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

# Sooke backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Sooke's small-scale multi-unit residential, multi-family and comprehensive development zones, you can keep up to 6 hens in an enclosed run on a lot over 600 m² and under 2,000 m². Roosters and livestock are banned on lots under 2,000 m². The bylaws do not mention bees.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sooke, https://sooke.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit or fee found. Fine for unlawful keeping of hens: $100.  
**How long:** Not applicable  
**Where:**
- Phone: District of Sooke Bylaw Services, 250-642-1634 (Municipal Hall, 2205 Otter Point Road, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** In small-scale multi-unit residential (R1-R3), multi-family and comprehensive development zones: no hens under 600 m²; up to 6 in enclosed runs on lots over 600 m² and under 2,000 m². The rural zones RU1 to RU4 permit 'Agriculture' (raising livestock); no hen limit is stated there.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "b) The keeping of female poultry is prohibited on lots less than 600 m 2 in area;" … "c) The keeping of up to 6 female poultry in enclosed runs is permitted on lots" … "less than 2,000 m2 but more than 600 m2." … "AGRICULTURE means the use of land, buildings, and structures for growing, rearing," … "producing and harvesting of agricultural products or raising livestock; includes processing"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Up to 6 female poultry on lots over 600 m² and under 2,000 m² (in the zones named in s. 3.5). No cap is stated for lots of 2,000 m² or more.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5(c)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "c) The keeping of up to 6 female poultry in enclosed runs is permitted on lots"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No, not on lots under 2,000 m² (male poultry are prohibited) in the zones named in s. 3.5.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5(a)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a) The keeping of livestock and male poultry is prohibited on lots less than"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Runs must give at least 0.8 m² per bird and coops at least 0.2 m² per bird. A building or structure for animals must not be in the front yard and must be at least 6 m from any lot line.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5(c), (d)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Runs shall provide at least 0.8 m2" … "space per bird and coops of at least 0.2 m 2 of space per bird;" … "d) A building or structure used for the keeping of animals must not be located in" … "the front yard, and must be located at least 6 m from any lot line."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Other livestock:** In the zones named in s. 3.5, livestock (cattle, sheep, swine, horses, ponies, llamas, mules, goats and other domesticated animals bred for meat, dairy, hides or hair) are prohibited on lots under 2,000 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5(a) and definition](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a) The keeping of livestock and male poultry is prohibited on lots less than" … "LIVESTOCK includes cattle, sheep, swine, horses, ponies, llamas, mules or goats or any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Sooke Zoning Bylaw, 2013 (Bylaw No. 600), s. 3.5; and Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 600, title](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Sooke Zoning Bylaw, 2013"
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, title](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Section 3.5 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 600](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf) covers small-scale multi-unit residential (R1 to R3), multi-family and comprehensive development zones. In those zones, hens are not allowed on lots under 600 m². Up to 6 female poultry in enclosed runs are allowed on lots over 600 m² and under 2,000 m². Male poultry (roosters) and livestock are prohibited on lots under 2,000 m².

The rural zones RU1 to RU4 list "Agriculture" (which includes raising livestock) as a use. No hen limit is stated for them, and no cap is stated for lots of 2,000 m² or more.

## Good to know

- Runs must give at least 0.8 m² per bird and coops at least 0.2 m² per bird.
- A building or structure for animals must not be in the front yard and must be at least 6 m from any lot line.
- Livestock here means cattle, sheep, swine, horses, ponies, llamas, mules, goats and other domesticated animals bred for meat, dairy, hides or hair. Ducks and other fowl are not separately addressed.
- No permit, licence or registration for hens was found, and nothing on beekeeping in the zoning, animal or fees bylaws.
- The ticket for unlawful keeping of hens is $100, and for unlawful keeping of animals is $100.
- Check your zone and any rules for your lot with Bylaw Services at 250-642-1634 or bylaw@sooke.ca.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 600 (PDF)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sooke noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/noise-rules.md)
- [Sooke zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Sooke bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/backyard-chickens.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Information Bulletins | District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/information-bulletins/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 600 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Sooke. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/backyard-chickens/_