Stewart backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?
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.
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 1.0 Definitions; Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 6.1 (R2 zone) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingsheep, poultry, pigeons, ducks, geese, and other livestock. The following uses and no others are permitted in the R2 zone: Agricultural use; |
|---|---|
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 1.0 Definitions; Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 6.1 (R2 zone) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingspecifically includes a kennel and the keeping of horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, pigeons, ducks, geese, and other livestock. 17.1. The following uses and no others are permitted in the RR zone: .1 Agricultural use; .2 Logging; |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014Building Permits, Building Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingZoning Bylaw 881, 2014 |
How it works
In Stewart, no bylaw we could read sets rules specifically for backyard hens. The Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 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
The same question in other places
New Hazelton · Terrace · Prince Rupert · Port Edward · Smithers · Kitimat
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF), District of Stewart (read 2026-11-08)
- Building Permits, District of Stewart (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. How answers are checked.