Terrace backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
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.
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.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.1, 14.2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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 |
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| Most hens | Four.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.2(a); Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025), Schedule 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe keeping of up to four (4) backyard hens Keeping of more than 4 Backyard Hens |
| 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.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 5.5, 14.2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 |
| 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)).Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.2(b); Zoning Consolidated Bylaw 2069, s. 3.3.3 (Urban Agriculture) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingsituate 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, 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 |
| Permit or registration | Yes. Hens must be registered with the City of Terrace Animal Shelter; one-time registration fee $15.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.2(b)(xiii), Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingregister the backyard hens with the City of Terrace Animal Backyard Hens (one time registration) $15.00 |
| 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).Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 14.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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 |
| 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.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), s. 5.4, 17.1; Zoning Consolidated Bylaw 2069, s. 10.2.4(b); definition Agricultural Unit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo animals other than cats and dogs or other small animals actually The keeping of livestock on property within the City of Terrace is 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). |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 2159-2019 (consolidated to Bylaw No. 2284-2023); Zoning Bylaw No. 2069-2014 for other poultry and livestock.Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAND 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 |
How it works
Animal Control Bylaw 2159 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.
Steps
- Check your lot's zone is R1, R1-A, R2 or RS1.
- Build the coop and run to the bylaw's standards.
- 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
The same question in other places
Kitimat · New Hazelton · Smithers · Telkwa · Port Edward · Prince Rupert
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Animal Control Consolidated Bylaw 2159 (to Bylaw 2284-2023) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Consolidated Bylaw 2069 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025) (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.