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

# Smithers backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Smithers, https://www.smithers.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Town Hall, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Town Hall (bylaw enforcement), 250-847-1600 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** 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. (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.)
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 6-3(a)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Backyard Hens, Backyard Hen Keeping](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/backyard-hens)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Your Guide to Backyard Hen Keeping, Checklist](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 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).
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 6-3(c)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Your Guide to Backyard Hen Keeping, Checklist](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Agricultural Land Commission (ALC)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters are prohibited.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 6-3(b)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "obtains written permission from the property owner; b) Roosters are prohibited; c) The keeping of hens is limited to a maximum of:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 6-3(d), (e)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Yes. Flocks must be registered with the Town (Schedule C form) for a $15 fee.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 6-3(m)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "Backyard hen flocks must be registered for a fee of $15 with the Town of"
  - Source: [Backyard Hens, Backyard Hen Keeping](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/backyard-hens)
  - Official wording: "registration of your Backyard Hen Flock for a $15 fee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Other livestock:** 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.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 6-4](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall cause or permit any cattle or farm animals to be kept or harbored"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 2.1 "Farm Animal"](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "includes: cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, asses and oxen;"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 6-1](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "No poultry, pigeons, or doves shall be kept in any part of a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw No. 1780 - Animal Control and Licensing (Section 6, Schedule C); Zoning Bylaw No. 1987
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 1.1](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as" … "Animal Control and Licensing"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Definitions](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "“backyard hen keeping” means the keeping of hens, as they are defined in Bylaw No. 1780"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Hens 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/>).

## Steps

1. Check your zone with the Town.
2. Build a coop and run that meets the rules below.
3. Register your flock with the Town using the Schedule C form and pay $15.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- Bylaw 1780 still names the old R-1, R-2 and P-1 zones, so the sources differ; confirm your zone with the Town.
- 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.
- Bees: the sources we read do not state a rule. Ask the Town at 250-847-1600.

## Official forms and pages

- [Backyard Hens](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/backyard-hens)
- [Your Guide to Backyard Hen Keeping (PDF)](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf)
- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/)

## Related questions

- [Smithers zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Smithers bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Backyard Hens, Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/bylaw-enforcement-animal-control/backyard-hens) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Your Guide to Backyard Hen Keeping (PDF), Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Your%20Guide%20to%20Backyard%20Hen%20Keeping_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/160511/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Smithers. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens/_