Quesnel backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Quesnel, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Hens allowed	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists, s. 2 "Urban Agriculture"; s. 4.28.1; Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 13.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording (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; 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.
Most hens	4 hens per lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists, s. 4.28.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A maximum of four (4) hens are permitted per lot.
Roosters	No. Roosters are not permitted.Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists, s. 4.28.1(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No roosters are permitted.
Coop rules	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists, s. 4.28.1(c)-(f), 4.28.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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
Permit or registration	None set. Quesnel's bylaws state no permit, licence or registration for hens.
Bees	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.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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists, s. 4.28.2; Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 12.1, 12.3, 12.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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. 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.
Other livestock	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.Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 2.1 "Farm Animal"; s. 11.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists, s. 2 "Urban Agriculture" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording "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. (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
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, 2025 (s. 4.28 Urban Agriculture); Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (ss. 11-13)Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists, Page footer; Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording City of Quesnel \| Zoning Bylaw No. 1980 This Bylaw shall be cited as the Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700.

How it works

The Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw allows chickens, bees and farm animals only in zoned areas. The Zoning Bylaw No. 1980 (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.

Hens

Up to 4 hens per lot. No roosters.
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 that bothers neighbours.
No permit, licence or registration for hens is stated.

Bees

Register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and keep proof.
In residential zones: up to 2 hives on a parcel under 929 m², up to 4 on a parcel over 929 m².
Hives at least 3.0 m from any lot line, with entrances facing away from neighbours' dwellings (Zoning Bylaw).
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.

Good to know

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.
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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

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Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, section 4.28 Urban Agriculture and zone use lists (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning and Land Use, City of Quesnel (read 2026-11-05)
Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated June 22, 2018) (PDF) (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.