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Pouce Coupe backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Pouce Coupe, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Pouce Coupe, you can keep 2 to 4 hens with a Village permit and an annual licence of $27.69. Roosters are not allowed. Bees are a permitted use in the R-1 zone. Other livestock is not allowed, except horses on agricultural land.

Key facts

Hens allowedYes, with a permit and annual licence. The Hen Keeping Bylaw allows hens on properties in the R-1 or R-2 zones; the keeper must be the owner (or have the owner's permission) and live on the property. Zoning Bylaw 1093 lists "backyard hen enclosure" as an accessory use in R-1 only.Sources differ: Conflict: Bylaw 1024 s. 4 says R-1 or R-2; the new Zoning Bylaw 1093 (2026) lists hen enclosures only under R-1 (not R-2). The bylaw 1024 consolidation (with Bylaw 1069, 2025) still refers to "the current zoning bylaw".Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020, s. 4, s. 6(a); Zoning Bylaw No. 1093, 2026, s. 7, R-1 zone; Zoning Bylaw No. 1093, 2026, s. 4, Backyard Hen Enclosures · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The keeping of hens is permitted on properties located in any of the residential R-1 or R-2 zones as listed in the current zoning bylaw.
Be the registered owner or obtain permission from the registered property owner of the property where hens are kept, and reside at the property where the hens are kept;
iii. Backyard hen enclosure
Refer to Village Bylaws for regulations for backyard hen enclosures.
Most hensNo more than four hens per parcel, and at least two if hens are kept.Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020, s. 6(b), s. 8(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Keep no more than four (4) hens per parcel of land;
Keep fewer than 2 hens, if hens are kept;
RoostersNot allowed. No one may keep a rooster on property they own or occupy.Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020, s. 8(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Keep or permit to be kept any rooster on property that they own or occupy;
Coop rulesEnclosure (coop and run) in the rear yard only, never the front or side yard; one enclosure per lot. Coop at most 8.0 m² floor area and 2.0 m high. Coop and pen at least 2.5 m from the side and rear parcel lines. Eggs and products may not be sold.Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020, s. 6(c), (f), (g), (i); s. 8(d), (j) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A backyard hen enclosure must be located in the rear yard of the property;
The maximum size of a coop is 8.0 m2 in floor area and 2.0 m in height;
The coop and pen must be placed at least 2.5 m from the exterior of side parcel line, the interior side parcel line and the rear parcel line;
more than one enclosure per single family residential lot
Backyard hen enclosures are for personal use only and products produced from backyard hen enclosures shall not be sold in any commercial manner.
Permit or registrationTwo steps each year: a hen permit (application, then a Village inspection before it is issued), then a licence for the calendar year. Annual licence fee $27.69; failing to obtain a licence $33.23. Apply for a licence within 7 days of becoming the owner of hens.Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020, s. 5(b)-(d), s. 7; Consolidated Municipal Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1062, 2025, Schedule G; Animal Control, Backyard Hen Keeping · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A person may apply for a backyard hen permit by completing the backyard hen permit application.
Once the permit has been approved, there must be a license obtained for the hens.
the property must be in compliance with the Property Maintenance Standards Bylaw No. 1008, 2018 before a permit can be issued.
Annual Licence Fee $27.69
Failure to Obtain a Licence $33.23
There is a two stage process to keeping hens in the Village of Pouce Coupe.
BeesBee keeping is listed as a permitted use in the R-1 zone (not R-2 or A-1). The zoning bylaw sets no limits and refers readers to "Village Bylaws".Zoning Bylaw No. 1093, 2026, s. 7, R-1 zone; Zoning Bylaw No. 1093, 2026, s. 4, Bee Keeping · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
iii. Manufactured home iii. Backyard hen enclosure iv. Bed and breakfast v. Bee keeping vi. Daycare vii. Home occupation
Refer to Village Bylaws for regulations regarding bee keeping.
Other livestockAnimals other than dogs and cats may not be kept in the Village, except horses on land zoned Agricultural and hens under the Hen Keeping Bylaw. "Animal" includes swine, sheep, goats, ducks and other poultry.Animal Control & Licensing Bylaw No. 1005, 2018, s. 3 (Animal), s. 10(1), s. 18(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Includes a dog, cat, horse, mule, ass, swine, sheep, goat, turkey, goose, duck or other poultry, pigeons, reptiles
No person shall permit any animal, except a dog or cat, to be housed, pastured, or maintained on any land within the Village, except as permitted by Section 18.
A horse shall only be kept, housed, pastured on land within the Village that has been zoned Agricultural.
BylawHen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020 (with Amendment Bylaw No. 1069, 2025); Animal Control & Licensing Bylaw No. 1005, 2018; Zoning Bylaw No. 1093, 2026.Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020, s. 1; Animal Control & Licensing Bylaw No. 1005, 2018, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020.
This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as Animal Control & Licensing Bylaw No. 1005, 2018.

How it works

The Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024 allows hens in Pouce Coupe, but not roosters, in the R-1 or R-2 zones. You must own the property, or have the owner's permission, and live there. You need a hen permit and then a licence for each calendar year. Selling eggs or other products is not allowed.

Steps

  1. Apply to the Village for a hen permit. The Village inspects before it is issued.
  2. Get the annual hen licence, $27.69. Apply within 7 days of becoming the owner of hens.
  3. Keep 2 to 4 hens. The coop and run go in the rear yard only, one enclosure per lot.

Good to know

  • Coop: at most 8.0 m² floor area and 2.0 m high, and at least 2.5 m from the side and rear parcel lines. The run must be fully enclosed with wire or mesh and covered with a solid roof.
  • Hen manure may not go in Village bins; it goes to a Peace River Regional District landfill.
  • Licence fees are non-refundable. Failing to get a licence is a $33.23 ticket.
  • Zoning Bylaw 1093 lists hen enclosures only under R-1, not R-2. Confirm your zone with the Village.
  • Bee keeping is a permitted use in the R-1 zone only. The zoning bylaw sets no limits and refers readers to "Village Bylaws".
  • Other animals, which the Animal Control & Licensing Bylaw No. 1005 defines to include swine, sheep, goats, ducks and other poultry, may not be kept, except horses on land zoned Agricultural.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Dawson Creek · Taylor · Fort St. John · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge · Mackenzie

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Hen Keeping Bylaw No. 1024, 2020 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Animal Control & Licensing Bylaw No. 1005, 2018 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Zoning Bylaw No. 1093, 2026 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Consolidated Municipal Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1062, 2025 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Animal Control, Village of Pouce Coupe (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.