{"title":"Smithers backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Smithers?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Smithers","url":"https://www.smithers.ca"},"short_answer":"In Smithers you can keep up to 6 hens on a single-family lot over 550 m², in LDR-1 and R-6 zones (and A-1 or R-7 where accessory to agriculture). Flocks must be registered with the Town for $15. Roosters are not allowed. The sources read do not state a bee rule.","aliases":["backyard hens smithers","chickens smithers","keep chickens smithers","backyard chicken bylaw smithers","livestock smithers"],"cost":"$15 to register a flock with the Town.","how_long":"Registration form (Schedule C) goes to the Town; processing time is not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall (bylaw enforcement)","value":"250-847-1600","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Backyard Hens","url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/backyard-hens"},{"title":"Your Guide to Backyard Hen Keeping (PDF)","url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf"},{"title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020)","url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Smithers zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Smithers bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burns-lake","name":"Burns Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":"Yes, as an auxiliary use to a single detached dwelling on a lot over 550 m², in the LDR-1 and R-6 zones, and in A-1 or R-7 where accessory to a permitted agricultural use or dwelling (Town's 2026 guide). Bylaw 1780 still names the old R-1, R-2 and P-1 zones. The owner must live there or give written permission.","short":"Yes, lots over 550 m² in LDR-1 and R-6 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 6-3(a)","quotes":["The keeping of hens for domestic purpose is permitted as an auxiliary use to a","550m2 (5,920","The owner of the property resides on the property where the hens are kept, or"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/backyard-hens","title":"Backyard Hens, Town of Smithers","section":"Backyard Hen Keeping","quotes":["on any lot greater than 550m2 (5,920 ft2) and zoned R-1, R-2, R-6, R-7, A-1 and P-1 Zones"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf","title":"Your Guide to Backyard Hen Keeping (PDF), Town of Smithers","section":"Checklist","quotes":["Backyard hen keeping is permitted in the LDR-1 and R-6 zones","Lot size must be greater than 550m2 (5,920 ft2) and zoned LDR-1, R-6, R-7, or A-1 zones"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Bylaw 1780 (consolidated Jan. 2020) names zones R-1, R-2, R-6 and P-1 (with R-7 and A-1 'existing'); the Town's web page lists R-1, R-2, R-6, R-7, A-1 and P-1; the 2026 Hen Keeping Guide lists LDR-1, R-6, R-7 and A-1. Zoning Bylaw 1987 (base text) defines 'backyard hen keeping' by reference to Bylaw 1780. Confirm the zone with the Town."},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"6 hens on a single-family lot. 12 hens on a P-1 property with a Community Garden. 12 poultry per 0.4 ha of parcel in A-1 or R-7 zones (Agricultural Land Reserve rules apply on ALR land).","short":"6 hens (12 on P-1 with Community Garden)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 6-3(c)","quotes":["six (6) hens as an auxiliary use to a detached, single-family dwelling;","twelve (12) hens on a P-1 property in conjunction with a Community Garden;","twelve (12) poultry for each 0.4 ha of parcel area in zones A-1 or R-7."]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf","title":"Your Guide to Backyard Hen Keeping (PDF), Town of Smithers","section":"Checklist","quotes":["Agricultural Land Commission (ALC)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"No. Roosters are prohibited.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 6-3(b)","quotes":["obtains written permission from the property owner; b) Roosters are prohibited; c) The keeping of hens is limited to a maximum of:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Run and coop each at least 3.0 m from the house and 1.5 m from the side or rear lot line, at the side or rear. Run fenced and roofed, 1.0 m² per hen. Coop floor 0.5 m² per hen, a 15 cm perch per hen and a nest box per 4 hens.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 6-3(d), (e)","quotes":["sited at least 3.0 m (9.84 ft) from the principal building and 1.5 m from the","of sufficient size to provide at least 1.0 m2 (10.76 ft2) of roofed outdoor","allows at least 0.5 m2 (5.3 ft2) of coop floor area per hen; and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":"Yes. Flocks must be registered with the Town (Schedule C form) for a $15 fee.","short":"Yes, $15 registration fee","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 6-3(m)","quotes":["Backyard hen flocks must be registered for a fee of $15 with the Town of"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/backyard-hens","title":"Backyard Hens, Town of Smithers","section":"Backyard Hen Keeping","quotes":["registration of your Backyard Hen Flock for a $15 fee"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Cattle and other farm animals (horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, oxen) may not be kept in the Town except in R-7, A-1 and the Fall Fair Grounds. Poultry, pigeons or doves may not be kept inside a dwelling or business unless the business is licensed for it.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 6-4","quotes":["No person shall cause or permit any cattle or farm animals to be kept or harbored"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 2.1 \"Farm Animal\"","quotes":["includes: cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, asses and oxen;"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 6-1","quotes":["No poultry, pigeons, or doves shall be kept in any part of a"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Bylaw No. 1780 - Animal Control and Licensing (Section 6, Schedule C); Zoning Bylaw No. 1987","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as","Animal Control and Licensing"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Town of Smithers","section":"Definitions","quotes":["“backyard hen keeping” means the keeping of hens, as they are defined in Bylaw No. 1780"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nHens are allowed as an auxiliary use to a single detached dwelling on a lot over 550 m², in the LDR-1 and R-6 zones, and in A-1 or R-7 where accessory to a permitted agricultural use or dwelling (per the Town's October 2026 [hen keeping guide](<https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf>)). The owner must live there or give written permission. The rules are in the [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23](<https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/>) (section 6, Schedule C) and the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987](<https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/>).\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone with the Town.\n2. Build a coop and run that meets the rules below.\n3. Register your flock with the Town using the Schedule C form and pay $15.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Number: up to 6 hens on a single-family lot; 12 on a P-1 lot with a Community Garden; 12 poultry per 0.4 ha in A-1 or R-7 (Agricultural Land Reserve rules apply on ALR land). No roosters.\n- Coop and run: each at least 3.0 m from the house and 1.5 m from the side or rear lot line, at the side or rear. Run fenced and roofed, 1.0 m² per hen. Coop floor 0.5 m² per hen, a 15 cm perch per hen, and a nest box per 4 hens.\n- Bylaw 1780 still names the old R-1, R-2 and P-1 zones, so the sources differ; confirm your zone with the Town.\n- Cattle and other farm animals (horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, oxen) may not be kept except in R-7, A-1 and the Fall Fair Grounds. Poultry, pigeons or doves may not be kept inside a dwelling or business unless the business is licensed for it.\n- Bees: the sources we read do not state a rule. Ask the Town at 250-847-1600.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/backyard-hens","title":"Backyard Hens, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf","title":"Your Guide to Backyard Hen Keeping (PDF), Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens.json"}}