{"title":"Tofino backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Tofino?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Tofino","url":"https://tofino.ca"},"short_answer":"In Tofino, no bylaw we read says whether backyard hens or bees are allowed, or sets a limit. If you keep chickens or bees, the Wildlife Attractant Bylaw requires them to be enclosed by electric fencing built to WildSafeBC guidelines. Ask the District about zoning first.","aliases":["backyard chickens tofino","hens tofino","beekeeping tofino","livestock tofino"],"cost":"not stated in the bylaws we read","how_long":"not applicable","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Services (Municipal Office)","value":"250-725-3229","note":"Ask what your zone allows"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317 (PDF)","url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154668/"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 770 (PDF)","url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/"}],"related":[{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Tofino","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Tofino zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Tofino noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/noise-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tahsis","name":"Tahsis","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":null,"status":"none","note":"No Tofino bylaw read sets a hen limit, rooster rule, or permit or registration.","sources":[]},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":null,"status":"none","note":"No Tofino bylaw read sets a hen limit, rooster rule, or permit or registration.","sources":[]},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"Chickens, coops and pens must be kept reasonably inaccessible to dangerous wildlife, and coops and pens must be enclosed by electric fencing built to WildSafeBC guidelines.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154668/","title":"Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317, 2022 (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 4(2)(k), (l)","quotes":["chickens, chicken coops, and Pens are kept in such a manner so that they are reasonably inaccessible to Dangerous Wildlife;","chicken coops and Pens are enclosed by electric fencing designed and maintained in accordance with the electric fencing guidelines of the WildSafeBC program"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":null,"status":"none","note":"No Tofino bylaw read sets a hen limit, rooster rule, or permit or registration.","sources":[]},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"The bylaws do not say whether beekeeping is allowed. Where bees and beehives are kept, they must not attract dangerous wildlife, must be reasonably inaccessible to it, and must be enclosed by electric fencing built to WildSafeBC guidelines.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154668/","title":"Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317, 2022 (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 4(2)(h), (i), (j)","quotes":["bees and beehives are kept in such a manner so that they are reasonably inaccessible to Dangerous Wildlife;","bees and beehives are enclosed by electric fencing designed and maintained in accordance with the electric fencing guidelines of the WildSafeBC program"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Other animals are permitted only as the Zoning Bylaw allows. Small-scale agriculture is a secondary use in the rural A1 and A2 zones (lots of at least 2 acres and 2 hectares), among others. Large livestock are banned from parks, school yards and sidewalks.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 6(b); s. 8(c)","quotes":["All other animals will be permitted in accordance with the District of Tofino Zoning bylaw.","Large livestock are not allowed in or on any portion of the following areas:"]},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 770 (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"Part 14 (A1 Small Holdings District), s. 14.2; s. 14.3","quotes":["Small scale agricultural uses, but excluding intensive livestock feeding operations;","Each lot shall have a minimum area of 8094 square metres (2 acres).","Small scale agricultural operation, but excluding intensive agricultural operations;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Tofino Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317, 2022; Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001; Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154668/","title":"Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317, 2022 (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"title","quotes":["District of Tofino Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317, 2022"]},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 1","quotes":["District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001"]},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 770 (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"title","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":4,"matched":4,"none":3,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nNo bylaw we read says whether hens are allowed or banned on a residential lot in Tofino, and none sets a hen limit, a rooster rule, or a permit or registration. The [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/>) says animals other than dogs and cats are permitted only as the [Zoning Bylaw No. 770](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/>) allows, and the Zoning Bylaw does not mention hens, chickens or poultry in its residential zones.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Under the [Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154668/>), chickens, coops and pens must be kept reasonably inaccessible to dangerous wildlife, and coops and pens must be enclosed by electric fencing built to WildSafeBC guidelines.\n- Bees and beehives must not attract dangerous wildlife, must be reasonably inaccessible to it, and must be enclosed by electric fencing built to WildSafeBC guidelines. The bylaws do not say whether beekeeping is allowed, and no hive limit or licence was found.\n- Small-scale agriculture is a secondary use in the rural A1 and A2 zones (lots of at least 2 acres in A1 and 2 hectares in A2), among others. Rules for goats, horses or ducks in residential zones were not found.\n- Roosters are listed as small livestock, and the animal bylaw bans animal noise that disturbs neighbours.\n- Large livestock are banned from parks, school yards and sidewalks.\n- Farm operations that meet the Right to Farm Act tests are exempt from most of the Wildlife Attractant Bylaw.\n- The bylaw's offence fine is up to $50,000. No ticket amount was found.","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154668/","title":"Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317, 2022 (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 770 (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 3 are recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/backyard-chickens.json"}}