---
title: Saanich backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Saanich?"
place: Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/saanich
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Saanich
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Saanich backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Saanich you may keep up to five hens on a single-family or rural-zoned parcel between 557 m² and 1,114.8 m², if the flock is registered (free) and you live there. Roosters are not allowed in single-family zones. Bees and farm animals depend on lot size and zoning.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Hen registration is free. No fee is stated for the other rules.  
**How long:** Register the flock before keeping hens; the registration form is emailed to planning@saanich.ca.  
**Where:**
- Online: Backyard Chickens page (Hen Registration Form), https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/backyard-chickens.html
- Online: Email the registration form, planning@saanich.ca
- Phone: Saanich Municipal Hall, 250-475-1775

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes. Up to five hens are allowed on a single-family residential or rural-zoned parcel between 557 m² (6,000 sq. ft.) and 1,114.8 m² (12,000 sq. ft.), if the flock is registered and the hen owner lives on the parcel. On parcels over 1,114.8 m² poultry (hens included) are allowed up to the limits in the bylaw table.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 38.1 to 38.3](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep any poultry on any parcel of land having an area less than 1,114.8" … "a maximum of five hens are permitted on any parcel in a single" … "the owner of the hens resides on the parcel where the hens are to be kept" … "the area of the parcel is not less than 557 m2 (6,000 sq. ft.)"
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens, Backyard Chickens page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/backyard-chickens.html)
  - Official wording: "Under specific regulations, backyard hens are permitted in the District of Saanich."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Five hens on parcels of 557 to 1,114.8 m². Parcels over 1,114.8 m²: 10 poultry up to 1,858 m²; 30 up to 0.4 ha; no limit above 0.4 ha.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 38.2, 38.3](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a maximum of five hens are permitted on any parcel" … "a) 1,114.8 m2 - 1,858 m2" … "10" … "over 1,858 m2 - 0.4 ha" … "30" … "no limit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters (including bantam roosters) are not allowed in any single-family residential zone.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 40](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep or harbour any rooster or bantam rooster in any single family"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** For hens on lots under 1,114.8 m² in single-family zones: coop and run in the rear yard, at least 3 m from the rear and side lot lines and 3 m from any door or window of a residence; not over 2 m high; at least 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of roofed run per hen; no more than 9.2 m² of land.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 38.4](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is located at least 3 m from the rear lot line and side lot lines of the parcel" … "is located at least 3 m from any door or window of a residential building" … "is located in the rear yard of the parcel" … "at least .37 m2 of coop floor area and at least .92 m2 of" … "occupies an area of land not exceeding 9.2 m2 (99 sq. ft.)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Registration with the District is required for hens on single-family residential parcels under 1,114.8 m². No fee. Download the Hen Registration Form and email it to planning@saanich.ca. Saanich also requires a BC Premises ID registration.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 38.6, 38.7](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "There shall be no fee payable by the owner to the Municipality for the registration of a" … "unless that person has registered that flock"
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens, Backyard Chickens page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/backyard-chickens.html)
  - Official wording: "Download the Hen Registration Form and email your finished copy to planning@saanich.ca" … "You are also required to apply for the BC Premises ID Registration of Livestock and Poultry Premises"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Allowed on parcels in any A (agricultural) zone, and on RS-zoned lots only if the parcel is over 465 m² (5,005 sq. ft.). Maximum four hives on an RS lot. Hives must be at least 6.05 m (20 ft) from any property line unless inside a greenhouse.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 48.1, 48.2, 49](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the parcel is located within any RS Zone and has an area greater than 465 m2" … "No person shall keep more than four hives on any parcel of land in any RS Zone" … "within 6.05 metres (20 feet) of any property line"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Farm animals (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine etc.): in an A zone only if the parcel is over 0.2 ha; in an RS zone only if over 0.65 ha, and no more than two; not allowed in RD, RC, RT, RM, RA, C, M and similar zones. Other poultry (ducks, geese, turkeys) only on parcels over 1,114.8 m². Rabbits must be in a secure enclosure.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, ss. 4, 38.1, 35.2.3](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "within any A Zone, unless the parcel has an area greater than .2 hectares" … "within any RS Zone unless the parcel has an area greater than .65 hectares" … "No owner or occupier of property shall keep a rabbit on the property except"
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, s. 1 definitions](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "POULTRY means any bird normally raised for food or egg production"
  - Source: [Chicken FAQs](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/chicken-faqs.html)
  - Official wording: "Other types of poultry as defined in the Animals Bylaw are allowed only on property with an area larger than 1,114 m2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (hens: ss. 38 to 41). Zones are defined in the Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200.
  - Source: [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556, title](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ANIMALS BYLAW, 2004, NO. 8556"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf) (hens: ss. 38 to 41) sets the rules. Zones come from the Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200.

**Hens.** Up to five hens are allowed on a single-family residential or rural-zoned parcel between 557 m² (6,000 sq. ft.) and 1,114.8 m² (12,000 sq. ft.), if the flock is registered and the hen owner lives on the parcel. On parcels over 1,114.8 m² the limit counts all poultry: 10 up to 1,858 m²; 30 up to 0.4 ha; no limit above 0.4 ha. Roosters, including bantam roosters, are not allowed in any single-family residential zone.

**Coop rules** (lots under 1,114.8 m²): coop and run in the rear yard, at least 3 m from the rear and side lot lines and 3 m from any door or window of a residence; not over 2 m high; at least 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of roofed run per hen. Also: no more than 3 m³ of manure in a closed container; eggs and meat not for sale; hens not slaughtered or buried on the parcel; feed in pest-proof containers.

**Bees.** Allowed in any A (agricultural) zone, and on RS-zoned lots only if the parcel is over 465 m² (5,005 sq. ft.), with at most four hives. Hives must be at least 6.05 m (20 ft) from any property line unless inside a greenhouse.

**Other livestock.** Farm animals: in an A zone only if the parcel is over 0.2 ha; in an RS zone only if over 0.65 ha and no more than two; not allowed in RD, RC, RT, RM, RA, C, M and similar zones. Other poultry (ducks, geese, turkeys) only on parcels over 1,114.8 m². Rabbits must be in a secure enclosure.

## Steps

1. Download the Hen Registration Form from the [Backyard Chickens page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/backyard-chickens.html).
2. Email it to planning@saanich.ca. There is no fee.
3. Also register for a BC Premises ID, which Saanich requires.

## Good to know

- Saanich's [Chicken FAQs](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/chicken-faqs.html) say 5 chickens on lots over 557 m² and 10 over 1,114 m²; the bylaw counts all poultry. The bylaw is followed here.

## Official forms and pages

- [Backyard Chickens, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/backyard-chickens.html)
- [Chicken FAQs, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/chicken-faqs.html)
- [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/backyard-chickens.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Backyard Chickens, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/backyard-chickens.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Chicken FAQs, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/agriculture-food-security/saanich-agricultural-regulations/chicken-faqs.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-chickens/_