Sooke backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Sooke?
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.
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingb) 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 |
|---|---|
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingc) The keeping of up to 6 female poultry in enclosed runs is permitted on lots |
| Roosters | No, not on lots under 2,000 m² (male poultry are prohibited) in the zones named in s. 3.5.Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga) The keeping of livestock and male poultry is prohibited on lots less than |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5(c), (d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingRuns 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. |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 600, s. 3.5(a) and definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga) 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 |
| Bylaw | Sooke Zoning Bylaw, 2013 (Bylaw No. 600), s. 3.5; and Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009Zoning Bylaw No. 600, title; Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSooke Zoning Bylaw, 2013 Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009 |
How it works
Section 3.5 of the Zoning Bylaw No. 600 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
The same question in other places
Metchosin · Langford · Colwood · Highlands · View Royal · Esquimalt
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Information Bulletins | District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 600 (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
- Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke (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. How answers are checked.