{"title":"Port Edward backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-edward","name":"Port Edward","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 Port Edward","url":"https://www.portedward.ca"},"short_answer":"In Port Edward, the District's page says residents may keep chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigeons and honeybees, but roosters are not allowed. Zoning permits Agriculture only in the A1 and A2 zones, so check before keeping hens on a residential lot.","aliases":["backyard chickens port edward","keep hens port edward","beekeeping port edward","livestock bylaw port edward"],"cost":"No permit, licence or fee for hens is mentioned in the bylaw or on the Animal Control page.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"District of Port Edward office (Municipal Hall, 770 Pacific Ave)","value":"250-628-3667","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding public holidays"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control, District of Port Edward","url":"https://www.portedward.ca/services/animal-control"},{"title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011 (PDF)","url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_other/519Animalcontrol.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020, consolidated (PDF)","url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Port Edward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Port Edward noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/noise-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Port Edward zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Port Edward dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/dog-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/prince-rupert","name":"Prince Rupert","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kitimat","name":"Kitimat","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-clements","name":"Port Clements","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-clements/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/daajing-giids","name":"Daajing Giids","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/daajing-giids/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/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":"The District's page says residents may keep chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigeons and honeybees. Zoning Bylaw 713 permits Agriculture only in the A1 and A2 zones; R1 lists only single-family dwelling and its accessory uses. Check with the District before keeping hens on a residential lot.","short":"Unclear; check with District","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, District of Port Edward","section":"Other Animals","quotes":["Residents of Port Edward are permitted to keep certain small animals such as chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigeons, and honeybees."]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020, consolidated (PDF)","section":"Definitions","quotes":["food production, and keeping of poultry, livestock and horses.","Means a Use providing for the growing, producing, keeping or","In the A2 Zone, the following Principal Uses are permitted and all others","In the R1 Zone, the following Principal Uses are permitted and all others"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Port Edward's files state no limit on the number of hens.","sources":[]},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No. Roosters are not permitted anywhere in Port Edward.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, District of Port Edward","section":"Roosters","quotes":["Roosters are not permitted anywhere in Port Edward."]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_other/519Animalcontrol.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 1 (Livestock Small)","quotes":["chicken (except for roosters)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Poultry must be housed in secure coops or enclosures and not allowed to roam onto neighbouring properties or public spaces.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, District of Port Edward","section":"General Poultry Rules","quotes":["Poultry must be housed in secure coops or enclosures.","Animals should not be allowed to roam freely onto neighbouring properties or public spaces."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Port Edward's files state no permit or registration for hens.","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Honeybees are listed among the small animals residents may keep. No limits are stated.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, District of Port Edward","section":"Other Animals","quotes":["chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigeons, and honeybees"]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_other/519Animalcontrol.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 1 (Livestock Small)","quotes":["Livestock Animals (Small) - means such animals as: Domestic fowls, pigeons, chicken (except for roosters), rabbits, ducks, geese, honey bees, and other game birds Municipality - means the District of Port Edward."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Ducks, geese, rabbits and pigeons are listed with chickens as small animals residents may keep. Large livestock (cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, donkeys, horses) are defined in the bylaw but no residential-lot rule was found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, District of Port Edward","section":"Other Animals","quotes":["ducks, geese, rabbits, pigeons"]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_other/519Animalcontrol.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 1 (Livestock Animals (Large))","quotes":["dairy and beef cattle, bulls, goats, pigs including potbellied breeds, sheep, donkeys and mules"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Port Edward Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011; Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_other/519Animalcontrol.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 39","quotes":["Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011"]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020, consolidated (PDF)","section":"Title","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":2,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District's [Animal Control page](<https://www.portedward.ca/services/animal-control>) says residents may keep chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigeons and honeybees. Section 13 of the [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011](<https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_other/519Animalcontrol.pdf>) says no person may keep any animal except in accordance with the bylaw.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Zoning is the catch. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020](<https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf>) permits Agriculture only in the A1 and A2 zones, and R1 lists only a single-family dwelling and its accessory uses. \"Hobby Farm\" appears against A1 only. Whether hens are allowed on a residential lot is not stated in the files read, so check with the District (250-628-3667) before buying hens.\n- Roosters are not permitted anywhere in Port Edward.\n- Poultry must be kept in secure coops or enclosures and not allowed to roam onto neighbouring properties or public spaces.\n- No limit on the number of hens, no coop size or setback rule, and no permit or registration is stated.\n- Honeybees are listed among the small animals residents may keep. No limits are stated.\n- Large livestock (cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, donkeys, horses) are defined in the bylaw, but no residential-lot rule was found.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/services/animal-control","title":"Animal Control, District of Port Edward","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_other/519Animalcontrol.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 519, 2011 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020, consolidated (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/web-forms/resident-complaint-form","title":"Resident Complaint Form, District of Port Edward","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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 are recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/backyard-chickens.json"}}