Sidney backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Sidney, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Sidney you can keep up to five hens with a Town Hen-Keeping Permit (), on a single-family property of at least 550 m². Roosters, other poultry, rabbits and farm animals are not allowed. Bees are allowed only on parcels over 750 m², up to two hives.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Yes, with a Hen-Keeping Permit from the Town. Only on a property where a Single-Family Dwelling is the primary use, and not on a parcel under 550 m². The hen keeper must live on the parcel or have the owner's written permission.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 5.3(a), (d), (e), (f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A resident must first apply for and obtain a Hen-Keeping Permit from the Town of Sidney Hens are permitted only on properties where a Single-Family Dwelling, as defined in the Hens may not be kept on any parcel of land having an area less than 550 square metres. must reside on the parcel where the hens are to be kept or the occupant must have written permission from the property owner
Most hens	Five hens per property.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 5.3(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A maximum of five (5) Hens are permitted to be kept on a property
Roosters	Not allowed. The bylaw's definition of a hen excludes roosters, and no poultry other than hens may be kept on any parcel.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, ss. 2.0 (Hen), 5.0(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Hen - means a domesticated female chicken that is at least four (4) months old. Does not include roosters. No person shall keep or harbour any farm animals, poultry, or rabbit on any parcel of land, excluding Hens.
Coop rules	A Hen Enclosure (coop plus covered run) must be in the rear yard, at least 3 m from side and rear lot lines and 4.5 m from any door or window of a residence, no higher than 2.4 m, with 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of run per hen, and no larger than 9.2 m² in total.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 5.3(g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Is located at least 3 metres from side lot lines. Is located at least 4.5 metres from any door or window of a residential building. Is located in the rear yard of the parcel, as defined by the Zoning Bylaw. Is not more than 2.4 metres in height. Occupies an area of land not exceeding 9.2 square metres (99 square feet).
Permit or registration	Yes. A Hen-Keeping Permit from the Town is needed before getting hens; the fee is $100. A new permit is needed if the enclosure is newly built or its siting or size changes.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 5.3(a), (b); Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A new Hen-Keeping Permit shall be required in the event of the construction of a new Hen Hen-Keeping Permit Fee 1. Hen-Keeping Permit ……………………………………………………………………… $100.00
Bees	Not allowed on parcels under 750 m². On parcels over 750 m², no more than two beehives. The bylaw does not address a parcel of exactly 750 m².Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep or harbour Bees on any parcel of land under 750 square metres No person shall keep or harbour Bees in excess of two (2) beehives on any parcel of land over 750 square metres.
Other livestock	Not allowed. No farm animals (cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys), poultry (including ducks and geese) or rabbits on any parcel; hens are the only exception.Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, ss. 2.0 (Farm Animal, Poultry), 5.0(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Farm Animal - means an animal that is generally raised on a farm and without limiting the generality Poultry - means all such birds or fowl and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes: chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, quail, hens, and pheasant. No person shall keep or harbour any farm animals, poultry, or rabbit on any parcel of land, excluding Hens.
Bylaw	Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010, s. 1.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010

How it works

The Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965 allows hens only. You need a Hen-Keeping Permit from the Town before getting them. No farm animals (cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys), poultry (including ducks and geese) or rabbits may be kept on any parcel.

Good to know

Hens: up to five per property, only where a single-family dwelling is the primary use and the parcel is at least 550 m². The keeper must live on the parcel or have the owner's written permission.
Roosters: not allowed. The bylaw's definition of a hen excludes roosters, and it has no section naming roosters.
Coop: the hen enclosure (coop plus covered run) goes in the rear yard, at least 3 m from side and rear lot lines and 4.5 m from any door or window of a residence, no higher than 2.4 m. Allow 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of run per hen, and no more than 9.2 m² in total.
Hens are for personal use only: no selling eggs, manure or meat. No slaughtering or burying hens on the parcel. Keep manure and feed in pest-proof containers.
Bees: not allowed on parcels under 750 m². On parcels over 750 m², no more than two hives. The bylaw does not address a parcel of exactly 750 m².
Ticket for farm animals, poultry or rabbits: a bylaw notice is $130 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $160 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $130 ($100 if paid within 30 days). No ticket amount for hen-keeping offences was found; the general court fine goes up to $2,000.

Official forms and pages

Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965 (PDF)

The same question in other places

North Saanich · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · View Royal · Langford

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Licence and Control Bylaw No. 1965, 2010 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180 (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. How answers are checked.