Trail backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Trail, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 3, s. 11.1; Zoning Bylaw, s. 28(1), s. 29(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. 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;
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).Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 3, s. 11.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016, s. 2, 4.1-4.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 3, s. 11.1, 11.4, 12.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026; Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016; Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002.Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, s. 1; Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as the “Animal Control Bylaw” No. 2970, 2026 That this Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the City of Trail “Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815 , 2016”. ZONING BYLAW NO. 2503, 2002

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 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 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 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

The same question in other places

Warfield · Rossland · Fruitvale · Castlegar · Salmo · Nelson

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Control Bylaw No. 2970, 2026, City of Trail (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Beekeeping Bylaw No. 2815, 2016, City of Trail (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Zoning Bylaw, City of Trail (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Department Directory, City of Trail (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. How answers are checked.