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

# Vanderhoof backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, Vanderhoof allows up to 4 egg-laying hens for personal use, in a fully contained back or side yard. Other farm animals are limited to RR-1, RR-2 and A-1 zones. No hen permit or fee is stated, and no official text found sets a beekeeping rule.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Vanderhoof, https://vanderhoof.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit, licence or fee for hens is stated in the bylaw or the District's fees bylaw.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Office, 250-567-4711

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Yes. Hens are exempt from the rule limiting farm animals to RR-1, RR-2 and A-1 zones. The keeper must own and live at the property, or have the owner's written permission, and keep hens in a fully contained back or side yard, for personal use only (no selling eggs, manure or meat).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 6 s. 8, 10(a), 10(c), 10(m)](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep, or be permitted to keep a farm animal, with the exception of hens, outside of a RR-1, RR-2 or A-1 zone." … "be the registered property owner, and reside at, the property where the hens are kept;" … "situate hens in a back or side yard which is fully contained;" … "keep hens for personal use only, and not sell eggs, manure, meat or products derived"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Most hens:** 4 egg-laying hens.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 6 s. 9](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "A person is permitted to keep up to a maximum of 4 egg laying hens."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Roosters:** Not addressed in the hen rules. The bylaw lists roosters as 'farm animals', and farm animals (other than hens) may only be kept in RR-1, RR-2 or A-1 zones.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, s. 2 Definition 'Farm Animal'; Part 6 s. 8](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "includes cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, mules, oxen, buffalo, sheep, fallow deer, swine, ducks, quails, roosters and poultry;" … "with the exception of hens, outside of a RR-1, RR-2 or A-1 zone."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coop rules:** Each hen needs at least 0.5 m² of coop floor and 1.0 m² of roofed outdoor enclosure, plus a perch of at least 15 cm and a nest box in each coop. No battery cages. Enclosures must keep rodents out; manure stored in a fully enclosed structure, no more than three cubic feet.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 6 s. 10(b), (e), (f), (i), (k)](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "provide each hen with at least 0.5 m2 of coop floor area, and at least 1.0 m2 of roofed" … "at least one perch for each hen that is at least fifteen" … "not keep hens in a battery cage;" … "store manure within a fully enclosed structure, and store no more than three cubic feet"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit or registration:** None set. Vanderhoof's bylaw states no hen permit or fee.
- **Bees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Other livestock:** Farm animals (cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, sheep, swine, ducks and others) may not be kept outside RR-1, RR-2 or A-1 zones; hens are the exception. Owners must not let them roam on highways, in public places or onto private property, or graze on unfenced land unless securely tethered.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, Part 6 s. 7-8](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall keep, or be permitted to keep a farm animal, with the exception of hens, outside of a RR-1, RR-2 or A-1 zone." … "graze on unfenced land, unless they are securely tethered."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Vanderhoof Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018, s. 1 (Citation)](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)
  - Official wording: "District of Vanderhoof Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/) exempts hens from the rule that limits farm animals to RR-1, RR-2 and A-1 zones. You may keep up to 4 egg-laying hens, for personal use only (no selling eggs, manure or meat).

## Steps

1. Own and live at the property, or get the owner's written permission.
2. Keep the hens in a fully contained back or side yard.
3. Give each hen at least 0.5 m² of coop floor and 1.0 m² of roofed outdoor enclosure, a perch of at least 15 cm, and a nest box in each coop. No battery cages.
4. Keep rodents out of the enclosure. Store manure in a fully enclosed structure, no more than three cubic feet.

## Good to know

- Roosters are not addressed in the hen rules. The bylaw lists roosters as farm animals, which are allowed only in RR-1, RR-2 or A-1 zones.
- Other farm animals (cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, sheep, swine, ducks and others) are limited to those zones. They must not roam on highways, in public places or onto private property, or graze on unfenced land unless securely tethered.
- Bees: no beekeeping rule was found in the Animal Control or Zoning bylaws. Ask the Municipal Office at 250-567-4711.
- The bylaw sets no setback distance from property lines.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF)](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/)

## Related questions

- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/how-many-pets.md)
- [Vanderhoof unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/unsightly-property.md)
- [Vanderhoof noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, District of Vanderhoof](https://vanderhoof.ca/municipal-hall/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Vanderhoof. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/backyard-chickens/_