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

# Taylor backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Taylor, you can keep up to six hens for personal egg consumption where the zone allows it, such as the A-1, A-2 and R-1 zones. Hens must also meet the Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw. Beehives are allowed where listed as a permitted use, with limits.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Taylor, https://districtoftaylor.com)  
**Cost:** Not stated on the sources read.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: District Office (Municipal Hall), P.O. Box 300, 10007 100A Street, Taylor, BC V0C 2K0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding statutory holidays)
- Phone: District Office, 250-789-3392

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, as a permitted secondary use in the A-1, A-2 and R-1 zones (and other zones listed in the Zoning Bylaw). Hens must also meet the Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (readable copy on the District's CivicWeb site), Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, s. 4.13 and zone tables](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "Where permitted within a zone, a backyard hen enclosure must comply with the" … "for personal egg consumption."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Most hens:** Six hens, for personal egg consumption.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (readable copy on the District's CivicWeb site), Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, s. 4.13.2](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of six (6) hens may be kept for personal egg consumption."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Roosters:** Not confirmed. Taylor's Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw is a scanned image that could not be read.
- **Coop rules:** In the rear yard, at least 2.5 m from the side and rear parcel lines; enclosure no larger than 8.0 m² and 3.0 m high.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (readable copy on the District's CivicWeb site), Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, s. 4.13.3-4.13.4](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "Backyard hen enclosures must be located in the rear yard and placed at least 2.5 m" … "The maximum size of a backyard hen enclosure is 8.0 m2 and 3.0 m in height."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit or registration:** Not confirmed. Taylor's Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw is a scanned image that could not be read.
- **Bees:** Allowed where listed as a permitted use (for example A-1, A-2 and R-1). Hives go in the rear yard, 7.5 m from parcel lines unless raised 2.5 m or more, or under 2.0 m behind a solid fence or hedge 2.0 m high; at most two colonies on a parcel under 1,100 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (readable copy on the District's CivicWeb site), Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, s. 4.14](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "The apiary and beehives must be kept in the rear yard and are not permitted within" … "No more than two colonies of bees are permitted on a parcel having an area less"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other livestock:** Not confirmed. Taylor's Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw is a scanned image that could not be read.
- **Bylaw:** Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw (listed as No. 872, 2023); hen and bee limits also in Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, ss. 4.13 and 4.14.
  - Source: [Bylaws, Bylaws page list](https://districtoftaylor.com/bylaws/)
  - Official wording: "Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw" … "872-2023-Backyard-Hen-and-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw.pdf"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (readable copy on the District's CivicWeb site), Zoning Bylaw s. 4.13, 4.14](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "Where permitted within a zone, a backyard hen enclosure must comply with the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Hens are a permitted secondary use in the A-1, A-2 and R-1 zones, and in other zones listed in the [Zoning Bylaw](<https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/>) (section 4.13). They must also meet the [Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw](<https://districtoftaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/872-2023-Backyard-Hen-and-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw.pdf>), whose posted copy is a scanned image that could not be read.

## Steps

1. Check your zone with the District Office at 250-789-3392.
2. Keep no more than six hens, for personal egg consumption.
3. Put the hen enclosure in the rear yard, at least 2.5 m from the side and rear parcel lines, no larger than 8.0 m² and no higher than 3.0 m.
4. For bees, keep hives in the rear yard (see below).

## Good to know

- Bees are allowed where listed as a permitted use (for example A-1, A-2 and R-1). Hives are 7.5 m from parcel lines unless raised 2.5 m or more, or under 2.0 m high behind a solid fence or hedge 2.0 m high. No more than two colonies on a parcel under 1,100 m².
- The sources read do not state whether roosters are allowed, whether a hen permit or registration is needed, or the rules for other livestock. Ask the District Office.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (readable copy on the District's CivicWeb site)](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
- [Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw No. 872, 2023 (PDF)](https://districtoftaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/872-2023-Backyard-Hen-and-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Bylaws, District of Taylor](https://districtoftaylor.com/bylaws/)

## Related questions

- [Taylor zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Taylor fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (readable copy on the District's CivicWeb site)](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Backyard Hen and Bee Keeping Bylaw No. 872, 2023 (PDF)](https://districtoftaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/872-2023-Backyard-Hen-and-Bee-Keeping-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws, District of Taylor](https://districtoftaylor.com/bylaws/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, District of Taylor](https://districtoftaylor.com/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 3 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Taylor. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/backyard-chickens/_