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

# Terrace backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in part. Terrace allows up to four backyard hens for personal use in R1, R1-A, R2 and RS1 residential zones, registered with the Animal Shelter for a one-time $15. Other poultry and livestock follow the Zoning Bylaw.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Terrace, https://www.terrace.ca)  
**Cost:** One-time hen registration $15. Ticket for failing to register $50; more than 4 hens $100.  
**Where:**
- In person: Animal Shelter, 5003 Graham Avenue, Terrace, BC (Monday to Saturday, 12:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
- Phone: Animal Control, 250-615-4031
- Email: Animal Control, shelter@terrace.ca

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes. Up to four backyard hens are allowed for personal use in residential areas zoned R1, R1-A, R2 and RS1, if no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems result. Other poultry is treated as an agriculture use under the Zoning Bylaw.
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.1, 14.2(a)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of up to four (4) backyard hens in residential areas" … "zoned R1, R1-A, R2 and RS1 will be permitted for personal use" … "Keeping of poultry, except backyard hens as per Section 14.2, is"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** Four.
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.2(a)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of up to four (4) backyard hens"
  - Source: [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025), Schedule 3](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4139)
  - Official wording: "Keeping of more than 4 Backyard Hens"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Roosters:** No. Roosters are not named, but only hens are allowed: no other poultry may be kept in residential zones (s. 5.5), and s. 14.2 permits only up to four hens. Keeping poultry in a non-permitted area is a $100 ticket.
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 5.5, 14.2(a)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "No poultry shall be kept in any portion of the City that is zoned" … "Residential, Commercial, Industrial, or Public and Institutional under" … "The keeping of up to four (4) backyard hens in residential areas"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** Hens in a fully fenced back or side yard. Coop 1.5 m from the property line and 3 m from dwelling windows and doors. Per hen: 0.5 m² coop floor, 1.0 m² roofed run, a 15 cm perch; one nest box per coop; no cages. Animal Control bans selling eggs, manure or meat, but Zoning s. 3.3.3 allows egg sales from a foodstand in R1, RS1 and AR2. No slaughter on site. (Sources differ: Must also live on the property or have the owner's written permission (s. 14.2(b)(i)).)
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.2(b)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "situate hens in a back or side yard which is fully fenced;" … "at least one and a half (1.5) metres from the property line and three (3) metres from windows and doors" … "provide each hen with at least 0.5 metres squared (0.5 m2) of coop floor area" … "not keep hens in a cage;" … "keep hens for personal use only, and not sell eggs, manure,"
  - Source: [Zoning Consolidated Bylaw 2069, s. 3.3.3 (Urban Agriculture)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4249)
  - Official wording: "The sale of Urban Agriculture products are permitted in the AR2, R1, and RS1 zones" … "Sales must only occur within a foodstand in the front yard subject to"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit or registration:** Yes. Hens must be registered with the City of Terrace Animal Shelter; one-time registration fee $15.
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.2(b)(xiii), Schedule A](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "register the backyard hens with the City of Terrace Animal" … "Backyard Hens (one time registration) $15.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bees:** Yes. Up to two beehives and two nucleus colonies, for personal use, in residential zones R1, R1-A, R2, RS1 and designated community garden properties. Backyards only, 1.5 m from side and rear lines, registered with the BC apiculture registration system, and a flight-path barrier (1.8 m fence or hedge with entrance facing away, or a platform 2.5 m or more above ground).
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.3](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "The keeping of up to two (2) beehives as well as (2) nucleus colonies" … "beehives are restricted to backyards;" … "must be registered with the apiculture" … "1.5 metre setback from side"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Livestock and other animals are not allowed in residential, commercial, industrial or public zones (hens and bees excepted). Under the Zoning Bylaw, AR2 (rural) parcels get 3 agricultural units per hectare up to 10: 1 horse = 1 unit, 3 sheep or goats = 1, 25 poultry = 1. AR1 is agricultural.
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 5.4, 17.1](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "No animals other than cats and dogs or other small animals actually" … "The keeping of livestock on property within the City of Terrace is"
  - Source: [Zoning Consolidated Bylaw 2069, s. 10.2.4(b); definition Agricultural Unit](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4249)
  - Official wording: "Each AR2 parcel is permitted 3.0 Agricultural Units per hectare to a maximum of" … "1 horse, donkey, mule, domestic ungulate or other farmed game animal;" … "3 sheep or goats (1 sheep or goat = 0.33 Ag Units)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2159-2019 (consolidated to Bylaw No. 2284-2023); Zoning Bylaw No. 2069-2014 for other poultry and livestock.
  - Source: [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), title](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
  - Official wording: "AND AMENDMENTS THERETO UP TO & INCLUDING BYLAW #2284-2023 BYLAW NO. 2159-2019/2284-2023 "A BYLAW TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATING, LICENCING, AND CONTROL OF ANIMALS WITHIN THE CITY OF TERRACE."" … "19.7. The siting of structures for housing livestock are subject to the regulations of the City of Terrace, Zoning Bylaw No. 2069-2014. 20.0 HOBBY DOG KENNEL"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Animal Control Bylaw 2159](<https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998>) permits up to four backyard hens for personal use in residential zones R1, R1-A, R2 and RS1, as long as they cause no neighbourhood health, environmental or nuisance problems. A hen is a female chicken at least four months old. Only hens are allowed: roosters are not named, but no other poultry may be kept in residential zones. Other poultry is treated as an agriculture use under the [Zoning Bylaw](<https://www.terrace.ca/media/4249>).

## Steps

1. Check your lot's zone is R1, R1-A, R2 or RS1.
2. Build the coop and run to the bylaw's standards.
3. Register the hens with the City of Terrace Animal Shelter and pay the one-time $15 fee.

## Good to know

- Live on the property, or have the owner's written permission.
- Keep hens in a fully fenced back or side yard. The coop must be 1.5 m from the property line and 3 m from windows and doors of dwellings.
- Each hen needs 0.5 m2 of coop floor, 1.0 m2 of roofed run and a 15 cm perch. One nest box per coop. No cages.
- No slaughtering on site. The Animal Control Bylaw bans selling eggs, manure or meat, but the Zoning Bylaw (s. 3.3.3) allows egg sales from a foodstand in R1, RS1 and AR2 zones. Confirm with the City before selling.
- Tickets: not registering $50; more than 4 hens $100; keeping poultry in a non-permitted area $100.
- Up to two beehives and two nucleus colonies are allowed for personal use in zones R1, R1-A, R2, RS1 and designated community garden properties. They must be in the backyard, 1.5 m from side and rear lines, registered with the BC apiculture registration system, and have a flight-path barrier (a 1.8 m fence or hedge, or a platform 2.5 m or more above ground).
- Livestock is not allowed in residential, commercial, industrial or public zones. In AR2 (rural) zones the Zoning Bylaw allows 3 agricultural units per hectare, to a maximum of 10 (1 horse = 1 unit; 3 sheep or goats = 1; 25 poultry = 1).

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998)
- [Zoning Consolidated Bylaw 2069 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4249)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/how-many-pets.md)
- [Terrace fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-chickens.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023) (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3998) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Consolidated Bylaw 2069 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4249) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025) (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4139) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Terrace. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/backyard-chickens/_