---
title: Squamish backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Squamish?"
place: Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/squamish
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Squamish
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Squamish backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** A Squamish resident may keep up to five urban hens on the residential lot where they live. Roosters are prohibited. Check the District’s hen-keeping guide before building the coop.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Squamish, https://squamish.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 604-892-5217

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** A resident may keep up to five hens per parcel if they cause no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems. Universities have a separate educational exception.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009, Section 42, keeping of urban hens](https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/103402/)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of up to five (5) Hens is permitted provided that no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result. Universities are not restricted to the number of hens for educational purposes." … "42. A person who keeps one (1) or more Hens, up to a maximum of five (5), must: (a) be a resident of the property where the Hens are kept; (b) keep no more than five (5) Hens on any parcel of land despite the number of permissible dwelling units on that parcel;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Most hens:** A Squamish resident may keep up to five urban hens on the residential lot where they live.
  - Source: [Steps to keeping hens, PDF p. 1](https://squamish.ca/assets/Uploads/chicken-Brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Residents on a residential lot within the District of Squamish are permitted up to a maximum of five (5) urban hens and must be a resident of the property where the urban hens are kept."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Roosters:** Roosters are prohibited.
  - Source: [Steps to keeping hens, PDF p. 1](https://squamish.ca/assets/Uploads/chicken-Brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "• No roosters are permitted"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Coop rules:** Enclose the coop area with an electric fence to protect against wildlife.
  - Source: [Steps to keeping hens, Keeping urban hens, precautions](https://squamish.ca/assets/Uploads/chicken-Brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Precautions must be taken to avoid attracting wildlife such as bears, coyotes, cougars and wolves. Coop areas must be enclosed by an electric fence. All urban hens are required to be registered."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Permit or registration:** Register the hens with the District.
  - Source: [Steps to keeping hens, PDF p. 1](https://squamish.ca/assets/Uploads/chicken-Brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All urban hens are required to be registered. Visit squamish.ca/urbanhens to access the registry application."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bees:** Resident beekeepers may keep two hives below 929 m², four above 929 and below 1,394 m², or six above 1,394 m². The bylaw uses strict inequalities. Confirm the limit at either exact boundary. Hives must be in a backyard with a continuous 1.8 m fence.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009, Section 43(a)–(c), urban bees](https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/103402/)
  - Official wording: "43. A person who keeps Urban Bees must: (a) keep no more than; (i) two (2) Beehives on any parcel of land under 929 square metres (10,000 square feet) in size despite the number of dwelling units permissible on that parcel; (ii) four (4) Beehives on any parcel of land over 929 square metres (10,000 square feet) in size and under 1394 square metres (15,000 square metres) in size despite the number of dwelling units permissible on that parcel; (iii) six (6) Beehives on any parcel of land over 1394 square metres (15,000 square feet) in size despite the number of dwelling units permissible on that parcel; (b) be a resident of the property where the Bees are kept; (c) ensure that the Beehives are situated in a back yard only which has a continuous fence that is 1.8 metres in height so as to ensure an appropriate flight path for Bees;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Other livestock:** Not confirmed. Checked Steps to keeping hens, Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 2011, consolidated September 2026, Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009; not found there.
- **Bylaw:** District of Squamish Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009, as amended for urban hens.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009, Sections 1 and 42, keeping of urban hens](https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/103402/)
  - Official wording: "1. This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “District of Squamish Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009" … "The keeping of up to five (5) Hens is permitted provided that no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result. Universities are not restricted to the number of hens for educational purposes."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

Start with the property, then plan the flock and the enclosure. The number of birds is only one part of the decision. How the bylaw describes the lot, the type of bird and the location of the coop can all affect a proposal. Enclose the coop area with an electric fence to protect against wildlife.

## Steps

1. Check the rules for your flock in [Steps to keeping hens (PDF)](https://squamish.ca/assets/Uploads/chicken-Brochure.pdf). Find the property's zone and draw the proposed coop and run in relation to the home, neighbouring lots and street.
2. Identify the number, age and type of birds you plan to keep. Compare those details with the limits below before buying birds or materials.
3. Register the hens with the District.

## Good to know

- A resident may keep up to five hens per parcel if they cause no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems. Universities have a separate educational exception.
- Resident beekeepers may keep two hives below 929 m², four above 929 and below 1,394 m², or six above 1,394 m². The bylaw uses strict inequalities. Confirm the limit at either exact boundary. Hives must be in a backyard with a continuous 1.8 m fence.
- For bees or another species, ask about that species by name. A provision covering laying hens does not establish permission to keep every type of poultry or livestock.
- For a question about the proposed number of birds, lot size and coop location, call the Municipal Hall at 604-892-5217.
- Read the applicable provisions in [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009 (PDF)](https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/103402/).

## Related questions

- [Squamish home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/home-based-business.md)
- [Squamish zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-chickens.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/backyard-chickens.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/backyard-chickens.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Steps to keeping hens (PDF)](https://squamish.ca/assets/Uploads/chicken-Brochure.pdf) (read 2026-11-09)
- [FAQ - Building Permit](https://squamish.ca/building-and-land-development/building-permit/faq-building-permit/) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2124, 2009 (PDF)](https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/103402/) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Squamish municipal office contact information](https://squamish.ca/about/contact-and-feedback/) (read 2026-11-09)

_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 District of Squamish. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/backyard-chickens/_