Port Coquitlam backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
Short answer
Generally no. Port Coquitlam's Animal Control Bylaw bans chickens and other farm animals in residential zones. The A (agriculture) zone is outside that ban, and large RS3 lots are unclear. Bees are allowed in some zones with up to two hives. Confirm your zone with Bylaw Services.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Generally no: the Animal Control Bylaw bans fowl and poultry in any residential zone. The A (agriculture) zone is outside that ban, and RS3 large lots are unclear because the Zoning Bylaw allows poultry 'for household use' there. The bylaws are not reconciled; confirm with Bylaw Services.Sources differ: Zoning Bylaw Note 5 says agricultural uses permitted in the RS3 zone exclude keeping poultry "other than for household use or consumption", which could be read as allowing household poultry in RS3 (large residential lots); whether RS3 counts as a "residential zone" under the Animal Control Bylaw is not stated. Not resolved; check with Bylaw Services before keeping hens. Searched both bylaws and the beekeeping page for "hen", "chicken", "poultry".Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 2, 15.1; Zoning Bylaw 2008, No. 3630, Table 2.3, Note 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFarm Animal means any cattle, horse, sheep, goat, swine, donkey, mule, llama, fowl or poultry, pigeon, rabbit, hare, mink, or otter, No person shall keep a Farm Animal in any residential zone. Permitted agricultural uses in the RS3 zone do not include mushroom growing or the keeping of fur bearing animals or the keeping of swine, poultry, or other livestock other than for household use or consumption. Table 2.1: List of Residential Zones and Intent |
|---|---|
| Most hens | None set. The Port Coquitlam bylaws that were read set no hen limit, rooster rule or coop rules. |
| Roosters | None set. The Port Coquitlam bylaws that were read set no hen limit, rooster rule or coop rules. |
| Coop rules | None set. The Port Coquitlam bylaws that were read set no hen limit, rooster rule or coop rules. |
| Permit or registration | Hens: no permit or fee is set out in any bylaw; poultry is banned in residential zones, with RS3 household poultry unclear. Beehives: must be in an apiary registered under the Bee Act; the City page says register with the Province. No City permit fee found.Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 17.2; Beekeeping, page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall keep bees on their property except in an apiary registered under the Bee Act as amended from time to time. No person shall keep a Farm Animal in any residential zone. The property must be registered with the Provincial Apiary Registry |
| Bees | Allowed in the A and RS3 zones as agriculture and in RS1, RS2 and RS4 as hobby beekeeping, on lots at least 14 m wide. Up to 2 beehives and 2 nucleus colonies; rear yard only, 2 m from the rear lot line, behind a 2 m solid fence or screen; water source; wildlife-proof hives.Zoning Bylaw 2008, No. 3630, Section III, s. 16.1; Beekeeping, page; Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 17.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA maximum of 2 beehives and 2 nucleus colonies may be located on a lot; The lot must have a minimum width of 14m; located in a front or side yard; located within 2m of a rear lot line; A solid fence or landscape screen with a minimum height of 2m must enclose a Beekeeping is permitted as an agricultural use in the City’s A and RS3 zones. three residential zones: RS1, RS2 and RS4 A maximum of 2 beehives and 2 nucleus colonies may be kept on one property provide an adequate water source to bees; maintain the beehives so as to deter and be inaccessible to wildlife. |
| Other livestock | Farm animals (cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, donkeys, fowl or poultry, pigeons, rabbits and others raised for food) are banned in any residential zone, but RS3 agriculture may keep poultry or livestock 'for household use'. A farm animal may be designated an emotional support animal by the Bylaw Services Manager.Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 2, 15.1, 16.4; Zoning Bylaw 2008, No. 3630, Table 2.1; Table 2.3 Note 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFarm Animal means any cattle, horse, sheep, goat, swine, donkey, mule, llama, fowl or No person shall keep a Farm Animal in any residential zone. A person may apply to the Bylaw Services Manager to have a Farm Animal Table 2.1: List of Residential Zones and Intent keeping of fur bearing animals or the keeping of swine, poultry, or other livestock |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw, 2017, No. 3990 (s. 15, 17); Zoning Bylaw, 2008, No. 3630 (Section III, s. 16; Table 2.3).Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw 2008, No. 3630, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Animal Control Bylaw, 2017, No. 3990”. CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM ZONING BYLAW, 2008 Bylaw No. 3630 SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................... 1 SECTION II ZONES AND ZONE REGULATIONS ................................................................... 11 |
How it works
The Animal Control Bylaw 3990 bans farm animals in any residential zone. These include cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, donkeys, fowl or poultry, pigeons and rabbits. So hens are generally not allowed in Port Coquitlam yards. The A (agriculture) zone is outside the ban. RS3 large lots are unclear: the Zoning Bylaw 3630 lets RS3 agriculture keep poultry or livestock "for household use", and the two bylaws are not reconciled. Check with Bylaw Services before keeping hens.
Bees
- Check your zone: bees are allowed in the A and RS3 zones as agriculture, and in RS1, RS2 and RS4 as hobby beekeeping, on lots at least 14 m wide.
- Keep no more than 2 beehives and 2 nucleus colonies, in the rear yard only, 2 m from the rear lot line, behind a 2 m solid fence or screen. Provide a water source and keep hives wildlife-proof.
- Hives must be in an apiary registered under the Bee Act. The City page says to register with the Province. No City permit fee was found.
Good to know
- No bylaw read sets a maximum number of hens, a rooster rule or coop rules, and no permit or fee for hens is set out. Ask Bylaw Services.
- The Bylaw Services Manager can designate a farm animal as an emotional support animal.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port Moody · Belcarra · Anmore · Burnaby · Surrey · Pitt Meadows
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Beekeeping, City of Port Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control Bylaw 2017, No. 3990 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2008, No. 3630 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 3 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.