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

# Surrey backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In the City of Surrey you can keep up to 4 hens (no roosters) on a lot larger than 669 m² but under 0.4 ha (1 acre) in the RA, R1 and R3 zones, and R2 under the Zoning By-law, after free City registration. Larger lots follow the Zoning By-law livestock rules. No beekeeping rule was found.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Surrey, https://www.surrey.ca)  
**Cost:** Free. Registration with the City is mandatory and free.  
**Where:**
- Online: City hen registration (online form, email or mail), https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/backyard-chickens
- Email: Backyard hens, backyardhens@surrey.ca
- Phone: Bylaw Services call centre, 604-591-4370

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, hens only, on lots larger than 669 m² (7,200 sq. ft.) but under 0.4 ha (1 acre) in the RA, R1 and R3 zones (Chicken Keeping Bylaw) and R2 (Zoning Bylaw). You must register first. Larger lots follow the Zoning Bylaw livestock rules. (Sources differ: The Chicken Keeping Bylaw s. 3 lists RA, R1 and R3 only; Zoning Bylaw s. B.12(d) lists RA, R1, R2 and R3. The City page and Farm Animals page use the older zone names (RA, RH, RF, RF-SS etc.). Zone names were replaced by Bylaw 21281 (zoning s. 3 table maps old to new).)
  - Source: [Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754 (consolidated to Bylaw 21394, 2024), s. 3, 4](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754)
  - Official wording: "in the following residential zones identified in "Surrey Zoning By-law," … "(a) Acreage Residential (RA) zone;" … "(c) Urban Residential (R3) zone."
  - Source: [Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.12), Part 4, s. B.12(d)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000)
  - Official wording: "the keeping of chickens may be permitted in" … "the RA, R1, R2, and R3 Zones, where the lot is greater than 669 sq. m but less than"
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens, intro](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "you can keep chickens in your backyard on single family urban area lots that are more than 7,200 square feet"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** 4 hens per lot on lots over 669 m² but under 0.4 ha. On lots of 0.4 ha (1 acre) or more in the RA, R1, R2 and R3 zones: up to 12 head of poultry, excluding roosters, per 0.4 ha.
  - Source: [Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754 (consolidated to Bylaw 21394, 2024), s. 5](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of 4 Hens, but no Roosters, are permitted on lands described in Section 3 of"
  - Source: [Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.12), Part 4, s. B.12(a)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000)
  - Official wording: "Twelve (12) head of poultry, excluding roosters, for every 0.4 ha, with the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No roosters on lots over 669 m² but under 0.4 ha, and the City says roosters are not allowed in residential areas.
  - Source: [Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754 (consolidated to Bylaw 21394, 2024), s. 5](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of 4 Hens, but no Roosters, are permitted on lands described in Section 3 of"
  - Source: [Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.12), Part 4, s. B.12(d)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000)
  - Official wording: "No roosters are permitted on any lot;"
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens, intro](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "Roosters are not allowed in residential areas."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Coop at least 3.0 m from any dwelling, with setbacks of 20.0 m front, 1.2 m rear, 1.2 m side and 3.0 m street side. Each hen needs 0.37 m² of coop floor, 0.92 m² of outdoor enclosure, a nest box and a perch. Coop and enclosure must be secured from sunset to sunrise, kept clean, and manure stored in a closed container (no more than 0.08 m³).
  - Source: [Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.12), Part 4, s. B.12(d)iii](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000)
  - Official wording: "Buildings and structures to shelter hens shall be situated a minimum of" … "Front Yard: Minimum 20.0 m;" … "Rear Yard: Minimum 1.2 m;" … "Street Side Yard: Minimum 3.0 m; and"
  - Source: [Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754 (consolidated to Bylaw 21394, 2024), s. 10, 11(c)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754)
  - Official wording: "at least 0.37 square meters [4 square feet] of interior Coop" … "at least 0.92 square meters (10 square feet) of Outdoor Enclosure" … "ensure the Coop and Outdoor Enclosure are secured from sunset to sunrise" … "with no more than 0.08 cubic meters [2.8 cubic feet] of manure stored on the lot at a time"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Registration with the City is mandatory and free. You must own the lot and live on it (or live there with the owner's written consent) and provide a BC Premises ID number. Apply online, by email or by mail; wait for the City's validation before building a coop or buying hens. Registration is not transferable and ends if the owner or occupier changes.
  - Source: [Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754 (consolidated to Bylaw 21394, 2024), s. 6, 7, 8, 9](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754)
  - Official wording: "A person may not Keep a Hen unless that person first submits a completed Hen" … "a valid British Columbia Poultry Premises Identification number obtained from" … "A validated Hen registration is not transferable from one person to another or from" … "will terminate if the owner or occupier of the lot named in the registration changes"
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens, Steps](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "Registration is free but mandatory." … "When you have received this notification, you can then construct a coop and purchase your hens."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Other livestock:** Livestock, poultry, rabbits and chinchillas in RA, R1, R2 and R3 zones: 2 livestock, or 6 sheep or goats, or 12 poultry (no roosters) per 0.4 ha, on lots of at least 0.4 ha; on smaller lots only 2 rabbits or chinchillas. Pigeons and doves on lots of at least 560 m², up to 15 birds per 93 m². The City says ducks, turkeys and other fowl are not allowed on lots under 1 acre.
  - Source: [Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.12), Part 4, s. B.12(a), (c)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000)
  - Official wording: "Two (2) livestock for every 0.4 ha, with the minimum lot size of 0.4 ha;" … "Six (6) sheep or goats, for every 0.4 ha, with the minimum lot size of 0.4" … "2 rabbits or chinchillas where the lot is less than 0.4 ha" … "The lot is not less than 560 sq. m;"
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens, intro](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "Ducks, turkeys, or other fowl other than hens are not allowed on lots less than 1 acre."
  - Source: [Farm Animals, Raising farm animals](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/farm-animals)
  - Official wording: "your property must be zoned as RA, RH, RF or RF-SS, and be at least 1 acre in size"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754; Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.12)
  - Source: [Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754 (consolidated to Bylaw 21394, 2024), s. 1](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754"."
  - Source: [Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.12), title](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000)
  - Official wording: "Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Hens only (no roosters) are allowed on lots larger than 669 m² (7,200 sq. ft.) but under 0.4 ha (1 acre) in the RA, R1 and R3 zones under the [Chicken Keeping Bylaw 18754](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754), and R2 under the [Zoning By-law](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000). The limit is 4 hens per lot. On lots of 0.4 ha or more in the RA, R1, R2 and R3 zones, you can keep up to 12 head of poultry (no roosters) per 0.4 ha.

## Steps

1. Check your lot size and zone. You must own the lot and live on it, or live there with the owner's written consent.
2. Get a BC Premises ID number.
3. Register with the City, which is free: online, by email or by mail.
4. Wait for the City's validation before you build a coop or buy hens.

## Good to know

- Coop at least 3.0 m from any dwelling. Setbacks are 20.0 m front, 1.2 m rear, 1.2 m side and 3.0 m street side.
- Each hen needs 0.37 m² of coop floor, 0.92 m² of outdoor enclosure, a nest box and a perch. Secure the coop and enclosure from sunset to sunrise, keep them clean, and store manure in a closed container (no more than 0.08 m³).
- Registration is not transferable and ends if the owner or occupier changes.
- On lots of 0.4 ha or more in the RA, R1, R2 and R3 zones: 2 livestock, or 6 sheep or goats, or 12 poultry per 0.4 ha. On smaller lots only 2 rabbits or chinchillas. Pigeons and doves need a lot of at least 560 m², up to 15 birds per 93 m². The City says ducks, turkeys and other fowl are not allowed on lots under 1 acre.
- Bees: the bylaws and City pages we read do not mention beekeeping. Ask Bylaw Services.
- Municipal tickets: hens not permitted $100; more than 4 hens $150; rooster $150; no registration $100.

## What you'll need

- BC Premises ID number
- Written consent of the owner, if you rent

## Official forms and pages

- [Backyard Chickens, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/backyard-chickens)
- [Farm Animals, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/farm-animals)
- [Chicken Keeping Bylaw 18754 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754)
- [Zoning By-law 12000 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/backyard-chickens.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Backyard Chickens, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/backyard-chickens) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Farm Animals, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/animals/farm-animals) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Chicken Keeping Bylaw, 2016, No. 18754 (consolidated to Bylaw 21394, 2024)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18754) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.12)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 12508 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.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 City of Surrey. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/backyard-chickens/_