---
title: Revelstoke backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?"
place: Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/revelstoke
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Revelstoke
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Revelstoke backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

**Question:** Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

**Short answer:** In the City of Revelstoke you can keep up to 5 hens, but no roosters or other poultry, with a City hen-keeping licence. Zoning allows hens in some residential zones, but the City's website says not on multi-family or mobile home park lots, so confirm your lot before applying.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Revelstoke, https://www.revelstoke.ca)  
**Cost:** Hen-keeping licence, one time: $50 if paid before the coop and enclosure are in place, $100 if paid after. Applicable taxes are added unless exempt. The Zoning Bylaw mentions no beekeeping permit.  
**Where:**
- Email: Finance department (hen coop licence), finance@revelstoke.ca
- In person: Revelstoke City Hall, 216 Mackenzie Avenue, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Email: Planning and Development (zoning questions, bees, other animals), development@revelstoke.ca
- Phone: Planning and Development, 250-837-3637

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, hens only, with a City licence, in a fenced rear or side yard behind or beside the dwelling. Zoning allows backyard hen keeping in zones R-LD1 to R-LD6, R-MD1 and CD-06. The City page says no hens on multi-family or mobile home park lots, which zoning does not match. (Sources differ: Zoning Bylaw No. 2406 lists "Backyard hen keeping" as an accessory use in zones R-LD1 to R-LD6, R-MD1 and CD-06, and s. 5.3 says hen keeping is subject to the Animal Control Bylaw. The City page ("not on mobile home park lots") may not match zoning for the manufactured home zone R-LD4; check the zone before relying on either.)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183, consolidated, s. 12.01](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545)
  - Official wording: "No person shall own, keep or possess any poultry, except for hens in areas designated for that use in the City’s Zoning Bylaw, as amended from time to time, in a fenced rear yard and/or side yard of the property, behind or beside the dwelling."
  - Source: [Animal Control, Backyard Chicken Regulations](https://www.revelstoke.ca/176/Animal-Control)
  - Official wording: "Hens are conditionally allowed to be kept on property zones for single-family residential use. Hens are not permitted on multi-family or mobile home park lots."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, Zoning Bylaw 6.1-6.8, 10.6; 5.3](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/253252)
  - Official wording: "manufactured home parks that contain two or more manufactured homes on a single parcel of" … "(1) All backyard hen keeping shall be subject to the provisions of Animal Control Bylaw, as"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 5 hens per property.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183, consolidated, s. 12.02(b)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545)
  - Official wording: "keep no more than 5 hens on a property;"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Backyard Chicken Regulations](https://www.revelstoke.ca/176/Animal-Control)
  - Official wording: "Up to five hens may be kept on any property with a single-family dwelling."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters may not be kept in the City, and no poultry other than hens.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183, consolidated, ss. 12.01, 12.03](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545)
  - Official wording: "Roosters shall not be kept within the City boundary."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Coop and enclosure in the rear or side yard, not attached to any structure, at least 5 m from a neighbour's windows or doors. Coop at least 0.5 m² of floor per hen and no taller than 2 m, with a perch and nest box per hen; combined coop and enclosure at most 7.5 m²; enclosure at least 0.9 m² per hen and fully enclosed on all sides and top.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183, consolidated, s. 12.02(d)-(i)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545)
  - Official wording: "not attach the Hen Enclosure/Coop to any other structure or dwelling on the property;" … "not situate the Hen Enclosure/Coop within 5 meters (16.4 feet) of a neighbouring dwelling’s windows or doors;" … "provide one Coop at least 0.5 square meters (5.38 square feet) per hen of floor area and no more than 2 meters (6.56 feet) in height containing at least one perch and one nest box for each hen;" … "ensure that size of the Coop and Hen Enclosure combined is no greater than 7.5 square meters (80.73 square feet) in area;" … "at least 0.9 square meters (9.69 square feet) per hen"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Yes, a hen-keeping licence from the City. One-time fee $50 if paid before the coop and enclosure are in place, $100 if paid after. Apply with the Hen Coop Application Form to Finance (email or City Hall).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183, consolidated, s. 12.02(c)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545)
  - Official wording: "possess a valid hen-keeping license from the City"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2256, Schedule J, consolidated to Bylaw 2424, Schedule J, items 13 and 14](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/145989)
  - Official wording: "One-time License fee (if paid before the coop/enclosure in place) $50.00" … "One-time License fee (if paid after coop/enclosure in place) $100.00"
  - Source: [Animal Control, Backyard Chicken Licenses](https://www.revelstoke.ca/176/Animal-Control)
  - Official wording: "Download and complete the Hen Coop Application Form."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Allowed under the Zoning Bylaw. On a lot of 400 m² or less, up to 4 hives, plus 4 more for each additional 400 m² or part of it. Not in the front yard setback; at least 0.5 m from a side or rear lot line next to a residential lot.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, s. 5.4(1), (4), (5)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/253252)
  - Official wording: "On lots equal to or less than 400.0 sq. m in size, a maximum of four (4) beehives are permitted per lot." … "are not permitted within the front yard setback area." … "shall be located a minimum of 0.5 m from any side lot line and / or rear lot line that is abutting a Residential (R) zoned lot."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** No poultry other than hens (ducks, turkeys, geese and so on). Zoning allows raising livestock ('agriculture, general') only in the Rural Residential zone R-LD7 and the I-5 zone; elsewhere no animal agriculture beyond hens.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183, consolidated, ss. 3 (Poultry), 12.01](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545)
  - Official wording: "“Poultry” means domesticated fowl, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasant, partridge, quail and guinea fowl." … "No person shall own, keep or possess any poultry, except for hens"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, Zoning Bylaw s. 3 (Agriculture, general; Agriculture, minor); 6.7; 8.5](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/253252)
  - Official wording: "crops, and raising livestock. It includes the preparation of" … "agriculture except backyard hen keeping as may be" … "6.7 Low Density Residential – Rural Residential Zone (R-LD7) .........................................83"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183 (hens, Part 12); Zoning Bylaw No. 2406 (hen keeping s. 5.3, beekeeping s. 5.4)
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183, consolidated, title](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545)
  - Official wording: "ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW NO. 2183"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, s. 5.3, 5.4](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/253252)
  - Official wording: "5.3 Backyard Hen Keeping" … "5.4 Beekeeping (Apiculture)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Hens are allowed in Revelstoke under the [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545), with a City hen-keeping licence, in a fenced rear or side yard behind or beside the dwelling. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/253252) lists backyard hen keeping as an accessory use in zones R-LD1 to R-LD6, R-MD1 and CD-06. The City's Animal Control page says no hens on multi-family or mobile home park lots, which does not match zoning, so confirm with the City before you apply.

## Steps

1. Check your lot's zone and the hen rules with Planning and Development.
2. Complete the Hen Coop Application Form and send it to Finance by email or bring it to City Hall. Pay $50 before the coop and enclosure are in place, or $100 after.
3. If you rent, get written permission from the landlord. The owner of the hens must live at the property.
4. Tell the City when you no longer have hens.

## Good to know

- Limit: 5 hens per property. No roosters and no other poultry (ducks, turkeys, geese and so on).
- Coop and enclosure: in the rear or side yard, not attached to any structure, at least 5 m from a neighbour's windows or doors. The coop needs at least 0.5 m² of floor per hen, a height of 2 m or less, and a perch and nest box per hen. The coop and enclosure together may be at most 7.5 m². The enclosure needs at least 0.9 m² per hen and must be fully enclosed on all sides and top.
- Feed hens from an airtight container. Selling eggs is not allowed, and neither is slaughtering or burying hens on the property.
- Bees: the Zoning Bylaw allows them. On a lot of 400 m² or less, up to 4 hives, plus 4 more for each additional 400 m² or part of it. No hives in the front yard setback, and at least 0.5 m from a side or rear lot line next to a residential lot. Multi-unit dwellings: 1 hive per unit on a balcony, up to 8 on a rooftop patio.
- Other livestock: zoning allows raising livestock ("agriculture, general") only in the Rural Residential zone R-LD7 and the I-5 zone. Elsewhere, no animal agriculture beyond hens. Ask Planning about goats or horses.

## What you'll need

- Completed Hen Coop Application Form
- Written permission from the property owner, if you rent

## Official forms and pages

- [Hen Coop Application Form (PDF)](https://www.revelstoke.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1909/Hen-Coop-License-Application-PDF)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183 (PDF)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406 (PDF)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/253252)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Golden](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2183, consolidated (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/10545) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/253252) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2256, Schedule J, consolidated to Bylaw 2424 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/145989) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control, City of Revelstoke](https://www.revelstoke.ca/176/Animal-Control) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Revelstoke. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/backyard-chickens/_