{"title":"Port Hardy backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Port Hardy?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-hardy","name":"Port Hardy","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 Hardy","url":"https://porthardy.ca"},"short_answer":"In Port Hardy you may keep up to 4 hens (6 on parcels over 450 m²) in the R-1, R-1s, R-2 and RR-1 zones, and in some R-3 parcels. Roosters are banned. No permit is needed, and only mason bees are allowed.","aliases":["backyard chickens port hardy","urban hens port hardy","bees port hardy","livestock port hardy"],"cost":"No permit or fee is required for urban hens; none is listed in the 2026 fee bylaw. Municipal ticket for breaking the hen rules: $100.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"District Office","value":"250-949-6665"},{"type":"in_person","label":"District of Port Hardy Municipal Hall","value":"7360 Columbia St., Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays)"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf"},{"title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf"},{"title":"Urban Agriculture, District of Port Hardy","url":"https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/urban-agriculture/"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Port Hardy","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Port Hardy zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Port Hardy fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Port Hardy permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/tahsis","name":"Tahsis","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/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":"Yes. Urban hens are a permitted accessory use on parcels in the R-1, R-1s, R-2 and RR-1 zones, and in R-3 only on a parcel in a subdivision where each mobile home is on its own parcel.","short":"Yes in R-1, R-1s, R-2 and RR-1 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.25.2 (a)","quotes":["The keeping of Urban Hens is a permitted accessory use on parcels in the R-1, R-1s, R-2 and RR-1","Zones, and with respect to the R-3 Zone, on a parcel in a subdivision development in which each Mobile"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"Up to 4 hens on parcels of 450 m² or less; up to 6 hens on parcels over 450 m².","short":"4 to 6 hens, by parcel size","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.25.2 (b)(1), (2)","quotes":["Up to 4 urban hens are permitted on parcels that are less than or equal to 450 square metres","Up to 6 urban hens are permitted on parcels that are greater than 450 square metres"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No. Roosters, cocks and cockerels are not permitted.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.25.2 (b)(3)","quotes":["No roosters, cocks or cockerels are permitted;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"A hen house is required, with at least 0.37 m² per hen. Only one structure per parcel, no larger than 9.3 m² or 2.0 m high. It must meet accessory-building setbacks and, on a corner parcel, cannot be in the side exterior yard.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.25.2 (b)(4) to (6)","quotes":["a minimum of 0.37 of a square metre (4 square feet) per urban hen","Only one structure for the purpose of housing urban hens is permitted on a parcel and it shall not","exceed 9.3 square metres (100 square feet) in area or 2.0 metres (6.5 feet) in height above grade","it shall not be located in the","side exterior yard"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":"No permit is required. Urban Hen applications are voluntary but encouraged so the District knows about the hens.","short":"Not required (applications voluntary)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/urban-agriculture/","title":"Urban Agriculture, District of Port Hardy","section":"Urban Hens","quotes":["Urban Hen Applications are voluntary."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Only mason bees are permitted, in any zone. Keeping other bees is a prohibited use of land.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.2 (a), 3.25.3","quotes":["Keeping of bees, except mason bees which are permitted in any zone;","The keeping of mason bees is a permitted accessory use in all zones."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Livestock (rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, horses, cattle, meat or egg poultry) may be kept only where the zone permits agriculture, or for poultry, urban hens. Only the A-1 Airport and GH-1 General Holdings zones list Agriculture. Large livestock must be 60 m from a neighbour's dwelling.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.2 (b)","quotes":["Keeping of livestock, except on land where the applicable zone permits agriculture as a use","Keeping of livestock, except on land where the applicable zone permits agriculture as a use and in the case of poultry, where agriculture or the keeping of urban hens is a permitted use;","10.1 GH-1: General Holdings (a) The following principal uses are permitted: (1) Aggregate Extraction and Processing (2) Agriculture"]},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 2.1, 11.2","quotes":["Livestock Animals (Large) means, but is not limited to, dairy and beef cattle, bulls,","No cows, horses or other large livestock shall be kept in the District within 60 metres"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Port Hardy Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, s. 3.25.2 (urban hens), s. 3.2 and 3.25.3 (bees, livestock); Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, s. 11 to 12.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 1 title","quotes":["District of Port Hardy Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013"]},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 11","quotes":["Regulations for the Keeping of Livestock"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":8,"matched":8,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw 1010-2013](<https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf>) (section 3.25.2) allows urban hens as an accessory use on parcels in the R-1, R-1s, R-2 and RR-1 zones. In R-3 they are allowed only on a parcel in a subdivision where each mobile home is on its own parcel. No other zone allows urban hens. Port Hardy does not require a permit, but the District's [urban agriculture page](<https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/urban-agriculture/>) says Urban Hen applications are voluntary and encouraged so the District knows about the hens.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your parcel's zone and size with the District Office, 250-949-6665.\n2. Keep no more than 4 hens on a parcel of 450 m² or less, or 6 on a parcel over 450 m². No roosters, cocks or cockerels.\n3. Provide a hen house with at least 0.37 m² per hen. Only one structure per parcel, no larger than 9.3 m² or 2.0 m high. It must meet accessory-building setbacks and, on a corner parcel, cannot be in the side exterior yard.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Only mason bees are permitted, in any zone. Keeping other bees is a prohibited use of land.\n- Other livestock (rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, horses, cattle, and meat or egg poultry) may be kept only where the zone permits agriculture. Only the A-1 Airport and GH-1 General Holdings zones list Agriculture. Large livestock must be 60 m from a neighbour's dwelling.\n- Ducks and geese are small livestock under the [Animal Care and Control Bylaw 11-2012](<https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf>), which also allows hobby-farm livestock in the appropriate zone.\n- Breaking the hen rules is a $100 municipal ticket ([Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 01-2010](<https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf>)).","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11-2012-Animal-Care-and-Control-consolidated-March-2023.pdf","title":"Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf","title":"User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/urban-agriculture/","title":"Urban Agriculture, District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/contact-us/","title":"Contact Us, District of Port Hardy","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 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/backyard-chickens.json"}}