Tahsis backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Tahsis?
Short answer
Yes. In Tahsis you may keep up to six hens (no roosters) on any lot in any zone, in a coop that meets the Zoning Bylaw's rules. Up to two beehives per lot are also allowed. Other livestock is allowed only on larger lots.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes. Keeping backyard hens is a permitted "urban agricultural use", which is allowed on any parcel in every zone, subject to the conditions in s. 3.3.Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, ss. 3.1(1)(c), 2.1(2) "Urban Agricultural Use", 3.3(7); Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, s. 3.1(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingc) urban agricultural use includes the keeping of honey bees and backyard hens The keeping of hens is a permitted urban agricultural use provided that: On any parcel, the use of land, buildings and structures for the following principal uses is |
|---|---|
| Most hens | Six hens per lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, s. 3.3(7)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingthe maximum number of hens shall be six (6) per lot; |
| Roosters | Not allowed.Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, s. 3.3(7)(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingroosters are not permitted; |
| Coop rules | A coop is required, with at least 0.37 m² per hen, no more than 3 m high, and subject to the setback and location rules for an accessory building. It must be kept clean and free of odours, substances and vermin.Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, s. 3.3(7)(c)-(f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga coop must be provided to house the hens and said enclosure must provide a minimum of zero point three seven (0. 37) square metres per hen; coops shall not exceed three (3) metres in height; coops shall be subject to the setback and location requirements of an accessory building; |
| Permit or registration | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bees | Yes, as an urban agricultural use: bees in hives, at most two hives with colonies per lot, hives at least 4 m from neighbouring houses, sidewalks, streets and public areas, hives at least 3 m above grade, securely located, ventilated and near water, following the provincial Bee Regulation.Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, s. 3.3(6) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe keeping of honey bees is a permitted urban agricultural use provided that: only two hives with colonies shall be permitted per lot; hives shall be at least four (4) metres from any neighbouring house, sidewalks, hives must be located at least a minimum of three (3) metres above grade level |
| Other livestock | Agricultural use, including keeping livestock for domestic purposes only, is permitted on a parcel of 0.4 ha or more. Livestock (chickens, horses, turkeys, cattle, hogs, rabbits, sheep and goats raised for agricultural purposes) may only be kept on lots greater than 0.4 ha.Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, ss. 3.1(2), 3.3(8), 2.1(2) "Livestock" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingagricultural use is permitted, including the keeping of livestock for domestic purposes only. The keeping and raising of livestock for agricultural use is only permitted on lots greater than means chickens, horses, turkeys, cattle, hogs, rabbits, sheep and goats raised for agricultural purposes |
| Bylaw | Village of Tahsis Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020 (s. 3.1, 3.3), as amended; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 420, 1997 for animals running at large.Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, s. 1.1; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 420, 1997, as amended, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingZONING BYLAW No. 630, 2020 This bylaw may be cited as the "Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 420, 1997". |
How it works
Under the Village's Zoning Bylaw No. 630, keeping backyard hens is a permitted "urban agricultural use". It is allowed on any parcel in every zone, subject to the conditions in section 3.3. A "hen" is a domesticated female chicken at least four months old.
Good to know
- Hens: six per lot. Roosters are not allowed.
- Coop: required, with at least 0.37 m² per hen and no more than 3 m high. It follows the setback and location rules for an accessory building, which the bylaw sets out in section 3.5. Keep it clean and free of odours, substances and vermin.
- Bees: allowed as an urban agricultural use, at most two hives with colonies per lot. Hives must be at least 4 m from neighbouring houses, sidewalks, streets and public areas, at least 3 m above grade, securely located, ventilated and near water, following the provincial Bee Regulation.
- Other livestock (chickens, horses, turkeys, cattle, hogs, rabbits, sheep and goats raised for agricultural purposes, or livestock kept for domestic purposes only) is allowed only on larger lots: 0.4 ha or more in one section, "greater than 0.4 hectares" in another.
- The bylaws I read mention no permit, licence or registration for hens.
- The Animal Control Bylaw also bars poultry and other animals from running at large.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Gold River · Campbell River · Port Hardy · Tofino · Cumberland · Courtenay
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020 (PDF), Village of Tahsis (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 420, 1997, as amended (PDF), Village of Tahsis (read 2026-11-08)
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. How answers are checked.