---
title: Tumbler Ridge backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Tumbler Ridge?"
place: Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tumbler-ridge
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Tumbler Ridge
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# Tumbler Ridge backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** In Tumbler Ridge, backyard hens are allowed for household use only (no selling), up to 8 hens, with a hen keeping licence ($20). Roosters are not allowed. Bees are allowed only in certain zones. Other livestock is limited by zoning.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tumbler Ridge, https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca)  
**Cost:** Hen keeping licence $20. Ticket for keeping hens without a licence: $100.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement Officer, 250-242-3939 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- In person: Town Hall front desk, 305 Iles Way, Tumbler Ridge, BC V0C 2W0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes, as a minor agricultural operation for household use only (no sales), following the Animal Responsibility Bylaw. Section 5.11.1 lists R1, MHL, R2, R4, MHP, FD, P and RR (the use table shows R3, not R4). A hen keeping licence is required.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, consolidated, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.11](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "An Agricultural Operation, Minor, which can include backyard hen keeping, is permitted in the following zones: R1, MHL, R2," … "R4, MHP, FD, P, and RR" … "does not permit the sales of the products produced, these products are only for personal"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated, Schedule 2, s. 102](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
  - Official wording: "Keep backyard hens without a license"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Most hens:** No more than 8 hens (the ticket offence is 'keep over 8 hens').
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated, Schedule 2, s. 102(c)](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
  - Official wording: "Keep over 8 hens or keep rooster, or other fowl or farm animals"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Roosters:** No. Keeping a rooster, other fowl or farm animals is a ticketable offence.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated, Schedule 2, s. 102(c)](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
  - Official wording: "Keep over 8 hens or keep rooster, or other fowl or farm animals"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coop rules:** Run: secure, big enough, clean ground, in the rear of the property or at least 2.0 m from any parcel line. Coop: 2.0 m from rear or side parcel line where there is no lane; 0.5 m² floor per hen; 15 cm perch per hen; one nest box per four hens; kept clean. No caged hens. Keeper must live at the property and get the owner's permission.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated, Schedule 2, s. 102](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
  - Official wording: "Failure to locate run in the rear of the property or at least 2.0m" … "Failure to site coop 2.0 m from the rear or side parcel line where" … "Failure to provide at least 0.5 m2 of coop floor area per hen" … "Keeping a hen in a cage" … "Fail to reside at the property where the hens are kept or fail to"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit or registration:** A hen keeping licence is required; $20.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623, 2017, consolidated, Schedule H](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/65152/)
  - Official wording: "Commercial Kennel $150.00 Replacement Tag Fee $5.00 Hen Keeping Licence $20.00 Impoundment Fees Administration Fee $50.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated, Schedule 2, s. 102(a)](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
  - Official wording: "Keep backyard hens without a license"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bees:** Allowed only in the R2, R4, M1 and RR zones (the bylaw names R4 but defines no R4 zone). Hives at least 3 m from any property line; 2 hives on a parcel under 1,000 m², 4 on 1,000 to 2,000 m², 6 over 2,000 m²; in R2, written consent of abutting owners and tenants. Fence or height rules in s. 5.12.2.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, consolidated, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.12](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "An apiary / backyard bee keeping is only permitted in the following zones: R2, R4, M1, and RR" … "Not locate a beehive within 3 m of any property line" … "No more than two beehives will be permitted on a parcel of less than 1,000m2" … "written consent from owners and tenants of abutting properties" … "An apiary / backyard bee keeping is only permitted in the following zones: R2, R4, M1, and RR, and subject to the requirements" … "Not locate a beehive within 3 m of any property line;" … "No more than two beehives will be permitted on a parcel of less than 1,000m2, 4 beehives on a parcel that is between 1,000m2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other livestock:** Horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, ducks, geese and other livestock count as an 'Agricultural Operation, Major' (for sale); the zoning use table marks it only in R3, M1 and RR. Livestock in a non-prescribed zone is a $200 ticket. Hen keepers may not keep other fowl or farm animals.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated, Schedule 2, s. 63](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
  - Official wording: "Keep livestock in non-prescribed zone"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated, Schedule 2, s. 102(c)](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
  - Official wording: "Keep over 8 hens or keep rooster, or other fowl or farm animals"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, consolidated, Zoning Bylaw definitions, use table](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "specifically includes a kennel and the keeping of horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, pigeons," … "ducks, geese, and other livestock, adhering to the Animal Responsibility Bylaw. The products produced as a result of this"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (s. 5.11 hens, s. 5.12 bees) and Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 692, 2020.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, consolidated, Zoning Bylaw cover](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "No. 747, 2025" … "Adopted May 26, 2025"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated, Schedule 1](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
  - Official wording: "Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 692, 2020"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the District of Tumbler Ridge's [Zoning Bylaw No. 747](<https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/>), keeping hens is a minor agricultural operation for household use only, and sales are not allowed. Section 5.11.1 lists the zones R1, MHL, R2, R4, MHP, FD, P and RR (the use table shows R3, not R4). Hen keepers follow the Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 692, 2020.

## Good to know

- **Licence:** a hen keeping licence is required ($20, [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623](<https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/65152/>)). Keeping hens without one is a $100 ticket.
- **Limit:** no more than 8 hens. No roosters, other fowl or farm animals.
- **Coop and run:** the ticket schedule lists a secure, clean run in the rear of the property or at least 2.0 m from any parcel line; a coop 2.0 m from the rear or side parcel line where there is no lane; 0.5 m² of floor per hen; a 15 cm perch per hen; one nest box per four hens. No caged hens. The keeper must live at the property and have the owner's permission.
- Selling eggs, manure or meat, and slaughtering hens in the District, are ticketable ($250 and $350).
- **Bees:** allowed only in R2, R4, M1 and RR zones. Hives at least 3 m from any property line; 2 hives on a parcel under 1,000 m², 4 on 1,000 to 2,000 m², 6 over 2,000 m². In R2, you need written consent of abutting owners and tenants. See s. 5.12.2 for fencing and height rules.
- **Other livestock** (horses, cattle, sheep, other poultry) counts as a major agricultural operation, shown only in R3, M1 and RR zones. Livestock in a zone that does not allow it is a $200 ticket.
- Ask Bylaw Enforcement at 250-242-3939 to confirm your zone.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623, 2017, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/65152/)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/how-many-pets.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dog-licence.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/unsightly-property.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623, 2017, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/65152/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Bylaw Enforcement, District of Tumbler Ridge](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/municipal-bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Tumbler Ridge. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-chickens/_