---
title: Trail backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?"
place: Trail, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/trail
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Trail
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Trail backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** The City of Trail has no hen-specific rule. The Animal Control Bylaw treats chickens as poultry, and poultry as livestock when kept for agricultural purposes, which is allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw permits. Whether a small pet flock counts is not stated, so ask the City before buying birds.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Trail, https://www.trail.ca)  
**Cost:** Not stated. Bee bylaw court fines run $500 to $5,000.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-364-0833
- Phone: Manager of Planning and Climate Action (zoning questions), 250-364-0864

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** No hen-specific rule found. The Animal Control Bylaw treats chickens as poultry, and poultry as livestock when kept for agricultural purposes. Livestock is allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw permits, and it lists agricultural uses only in Rural Holding zones A1 and A2. Whether a small pet flock counts is not stated; ask the City.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 3, s. 11.1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Poultry” means domesticated birds kept for agricultural purposes, including but not limited to chickens, roosters, ducks, turkeys, geese, pheasants, and other fowl." … "No person shall keep Livestock in any area of the City unless permitted under the Zoning Bylaw." … "“Livestock” means animals kept for agricultural purposes, including but not limited to cattle, horses, swine, goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, poultry, and farmed fur-bearing animals."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, s. 28(1), s. 29(1)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In a Rural Holding Zone, the following uses, and no others, shall be permitted:" … "In a Rural Holding Zone A2, the following uses, and no others, shall be permitted:" … "(d) agricultural uses;" … "“agricultural use” means the growing, rearing, and harvesting of agricultural products;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Most hens:** None set. The City of Trail has no hen-specific rule.
- **Roosters:** No rooster-specific rule found. Roosters are poultry, which is livestock if kept for agricultural purposes, so the livestock zoning rule may apply. Livestock must not cause a nuisance such as persistent or excessive noise (bylaw notice $100 within 14 days, $200 after).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 3, s. 11.3](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Poultry” means domesticated birds kept for agricultural purposes, including but not limited to chickens, roosters, ducks, turkeys, geese, pheasants, and other fowl." … "persistent or excessive noise" … "No person shall keep Livestock in a manner that causes or is likely to cause a Nuisance in the surrounding area"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coop rules:** None set. The City of Trail has no hen-specific rule.
- **Permit or registration:** None set. The City of Trail has no hen-specific rule.
- **Bees:** Only in zones R1, R2, R3 or A1 (the bylaw text is garbled; the Zoning Bylaw now has no R2). Rear yard only; 2 hives on lots up to 929 m², 4 on larger lots; flight path 7.5 m ahead, 3 m at sides, less with a 1.8 m fence or raised hive. Beekeeper registered under the Animal Health Act.
  - Source: [Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016, s. 2, 4.1-4.4](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Beekeeping-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep or harbor bees on any parcel of land unless the parcel of land is located in the Ri, R2, R3 or Al Zone area." … "Any beehive must be located in the rear yard of the property." … "Two (2) beehives on any parcel of land that is 929 m2 or less in area." … "Four (4) beehives on any parcel of land that is greater than 929 m2 in area." … "a person registered to engage in beekeeping under the Animal Health Act"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other livestock:** Livestock (cattle, horses, swine, goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, poultry including ducks) only where the Zoning Bylaw permits; the Zoning Bylaw prevails. Pigeons and doves: up to 3 pairs per parcel, with conditions.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 3, s. 11.1, 11.4, 12.1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Livestock” means animals kept for agricultural purposes, including but not limited to cattle, horses, swine, goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, poultry, and farmed fur-bearing animals." … "In the event of a conflict between this Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw with respect to where Livestock may be kept, the Zoning Bylaw shall prevail." … "not more than three (3) pairs of pigeons or doves, or a combination of both, shall be kept on"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026; Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016; Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Control Bylaw” No. 2970, 2026"
  - Source: [Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016, s. 1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Beekeeping-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "That this Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the City of Trail “Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815 , 2016”."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, title](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 2503, 2002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

**Chickens.** The City of Trail has no hen-specific rule: I found no limit on the number of hens, no rule on roosters, coops or setbacks, and no permit or registration. The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf) treats chickens as poultry, and poultry as livestock when kept for agricultural purposes. Livestock is allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw permits it. The [Zoning Bylaw](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) lists agricultural uses only in the Rural Holding zones A1 and A2. Whether a small pet flock counts as agricultural is not stated. Ask the City before keeping hens.

**Bees.** The [Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Beekeeping-Bylaw.pdf) allows hives only in the rear yard, with 2 hives on lots up to 929 m² and 4 on larger lots. The beekeeper must be registered under the provincial Animal Health Act.

## Good to know

- Bee zones: the bylaw text reads R1, R2, R3 or A1, but the Zoning Bylaw now has no R2. Confirm your zone with the City.
- Bee flight path: 7.5 m ahead and 3 m at the sides, less with a 1.8 m fence or a raised hive.
- Bee bylaw court fine: $500 to $5,000.
- Livestock (cattle, horses, swine, goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas and poultry including ducks) is allowed only where the Zoning Bylaw permits, and the Zoning Bylaw prevails. Keeping livestock where it is not permitted is a bylaw notice of $100 if paid within 14 days, $200 after.
- Livestock must not cause a nuisance such as persistent or excessive noise, odour, vermin, waste, runoff or unsightly shelters. A noise nuisance is $100 within 14 days, $200 after. That includes roosters if they count as livestock.
- Pigeons and doves: up to 3 pairs per parcel, with conditions (see the pets limit answer).
- For zoning questions, call the Manager of Planning and Climate Action at 250-364-0864. For bylaw questions, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-364-0833.

## Official forms and pages

- [Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016 (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Beekeeping-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026 (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/how-many-pets.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, City of Trail (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Animal-Control-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016, City of Trail (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Beekeeping-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw, City of Trail (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Department Directory, City of Trail](https://trail.ca/contact/department-directory/) (read 2026-11-06)

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