---
title: Stewart backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?"
place: Stewart, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/stewart
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Stewart
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Stewart backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** Stewart has no backyard-hen rule. Its Zoning Bylaw defines agricultural use to include keeping poultry and other livestock, and permits it in the R2, RR and SG zones, but does not list it in the R1 zone. Bees are not mentioned.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Stewart, https://districtofstewart.com)  
**Cost:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District of Stewart, 250-636-2251 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Not by a hen-specific rule. The Zoning Bylaw defines agricultural use to include keeping poultry. Agricultural use is permitted in the R2 (Rural Residential), RR and SG zones, and is not listed in the R1 zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 1.0 Definitions](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/)
  - Official wording: "sheep, poultry, pigeons, ducks, geese, and other livestock."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 6.1 (R2 zone)](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/)
  - Official wording: "The following uses and no others are permitted in the R2 zone:" … "Agricultural use;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Most hens:** None set. Stewart has no backyard-hen rule, so no limit, rooster, coop or registration rule.
- **Roosters:** None set. Stewart has no backyard-hen rule, so no limit, rooster, coop or registration rule.
- **Coop rules:** None set. Stewart has no backyard-hen rule, so no limit, rooster, coop or registration rule.
- **Permit or registration:** None set. Stewart has no backyard-hen rule, so no limit, rooster, coop or registration rule.
- **Bees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Other livestock:** Agricultural use, defined to include horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, pigeons, ducks, geese and other livestock, is permitted in the R2, RR and SG zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 1.0 Definitions](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/)
  - Official wording: "specifically includes a kennel and the keeping of horses, cattle," … "sheep, poultry, pigeons, ducks, geese, and other livestock."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 6.1 (R2 zone)](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/)
  - Official wording: "17.1. The following uses and no others are permitted in the RR zone: .1 Agricultural use; .2 Logging;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw 881, 2014"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

In Stewart, no bylaw we could read sets rules specifically for backyard hens. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/) defines "agricultural use" to include a kennel and the keeping of horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, pigeons, ducks, geese and other livestock.

## Good to know

- Agricultural use is a permitted use in the R2 (Rural Residential), RR and SG zones. It is not listed in the R1 zone.
- The R2 zone has a minimum parcel size of 1 ha.
- No maximum number of hens, rules on roosters, coop rules or registration were found.
- Bees (apiaries) are not mentioned in the Zoning Bylaw.
- Check which zone your lot is in and ask the District at 250-636-2251 before buying birds.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF)](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/)

## Related questions

- [Stewart zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Stewart dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF), District of Stewart](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits, District of Stewart](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 4 are recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Stewart. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/backyard-chickens/_