Silverton backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Silverton?
Short answer
In Silverton you may keep up to 12 poultry (including ducks, geese, turkeys and pigeons) on a parcel with a single family detached dwelling, with a $10 yearly Poultry Licence. Roosters are banned. Cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine, rabbits and fur-bearing animals are not allowed. The bylaws say nothing about bees.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Poultry (domestic fowl, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons) may be kept only on a parcel with a single family detached dwelling, at least 12 m frontage and at least 20 m depth, with a Poultry Licence.Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009, ss. 3.5, 3.10; definition of Poultry · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga single family detached dwelling located upon it; a minimum frontage of twelve (12) metres; a minimum depth of twenty (20) metres. includes domestic fowl, ducks, geese, turkeys and pigeons |
|---|---|
| Most hens | 12 poultry on any parcel.Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009, s. 3.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall keep more than twelve (12) Poultry on any Parcel. |
| Roosters | No. No person may keep a rooster.Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009, s. 3.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall keep a rooster. |
| Coop rules | Poultry must be kept in a coop unless grazing on fenced land or in a run. A coop must be 3 m from any side lot line, and 1 m from the rear lot line (3 m if the rear lot line is under 23 m from the adjacent dwelling or the neighbouring parcel is vacant).Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009, ss. 3.6, 3.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAll Poultry must be kept in a Poultry Coop unless grazing on fenced land or within a Poultry Run. one (1) metre away from the rear lot line of the Parcel upon which the Poultry Coop is located if the rear lot line is at least twenty-three (23) metres distant from the adjacent dwelling; three (3) metres away from the rear lot line of the Parcel upon which the Poultry Coop is located if the rear lot line is less than twenty-three (23) metres distant from the adjacent dwelling or if the adjoining parcel is vacant; three (3) metres away from any side lot line of the Parcel upon which the |
| Permit or registration | A Poultry Licence is required: $10 a year, valid one year from issue.Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009, ss. 3.10, 3.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingobtained a Poultry Licence and has paid in full the annual licence fee of ten dollar ($10.00) valid for a period of one (1) year |
| Bees | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Other livestock | Farm animals (cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, mules, oxen, buffalo, sheep, deer, swine), fur-bearing animals and rabbits may not be kept in the Village.Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009, s. 4.1; definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall keep Farm Animals, Fur Bearing Animals or rabbits within the Village. includes cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, mules, oxen, buffalo, sheep, fallow deer, reindeer and swine |
| Bylaw | Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingANIMAL AND POULTRY REGULATION BYLAW NO. 460 - 2009 |
How it works
The Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460 lets you keep poultry (domestic fowl, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons) only on a parcel with a single family detached dwelling that has at least 12 m of frontage and at least 20 m of depth, and only with a Poultry Licence. The limit is 12 poultry on any parcel.
Good to know
- No person may keep a rooster.
- Poultry must be kept in a coop unless grazing on fenced land or in a run.
- A coop must be 3 m from any side lot line, and 1 m from the rear lot line (3 m if the rear lot line is under 23 m from the adjacent dwelling or the neighbouring parcel is vacant). The bylaw sets no coop size limit.
- The Poultry Licence is $10 a year. It can be revoked for contravening the bylaw, with no refund and a one-year bar on reapplying.
- Farm animals (cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, mules, oxen, buffalo, sheep, deer, swine), fur-bearing animals and rabbits may not be kept in the Village.
- Bees: the bylaw and Zoning Bylaw do not mention them. Ask the Village Office at 250-358-2472.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kaslo · Nakusp · Nelson · Castlegar · Salmo · Fruitvale
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal and Poultry Regulation Bylaw No. 460, 2009 (PDF), Village of Silverton (read 2026-11-08)
- Memorial Hall, Village of Silverton (Village Office phone) (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.