---
title: Summerland backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?"
place: Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/summerland
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Summerland
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Summerland backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, within limits. Summerland's Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 allows up to five hens (no roosters) in residential zones if the property has a single-family home or duplex and you live there. No permit or fee was found. Bee hives need a lot of 0.61 hectares or more.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Summerland, https://www.summerland.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit, licence or fee for backyard hens was found in the bylaws.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-494-6451 ext. 4 (bylaw@summerland.ca)
- Phone: Development Services (zoning), 250-494-1373 (devserv@summerland.ca)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, in all residential zones, if the property has a single-family dwelling or duplex, the owner lives there, and the hens are kept for personal use only (no selling eggs, manure or meat).
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (consolidated through Bylaw 2015-022), s. 1(b)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Backyard chickens may be kept in all Residential Zones, as defined in the" … "either a single family dwelling or a duplex;" … "the owner of the backyard chickens resides at the property where the" … "backyard chickens are kept for personal use only; the sale of eggs,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Five hens per property.
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (consolidated through Bylaw 2015-022), s. 1(b)(iii)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no more than five backyard chickens are kept per property;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. The bylaw's backyard chicken permission covers hens only; its definition 'does not include roosters'.
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (consolidated through Bylaw 2015-022), Definitions](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Backyard Chicken means hens that are permitted under Section 1 (b) of this bylaw, and" … "does not include roosters."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** One coop in the rear yard with a fully enclosed area for the hens, no higher than 2 m, no larger than 9 m², at least 3 m from any window or door of a residential building, cleaned regularly. Hens must not run at large. The bylaw also says the coop must be 'within a required setback' (probably a drafting error; confirm with the District).
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (consolidated through Bylaw 2015-022), s. 1(b)(x)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a single coop for the backyard chickens that is built and maintained in" … "the coop must be located in the rear yard of a lot and must provide" … "the coop must not exceed 2 metres in height;" … "the coop must not exceed 9 square metres in total area;" … "the coop must not be located closer than 3 metres from any window or door of any residential building;" … "backyard chickens must not run at large;" … "the coop must be located within a required setback;"
  - 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:** Bee hives are not allowed on a lot smaller than 0.61 ha (1 1/2 acre).
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (consolidated through Bylaw 2015-022), s. 1(d)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep bee hives on a lot within the District which has an area of less than 0.61 hectares (1 1/2 acre)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Animals other than household pets are prohibited in all zones except FG, A1 and A2. In the CR1 zone, on sites over 0.2 ha, a limited number are allowed (for example, 1 horse or cattle, or 3 sheep, per 0.2 ha). No swine or male goats unless the lot is farm land; animal buildings 15.24 m from homes and lot lines.
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (consolidated through Bylaw 2015-022), s. 1(a), (c), (e), (f)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Except as outlined in this section, the keeping of animals other than" … "household pets is prohibited in all zones with the exception of the" … "shall not exceed one for each 0.2 hectares (1/2 acre) or fraction thereof;" … "No person shall keep swine, male goats, or more than four guinea-pigs on any" … "shall be a minimum of fifty (50) feet (15.24 metres) from any building for residential"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw No. 93-028 (section 1); also Zoning Bylaw No. 2000-450 (definitions of Backyard Chickens and Urban Agriculture).
  - Source: [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (consolidated through Bylaw 2015-022), page footer](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw No. 93-028"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (consolidated to March 3, 2026), Definitions](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Backyard Chickens means hens that are permitted under the District of Summerland's Animal"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In the District of Summerland, the [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf) (section 1) allows backyard chickens in all residential zones if every condition is met. Keeping animals other than household pets is otherwise prohibited, except in the FG, A1 and A2 zones.

## Chicken rules

1. Single-family dwelling or duplex only, and the owner must live on the property.
2. No more than five hens. The bylaw covers hens only; roosters are not included.
3. Personal use only: no selling eggs, manure or meat. No slaughter or burial on the property.
4. One coop in the rear yard with a fully enclosed area for the hens, no higher than 2 m, no larger than 9 m², at least 3 m from any window or door of a residential building, and cleaned regularly.
5. Store feed securely and manage manure hygienically. Hens must not run at large.
6. A sick hen must be seen by a veterinarian.

## Good to know

- The coop rule also says the coop must be "within a required setback". This is probably a drafting error, so confirm the setback with Development Services.
- No permit, licence, registration or fee for backyard hens was found.
- Bees: no hives on a lot smaller than 0.61 ha (1 1/2 acre).
- Swine, male goats and more than four guinea pigs are not allowed unless the lot is assessed as farm land. Animal buildings must be 15.24 m from homes and lot lines, but this does not apply to backyard chickens.
- On CR1 lots over 0.2 ha, limited numbers are allowed, for example one horse or cow or three sheep per 0.2 ha.
- Ducks count as other poultry, not backyard chickens, so they fall under the general prohibition.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf)
- [Zoning](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/zoning)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/how-many-pets.md)
- [Summerland dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/backyard-chickens.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal and Pound Regulation Bylaw 93-028 (consolidated through Bylaw 2015-022) (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/animal-and-pound-regulation-bylaw-93-028.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (consolidated to March 3, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 Summerland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/backyard-chickens/_