Pitt Meadows backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
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.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | 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.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.Bylaw Violations FAQs, FAQ: backyard chickens; Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated), s. 2.3 (Livestock); amendments; s. 10.1.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingChickens are farm animals. They may be kept on properties in the agricultural zone but are not permitted in residential zones. 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 |
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| Most hens | 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated), s. 2.3 (Light Agriculture; Livestock Unit) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingproducts, 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 |
| Roosters | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Coop rules | 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated), s. 10.1.5(b) (RS zone); Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated), s. 9.1.5(b) (RR-1 zone) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording22 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; 30 m from front and exterior side lot lines; 15 m from rear and interior side lot lines; |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bees | 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.https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf, ss. 3.1-3.3; Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated), s. 3.4(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 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 |
| Other livestock | 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated), s. 2.3 (Livestock Unit); s. 5.12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingLIVESTOCK 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. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011; Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2590, 2013Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated), title; https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZONING BYLAW 2505, 2011 BEEKEEPING BYLAW NO. 2590, 2013 |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 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.
Good to know
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Bees: under the Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2590, 2013 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.
- Bylaw notices for bees: colony improperly sited $100 ($80 within 14 days); more colonies than permitted $100 ($80).
- Questions: Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Maple Ridge · Port Coquitlam · Anmore · Port Moody · Belcarra · Township of Langley
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Bylaw Violations FAQs, City of Pitt Meadows (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/Beekeeping%20Bylaw%20No.%202590%2C%202013%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
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. How answers are checked.