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Powell River backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Powell River, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In the City of Powell River you can keep up to six poultry (no rooster) on an R1, R2 or R3 lot. Larger numbers, and one rooster, are allowed on RA1, A1 and A2 lots. No permit or registration for poultry is stated. Other livestock needs 0.2 to 0.4 hectares per animal.

Key facts

Hens allowedYes. Poultry may be kept on R1, R2 and R3 zoned parcels (up to six, no rooster), and in larger numbers on RA1, A1 and A2 zoned parcels. "Poultry" means domestic fowl, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons and similar birds.Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), ss. 2(g), 31 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
up to six poultry, none of which may be a rooster, on a R1, R2 and R3 zoned parcel
“Poultry” means a domestic fowl, a duck, a goose, a turkey, a pigeon or similar bird
Most hensR1, R2 or R3 lots: up to 6 poultry. RA1 lots under 0.2 ha (0.5 acre): up to 12 poultry. RA1, A1 or A2 lots: up to 24 poultry.Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 31 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
up to 12 poultry, none of which may be a rooster, or 20 rabbits on a RA1 zoned parcel
up to 24 poultry, one of which may be a rooster, or 50 rabbits, on a RA1, A1 or A2 zoned parcel
up to six poultry, none of which may be a rooster, on a R1, R2 and R3 zoned parcel
RoostersNo roosters on R1, R2 or R3 lots, or on RA1 lots under 0.2 ha (0.5 acre). On RA1, A1 or A2 lots, one rooster is allowed among the 24 poultry.Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 31 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
up to 12 poultry, none of which may be a rooster, or 20 rabbits on a RA1 zoned parcel
up to 24 poultry, one of which may be a rooster, or 50 rabbits, on a RA1, A1 or A2 zoned parcel
up to six poultry, none of which may be a rooster, on a R1, R2 and R3 zoned parcel
Coop rulesPortable and mobile enclosures must be in the rear yard, no closer than 3.0 m to any lot line, built to protect against natural predators, and kept dry, unsoiled and free of odours or vermin. Manure and soiled bedding must be disposed of so there is no odour or vermin.Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 32 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
i located within the rear yard of the property;
ii no closer than 3.0 m from any lot line;
iii constructed in a manner that provides protection from natural predators; and
Manure, soiled bedding and all other associated waste products must be disposed of such that
Permit or registrationNone set. No permit, licence or registration for poultry is stated in the bylaw or on the City's page.
BeesNo hive limit was found. The Wildlife Attractant Bylaw requires bees and beehives to be kept so they do not attract wildlife and are reasonably inaccessible to wildlife.Wildlife Attractant Bylaw 2822, 2026, s. 8(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
bees and beehives are kept in such a manner so as not to attract Wildlife and that they are
Other livestockAnimals other than dogs, cats, rabbits or poultry may be kept on A1 and A2 zoned parcels with at least 0.4 ha (1 acre) for each animal, and on RA1 zoned parcels with at least 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) for each animal. Horses are banned from listed streets and areas, including any municipal park, school ground, car parking area, cultivated boulevard or sidewalk.Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), ss. 22, 30 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A1 and A2 zoned parcel under City of Powell River Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006, when a
minimum 0.4 hectares (1 acre) of land is provided for each animal;
No person shall permit a horse to be on any of the following streets or areas of the City:
Any municipal park, school ground, car parking area, cultivated boulevard or sidewalk.
BylawCity of Powell River Animal Control Bylaw No. 1979, 2003 (poultry and animal limits); Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 (zones); Wildlife Attractant Bylaw 2822, 2026 (attractants, bees).Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020), s. 1; Wildlife Attractant Bylaw 2822, 2026, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
City of Powell River Animal Control Bylaw No.1979, 2003
Wildlife Attractant Bylaw 2822, 2026

How it works

The Animal Control Bylaw says "poultry", meaning domestic fowl, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons and similar birds. Limits depend on your lot's zone, which is set by Zoning Bylaw 2100.

  • R1, R2 or R3 lots: up to 6 poultry, no rooster.
  • RA1 lots under 0.2 ha (0.5 acre): up to 12 poultry (no rooster) or 20 rabbits.
  • RA1, A1 or A2 lots: up to 24 poultry (one may be a rooster) or 50 rabbits.

Steps

  1. Find your lot's zone with Planning Services at 604-485-8650.
  2. Keep birds in a portable or mobile enclosure in the rear yard, at least 3.0 m from any lot line. It must protect against natural predators and be kept dry, unsoiled and free of odours or vermin.
  3. Dispose of manure and soiled bedding so there is no odour or vermin.

Good to know

  • No permit, licence or registration for poultry is stated in the bylaw or on the City's page. The bylaw sets no coop size.
  • Other animals (not dogs, cats, rabbits or poultry) may be kept on A1 and A2 lots with at least 0.4 ha (1 acre) for each animal, and on RA1 lots with at least 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) for each animal. The bylaw does not list R1, R2 or R3 lots for these.
  • Horses are banned from listed streets and areas, including any municipal park, school ground, car parking area, cultivated boulevard or sidewalk. Grazing animals must be fenced, tethered or under direct control.
  • Bees: no hive limit was found. The Wildlife Attractant Bylaw requires bees and beehives to be kept so they do not attract wildlife and are reasonably inaccessible to wildlife.
  • The bylaw also bans attracting wildlife, predators or rodents so as to cause a public nuisance.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Comox · Courtenay · Cumberland · Qualicum Beach · Campbell River · Parksville

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Animal Control Bylaw 1979, 2003 (consolidated June 8, 2020) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Wildlife Attractant Bylaw 2822, 2026 (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 (consolidated May 15, 2025) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Development Permits, City of Powell River (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.