Telkwa backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Telkwa?

Telkwa, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Telkwa, hens are allowed only in zones that list Hen Keeping as an accessory use: R1, C2 and C3 (not R2 or R3). No roosters. The Animal Control Bylaw caps chickens at 10 on property under 0.91 ha. Bees are allowed in R1, C2 and C3.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Only in zones that list Hen Keeping as an accessory use: R1, C2 and C3 (not R2 or R3). Hens must be accessory to a dwelling and kept by a resident of the parcel.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 3.19.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 5.2.2 (R1); Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 9.2.2 (C2), 10.2.2 (C3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording The keeping of hens must be Accessory to the use of the Dwelling for Residential purposes and must be kept by a resident of the Parcel. Any use not expressly permitted in this Bylaw is prohibited in every zone and where a particular use is expressly permitted in one zone, such use is prohibited in every zone where it is not also expressly permitted. .3 Beekeeping .4 Day Care .5 Hen Keeping .4 Beekeeping .5 Day Care .6 Hen Keeping
Most hens	The Zoning Bylaw refers to the Animal Control Bylaw: at most 10 chickens on property under 0.91 ha (1.5 acres), 20 on larger property. Chickens, turkeys and rabbits combined may not exceed half of those quantities.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 3.19.2; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 691, 2019, s. 7.4(b), (c), (d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording The number of hens allowed is as described in the Village of Telkwa Animal Control Bylaw. more than ten (10) chickens or three (3) rabbits on property under the size of 0.91 hectares (1.5 acres) more than twenty (20) chickens, or six (6) rabbits, or six (6) turkeys on property over the size of 0.91 hectares (1.5 acres) a combined amount of chickens, turkeys, or rabbits that exceeds half of the quantities mentioned in section 7.4(b) and 7.4(c)
Roosters	No. Roosters may not be kept (they are also on the prohibited animals list).Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 691, 2019, s. 7.4(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording No person shall harbour: a) a rooster;
Coop rules	Coop at most 6.0 m² floor area and 2.0 m high. Coop and pen at least 2.5 m from every side and rear lot line, in the rear yard behind the dwelling, and the rear yard must be fully fenced against predators. Store feed in an airtight container.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 3.19.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording The maximum size of a coop is 6.0 m² in Gross Floor Area and 2.0 m in Height; The coop and the pen must be placed at least 2.5 m from the exterior Side Parcel Line, the interior Side Parcel Line, and the rear Parcel Line; Food for hens must be stored in an airtight container that cannot be accessed by other wildlife if stored outside.
Permit or registration	Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
Bees	Allowed as an accessory use by a resident (R1, C2, C3 zones list Beekeeping). Two colonies at most on a parcel under 1,100 m² and one on a parcel under 600 m². Hive in the rear yard, at least 3.0 m from any parcel line; the rear yard must be fully fenced.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 3.20 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording No more than two (2) colonies of bees are permitted on a Parcel having an area less than 1,100 m². No more than one (1) colony of bees are permitted on a Parcel having an area of less than 600 m². A beehive is not permitted within 3.0 m of any Parcel Line. The Rear Yard of a Parcel must be fully enclosed by a fence to prevent wildlife intrusion.
Other livestock	Prohibited animals (Animal Control Bylaw Schedule A) include roosters, horses, cows, pigs, mules and donkeys, goats and sheep, llamas and alpacas. Turkeys and rabbits are limited (see how-many-pets).Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 691, 2019, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Roosters • Horses • Cows • Pigs • Mules / donkeys • Goats / sheep • Llamas / alpaca
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (ss. 3.19 hens, 3.20 bees) and Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 691, 2019 (s. 7.4, Schedule A).Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, title; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 691, 2019, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording The Village of Telkwa Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 ANIMAL CONTROL AND LICENSING BYLAW NO. 691, 2019

How it works

Hens: the Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (sections 3.19 and 3.20) allows them only in zones that list Hen Keeping as an accessory use, R1, C2 and C3. They must be accessory to a dwelling and kept by a resident of the parcel. The Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 691, 2019 (section 7.4) sets the numbers: at most 10 chickens on property under 0.91 ha (1.5 acres), 20 on larger property. Chickens, turkeys and rabbits combined may not exceed half those quantities.

Good to know

No roosters. They are also on the prohibited animals list.
Coop: at most 6.0 m² floor area and 2.0 m high. Coop and pen at least 2.5 m from every side and rear lot line, in the rear yard behind the dwelling. The rear yard must be fully fenced against predators. Store feed in an airtight container.
No hen permit, licence or fee was found.
Bees: allowed as an accessory use by a resident in R1, C2 and C3. Two colonies at most on a parcel under 1,100 m² and one on a parcel under 600 m². Hive in the rear yard, at least 3.0 m from any parcel line; the rear yard must be fully fenced.
Prohibited: roosters, horses, cows, pigs, mules, donkeys, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas. Ducks and other poultry are not named in the limits; ask the Village Office, 250-846-5212.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Smithers · Houston · Granisle · New Hazelton · Terrace · Burns Lake

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF), Village of Telkwa (read 2026-11-08)
Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 691, 2019 (PDF), Village of Telkwa (read 2026-11-08)
Contact, Village of Telkwa (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.