{"title":"Quesnel backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/quesnel","name":"Quesnel","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":"City of Quesnel","url":"https://www.quesnel.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Quesnel you may keep up to 4 hens (no roosters) in zones where the Zoning Bylaw lists urban agriculture, and hobby beehives under set limits. Other livestock is allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw designates it. No permit for hens is stated. The two bylaws differ on beehives.","aliases":["backyard hens quesnel","hobby beekeeping quesnel","chicken coop rules quesnel","livestock quesnel"],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Staff","value":"250-992-2111"},{"type":"email","label":"Development Services","value":"developmentservices@quesnel.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980 (CivicWeb)","url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/"},{"title":"Zoning and Land Use, City of Quesnel","url":"https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/planning-zoning/zoning-land-use"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Quesnel","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/wells","name":"Wells","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/williams-lake","name":"Williams Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vanderhoof","name":"Vanderhoof","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/100-mile-house","name":"100 Mile House","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-james","name":"Fort St James","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/valemount","name":"Valemount","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/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, where the zone lists urban agriculture: accessory use in CR-1, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, MHP-1, RM-1, RM-2 and C-6. The A-1 and RR-1 zones allow agricultural use, which includes poultry, but no hen rules are stated there. The Animal Bylaw allows chickens only in zoned areas.","short":"Yes, in zones listing urban agriculture","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF)","section":"s. 2 \"Urban Agriculture\"; s. 4.28.1","quotes":["(c) keeping of hens to collect eggs; or","Within those zones where the keeping of backyard hens is permitted:","(k) urban agriculture.","(h) urban agriculture.","(d) urban agriculture.","(f) urban agriculture.","The following principal uses and no others are permitted in the A-1 Zone:","The following principal uses and no others are permitted in the RR-1 Zone:","products; poultry products; cattle, hogs, sheep, and other animals; wheat or other grains;"]},{"url":"https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018) (PDF)","section":"s. 13.1","quotes":["A person must not own, keep, possess or harbor chickens or pigeons except in areas designated for that use in the City's Zoning Bylaw."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"4 hens per lot.","short":"4 hens","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF)","section":"s. 4.28.1(a)","quotes":["A maximum of four (4) hens are permitted per lot."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No. Roosters are not permitted.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF)","section":"s. 4.28.1(b)","quotes":["No roosters are permitted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Rear yard only. At least 1.0 m from any lot line and 6.0 m from windows and doors of any single detached dwelling. Enclosure up to 9.2 m² and 2 m high; at least 0.37 m² of coop and 0.92 m² of run per hen. No odour or noise nuisance for neighbours.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF)","section":"s. 4.28.1(c)-(f), 4.28.3","quotes":["Hen enclosures must be sited at least 1.0 metre from any lot line, and at least 6.0 metres from windows and doors of any single detached dwelling.","Hen enclosures are only permitted in rear yards.","The maximum area of a hen enclosure shall be 9.2 m2 (100 ft2) with a maximum height of 2 metres.","The minimum area of a hen enclosure shall be 0.37 m2 of coop space and 0.92 m2 of enclosed run space per hen.","All urban agriculture uses shall not emit odorous matters or create noise that"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Quesnel's bylaws state no permit, licence or registration for hens.","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"Hobby beekeeping is allowed where the zone lists urban agriculture. Must register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture. In residential zones, max 2 hives on a parcel under 929 m² and 4 hives on a parcel over 929 m². Hives at least 3.0 m from any lot line (Zoning Bylaw) and entrances facing away from neighbours' dwellings. The older Animal Bylaw says no more than 4 colonies per parcel and hives 5 m from any property line.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF)","section":"s. 4.28.2","quotes":["All hobby beekeepers must register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture","a maximum of two (2) beehives on a parcel of land with an area less than 929 m2","a maximum of four (4) beehives on a parcel of land with an area over 929 m2","No person shall locate a beehive within 3.0 metres of any lot line."]},{"url":"https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018) (PDF)","section":"s. 12.1, 12.3, 12.4","quotes":["A person must not keep more than four (4) colonies of bees on a parcel of land.","No person shall locate a beehive within five (5) meters of any property line."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Conflict on setback: Zoning Bylaw 1980 (December 2025) says 3.0 m from a lot line; the Animal Bylaw 1700 (2011, consolidated 2018) says 5 m. Both are in force on their face; the stricter 5 m is safest."},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Farm animals (horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits, alpacas, llamas) are allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw designates. Urban agriculture covers plants, hobby bees and hens only. A-1 and RR-1 allow agricultural use; CR-1 allows agricultural uses on lots over 2 ha and hobby farms.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1 \"Farm Animal\"; s. 11.1","quotes":["\"FARM ANIMAL\" includes horses, cattle, mules, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits,","No person shall own, keep, possess or harbor any farm animals except in areas designated for that use in the City's Zoning Bylaw."]},{"url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF)","section":"s. 2 \"Urban Agriculture\"","quotes":["(a) cultivating and harvesting plants or fungi;","(b) hobby beekeeping and harvesting honey;","The following principal uses and no others are permitted in the A-1 Zone:","(b) agricultural uses (except for intensive agriculture), ancillary to a principal","use, on lots greater than 2 ha (5.0 ac).","(m) hobby farms"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, 2025 (s. 4.28 Urban Agriculture); Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (ss. 11-13)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF)","section":"Page footer","quotes":["City of Quesnel | Zoning Bylaw No. 1980"]},{"url":"https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018) (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be cited as the Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf) allows chickens, bees and farm animals only in zoned areas. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 1980](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/) (s. 4.28, Urban Agriculture) lists urban agriculture as an accessory use in the CR-1, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, MHP-1, RM-1, RM-2 and C-6 zones. The A-1 and RR-1 zones allow agricultural use, which includes poultry, but no hen rules are stated there. CR-1 also allows agricultural uses on lots over 2 ha. Check your lot's zone with Planning Staff.\n\n## Hens\n\n- Up to 4 hens per lot. No roosters.\n- Rear yard only, at least 1.0 m from any lot line and 6.0 m from windows and doors of any single detached dwelling.\n- Enclosure up to 9.2 m² and 2 m high; at least 0.37 m² of coop and 0.92 m² of run per hen.\n- No odour or noise that bothers neighbours.\n- No permit, licence or registration for hens is stated.\n\n## Bees\n\n- Register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and keep proof.\n- In residential zones: up to 2 hives on a parcel under 929 m², up to 4 on a parcel over 929 m².\n- Hives at least 3.0 m from any lot line, with entrances facing away from neighbours' dwellings (Zoning Bylaw).\n- Hives should be behind a solid fence or hedge 1.8 m high along the lot line, or at least 2.4 m off the ground if there is no fence.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Bees: the Animal Bylaw says no more than 4 colonies on a parcel and hives 5 m from any property line, which differs from the Zoning Bylaw. Both are official; confirm with Planning Staff, 250-992-2111, which applies. Using the stricter 5 m is safest.\n- Farm animals (horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits, alpacas, llamas) are allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw designates. Urban agriculture covers plants, hobby bees and hens only. Ducks are not named.","sources":[{"url":"https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/planning-zoning/zoning-land-use","title":"Zoning and Land Use, City of Quesnel","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/city-hall/bylaws-policies/bylaws/animal-bird-insect-bylaw-2011-consolidated.pdf","title":"Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-chickens.json"}}