Sechelt backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
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.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes. Urban hens (and rabbits) are permitted in Residential zones other than the RM1 and RM2 zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUrban hens and rabbits are permitted in Residential zones, other than the RM1 and RM2 zones |
|---|---|
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.4 (a), (b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingLess 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. |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.4 (c) to (g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA 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 |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingProperties with hens and rabbits are required to register for a free BC Premises ID (BC PID) assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture. |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingApiculture 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 |
| Other livestock | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (s. 2.9 Urban Agriculture)Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording2.8 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 |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw 580 (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
The same question in other places
Gibsons · Bowen Island · Lantzville · Nanaimo · Lions Bay · West Vancouver
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw 515-16, 2025, amending the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Noise Bylaw No. 519, 2012 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Contacts directory, District of Sechelt (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. How answers are checked.