Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Vancouver?

Vancouver, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-09

Short answer

Vancouver allows up to four hens per lot. They must be at least four months old. Roosters are prohibited. Register the hens and renew the free permit each year.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Keep up to four hens at least four months old per lot. Register them, obtain the City permit and notify the City if you stop keeping hens.Backyard hens, Step 1, rules for keeping backyard hens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording * ### Step 1: Review the rules for keeping backyard hens To keep your backyard hen coop from being a nuisance for your neighbours: * A maximum of four hens (no roosters), four months or older, per lot is allowed (Important note Our by-law requires you to register your hens, get a permit, and inform us if you decide not to keep your hens.) * Ducks, turkeys, or other fowl or livestock (such as goats) are not allowed * Eggs, meat, and manure cannot be used for commercial purposes * Backyard slaughtering is not allowed
Most hens	Vancouver allows up to four hens per lot.Backyard hens, Step 1: Review the rules for keeping backyard hens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording * A maximum of four hens (no roosters), four months or older, per lot is allowed (Important note Our by-law requires you to register your hens, get a permit, and inform us if you decide not to keep your hens.)
Roosters	Roosters are prohibited.Backyard hens, Step 1: Review the rules for keeping backyard hens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording * A maximum of four hens (no roosters), four months or older, per lot is allowed (Important note Our by-law requires you to register your hens, get a permit, and inform us if you decide not to keep your hens.)
Coop rules	Allow at least 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of roofed outdoor enclosure per hen. Provide a perch at least 15 cm long per hen and a nest box. Keep hens enclosed and the enclosure clean.Animal Control By-law No. 9150, Animal Control By-law section 7.16(a)–(f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording Keeping of hens 7.16 A person who keeps one or more hens must: (a) provide each hen with at least 0.37 m² of coop floor area, and at least 0.92 m² of roofed outdoor enclosure; (b) provide and maintain a floor of any combination of vegetated or bare earth in each outdoor enclosure; (c) provide and maintain, in each coop, at least one perch, for each hen, that is at least 15 cm long, and one nest box; (d) keep each hen in the enclosed area at all times;- 14 - (e) provide each hen with food, water, shelter, light, ventilation, veterinary care, and opportunities for essential behaviours such as scratching, dust-bathing, and roosting, all sufficient to maintain the hen in good health; (f) maintain each hen enclosure in good repair and sanitary condition, and free from
Permit or registration	Register and renew the free permit annually by January 15.Backyard hens, What's happening Annual permits begin in 2022 / Step 1: Review the rules for keeping backyard hens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording Permits and renewals are free of charge and take just a few minutes to complete. Permits must be renewed by January 15, each year. * A maximum of four hens (no roosters), four months or older, per lot is allowed (Important note Our by-law requires you to register your hens, get a permit, and inform us if you decide not to keep your hens.)
Bees	Follow the City’s hive location, fencing and number limits for the site. Honeybees must be registered with the Province.Beekeeping in Vancouver, Steps 2–3, hive management and registration · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording * The location you are considering for your apiary meets the site requirements * You understand and are prepared to follow the general requirements for hive management, including: * Requirements for locating the hives relative to property lines and fencing * The maximum number of hives permitted per property, community garden, or rooftop * ### Step 3: register your hives with the Province of BC Anyone keeping honeybees in BC is legally required to register with the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.
Other livestock	The backyard hen rules exclude ducks, turkeys, other fowl and livestock such as goats.Backyard hens, Step 1: Review the rules for keeping backyard hens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording * A maximum of four hens (no roosters), four months or older, per lot is allowed (Important note Our by-law requires you to register your hens, get a permit, and inform us if you decide not to keep your hens.) * Ducks, turkeys, or other fowl or livestock (such as goats) are not allowed
Bylaw	Animal Control By-law No. 9150 governs registration and hen care. Consult the zoning requirements for siting the coop.Animal Control By-law No. 9150, Animal Control By-law, sections 7.15–7.16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording CITY OF VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA ANIMAL CONTROL BY-LAW NO. 9150 This By-law is printed under and by authority of the Council of the City of Vancouver (Consolidated for convenience only Registration of hens 7.15 A person must not keep a hen unless that person first registers with the city:- 13 - (a) electronically by: (i) accessing the city's animal control computer website at Keeping of hens 7.16 A person who keeps one or more hens must: (a) provide each hen with at least 0.37 m² of coop floor area, and at least 0.92 m² of roofed outdoor enclosure; (b) provide and maintain a floor of any combination of vegetated or bare earth in each outdoor enclosure; (c) provide and maintain, in each coop, at least one perch, for each hen, that is at least 15 cm long, and one nest box; (d) keep each hen in the enclosed area at all times;- 14 -

How it works

Start with the property, then plan the flock and the enclosure. The number of birds is only one part of the decision. How the bylaw describes the lot, the type of bird and the location of the coop can all affect a proposal. Allow at least 0.37 m² of coop floor and 0.92 m² of roofed outdoor enclosure per hen. Provide a perch at least 15 cm long per hen and a nest box. Keep hens enclosed and the enclosure clean.

Steps

Check the rules for your flock in Backyard hens. Find the property's zone and draw the proposed coop and run in relation to the home, neighbouring lots and street.
Identify the number, age and type of birds you plan to keep. Compare those details with the limits below before buying birds or materials.
Register and renew the free permit annually by January 15.

Good to know

Keep up to four hens at least four months old per lot. Register them, obtain the City permit and notify the City if you stop keeping hens.
Follow the City’s hive location, fencing and number limits for the site. Honeybees must be registered with the Province.
The backyard hen rules exclude ducks, turkeys, other fowl and livestock such as goats.
For bees or another species, ask about that species by name. A provision covering laying hens does not establish permission to keep every type of poultry or livestock.
Read the applicable provisions in Animal Control By-law No. 9150 (PDF).

The same question in other places

Richmond · Burnaby · North Vancouver · District of North Vancouver · Delta · West Vancouver

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Backyard hens (read 2026-11-09)
Digital Zoning Map (read 2026-11-09)
Vancouver municipal office contact information (read 2026-11-09)
Beekeeping in Vancouver (read 2026-11-09)
Animal Control By-law No. 9150 (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)

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.