agricultural lots: 2 colonies and 2 nucleus colonies under 0.1 ha; 4 and 4 on 0.1 ha or more. Hives 7.5 m from property lines unless raised or fenced. Provide water.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf (PDF)","section":"ss. 3.1-3.3","quotes":["No person shall locate a hive within 7.5 metres of any property line except","two (2) colonies and two (2) nucleus colonies on a parcel of land with","four (4) colonies and four (4) nucleus colonies on a parcel of land","Provide adequate water to prevent the bees from seeking water"]},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 3.4(d)","quotes":["The keeping of honey bees (Apis mellifera) is not permitted in any multi-family, duplex,","comprehensive development or commercial zone, nor on any lot smaller than"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Livestock (cattle, horse, sheep, goat, swine, donkey, mule, llama, fowl, pigeon, hare, mink) falls under Light Agriculture in RR-1 to RR-4 and RS zones (RS: lots 0.4 ha or more), at most four livestock units per ha (one horse = 1 unit; two goats = 1; four sheep = 1). Swine need a 16 ha lot, or up to six for the owner's own use on smaller lots.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.3 (Livestock Unit); s. 5.12","quotes":["LIVESTOCK UNIT means a unit of livestock equal to one horse or one donkey or one cow or one steer or one bull or one pig or two goats or four sheep","shall not be conducted on a lot with an area of less than 16.0 ha;","provided that no more than six swine, including weaners, shall be kept at any time."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011; Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2590, 2013","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW 2505, 2011"]},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["BEEKEEPING BYLAW NO. 2590, 2013"]}],"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 No. 2505, 2011](<https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf>) treats hens as poultry (livestock). Livestock is a Light Agriculture use, allowed only in the agricultural zones, RR-1 to RR-4, and RS lots of 0.4 ha or more. Other residential zones do not list it. A 2014 backyard-hens amendment was removed in 2015. No number of hens is set: Light Agriculture is limited to four livestock units per 1 ha of lot area, and 25 poultry equal one livestock unit.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The City's Bylaw Violations FAQ says chickens are not permitted in residential zones. The Zoning Bylaw is more precise, so confirm your zone with Bylaw Services before keeping hens.\n- Livestock buildings such as a hen house must be 30 m from front and exterior side lot lines, 15 m from rear and interior side lines, and 30.5 m from wells and watercourses in RR-1 to RR-4. In RS the distances are 22 m, 6 m and 30.5 m. No coop size rule was found.\n- No permit or registration for hens was found. Roosters are not mentioned by name; the Noise Control Bylaw bans animals or birds whose cries unduly disturb the neighbourhood.\n- Other livestock (cattle, horse, sheep, goat, swine, donkey, mule, llama, fowl, pigeon, hare, mink) fall under the same zones, at most four livestock units per hectare. Swine need a 16 ha lot, or up to six for the owner's own use on smaller lots.\n- Bees: under the [Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2590, 2013](<https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf>) and Zoning s. 3.4(d), bees are not permitted in multi-family, duplex, mixed-use, comprehensive-development or commercial zones, or on lots under 400 m². On other non-agricultural lots: 2 colonies and 2 nucleus colonies under 0.1 ha; 4 and 4 on 0.1 ha or more. Hives must be 7.5 m from property lines unless raised or fenced, and bees need water.\n- Bylaw notices for bees: colony improperly sited $100 ($80 within 14 days); more colonies than permitted $100 ($80).\n- Questions: Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/city-hall/bylaw-services/bylaw-violations-faqs","title":"Bylaw Violations FAQs, City of Pitt Meadows","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202505%2C%202011%20-%20Consolidated%20Version_2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf","title":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-No-2439%2C-2009-Consolidated-Version.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/pitt-meadows/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/backyard-chickens.json"}}