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

# Sechelt backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Sechelt, hens and rabbits together are allowed in residential zones other than RM1 and RM2: up to 6 on lots under 2,000 m², 12 on lots over 2,000 m² up to 1 hectare, and unlimited over 1 hectare. No District permit or fee is mentioned.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sechelt, https://www.sechelt.ca)  
**Cost:** No District permit or fee is mentioned. A BC Premises ID is free. Bylaw notice for breaking the hen and rabbit rules or the beekeeping rules: $400.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 604-885-1986 ext. 2
- In person: Municipal Hall, 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie Street, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (the District page does not give the days of the week))

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes. Urban hens (and rabbits) are permitted in Residential zones other than the RM1 and RM2 zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.4](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Urban hens and rabbits are permitted in Residential zones, other than the RM1 and RM2 zones"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Hens and rabbits together: 6 on lots under 2,000 m²; 12 on lots over 2,000 m² up to 1 ha; unlimited over 1 ha. No limit on birds or rabbits under 20 weeks old.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.4 (a), (b)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Less than 2,000 m2 6" … "Greater than 2,000 m2 to 1 ha 12" … "Greater than 1 ha Unlimited" … "No limitation on the number of hens or rabbits less than 20 weeks old."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Coop rules:** Coop and enclosure not allowed in a front yard. Coop at least 5.0 m from any lot line. Water source on the lot. Keep feed secure and the enclosure built to exclude wildlife predators. Must not cause noise, odour, dust or nuisance to neighbours.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.4 (c) to (g)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A water source, including supplemental non-potable water, on the Lot." … "A coop and an enclosure are not permitted within a front yard." … "A coop is not permitted to be located within 5.0 m of any exterior, interior, or Rear Lot Line." … "including a properly constructed enclosure to exclude or deter wildlife predators" … "shall not contribute to noise, odour, dust, or nuisance to the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** No District permit or fee is mentioned. Properties with hens and rabbits must register for a free BC Premises ID (BC PID) from the Ministry of Agriculture.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.5](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Properties with hens and rabbits are required to register for a free BC Premises ID (BC PID)" … "assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Beekeeping is a permitted accessory use in Residential zones other than RM1 and RM2. Hives allowed by lot area: under 750 m² none; 750 to 1,500 m² 2 hives; 1,500 m² to 1 ha 4 hives; over 1 ha unlimited. Hive entrance 6.0 m from any lot line; hives behind a solid fence or hedge 2.0 m high; water source on the lot.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.6](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Apiculture is a permitted accessory use in Residential zones, other than the RM1 and RM2" … "Less than 750 m2 Not permitted" … "Greater than 750 m2 to 1500 m2 2 beehives" … "Greater than 1500 m2 to 1 ha 4 beehives" … "The hive entrance must be a minimum of 6.0 m away from any lot line." … "solid fence or hedge that is 2.0 m in Height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (s. 2.9 Urban Agriculture)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2.8 Short-Term Rental ................................................................................................................... 79 2.9 Urban Agriculture.................................................................................................................... 80 2.10 Calculating Height and Grade ................................................................................................. 81" … "DISTRICT OF SECHELT | ZONING BYLAW Schedule A to Bylaw No. 580, 2022 PAGE | i"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Zoning Bylaw 580](<https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf>) (s. 2.9, Urban Agriculture) allows urban hens and rabbits in residential zones other than RM1 and RM2. The limit is one total for hens and rabbits together:

- Lots under 2,000 m²: 6
- Lots over 2,000 m² up to 1 hectare: 12
- Lots over 1 hectare: no limit

There is no limit on birds or rabbits under 20 weeks old.

## Good to know

- Coop rules: no coop or enclosure in a front yard, at least 5.0 m from any lot line, a water source on the lot, feed kept secure, and an enclosure built to keep out wildlife predators. It must not cause noise, odour, dust or nuisance to neighbours. No coop size limit was found.
- No District permit or fee is mentioned. Properties with hens and rabbits must register for a free BC Premises ID with the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Roosters are not mentioned in the bylaw. Animal cries that create noise are barred by the Noise Bylaw, so ask Bylaw Enforcement at 604-885-1986 ext. 2 before getting one.
- Beekeeping is allowed in the same zones. Hives by lot area: under 750 m² none, 750 to 1,500 m² 2 hives, 1,500 m² to 1 hectare 4 hives, over 1 hectare unlimited. A hive entrance must be 6.0 m from any lot line, with hives behind a solid fence or hedge 2.0 m high and a water source on the lot.
- A bylaw notice for breaking the hen, rabbit or beekeeping rules is $400.
- No rules for goats, horses, ducks or other livestock on residential lots were found.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025) (PDF)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
- [Bylaw 515-16, 2025, amending the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/vqncrtjy/515-16-2025-bylaw-notice-enforcement-implementation-bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sechelt noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/noise-rules.md)
- [Sechelt bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Sechelt zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/backyard-chickens.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025) (PDF)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/frrcd5c5/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw 515-16, 2025, amending the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/vqncrtjy/515-16-2025-bylaw-notice-enforcement-implementation-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Noise Bylaw No. 519, 2012 (PDF)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/e2if1lsf/519-2012-noise-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contacts directory, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/contacts-directory/) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Sechelt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/backyard-chickens/_