Vernon backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

Vernon, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes, in the City of Vernon. Under Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252 you may keep up to four urban hens if you register with the City ($5 per hen per year). Roosters are not allowed on ordinary residential lots. Beehives and other livestock have their own limits.

Key facts

Hens allowed	Yes. Urban hens (female chickens at least four months old) are allowed on a lot with a single family detached dwelling, at least 12 m of frontage and 20 m of depth. The keeper must register with the City, and hens must be kept in a coop in the rear yard.Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, s. 1 (Urban Hen); Schedule A s. 3, 5, 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording means domesticated female chickens that are at least four months old An owner of urban hens shall keep them on a lot that has: at least one single family detached dwelling on it; a frontage of at least 12 meters; and, a depth of at least 20 meters. All coops shall be located in the rear yard of a lot and shall fully enclose the urban hens and prevent them from escaping.
Most hens	Four. More than four only as an agricultural use in an agricultural zone.Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, Schedule A s. 2; s. 3(c)(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall keep more than four (4) hens, except as an agricultural use
Roosters	Not on ordinary residential lots, by a plain reading. The bylaw has no rooster rule, but "poultry" includes roosters and excludes urban hens, and poultry are allowed only on larger agricultural lots (ten on lots over half an acre). Small lots may keep only rabbits or hens.Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, s. 1 (Poultry); s. 3(a), 3(c)(ii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording means any domestic bird, including chickens, roosters, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, or game birds, owned for any purpose, but does not include urban hens; the keeping of animals other than companion animals or animals regulated under the Wildlife Act RSBC 1996, c.488 is prohibited in all Zones in the City. but less than 1 acre (.40 ha.) in area: ten (10) rabbits or ten (10) poultry or a combination thereof are permitted. three (3) rabbits or four (4) urban hens as regulated in Schedule A, or a combination thereof are permitted.
Coop rules	Coop required, in the rear yard, fully enclosed. Setback 1 m from the rear lot line if the neighbouring house is 23 m or more away, otherwise 3 m; 3 m from side lines (Schedule A). Section 3(e) separately says 50 ft (15.24 m) from lot lines for non-companion animals; confirm with Bylaw Compliance.Sources differ: Within Bylaw 5252: s. 3(e) says structures housing animals other than companion animals must be at least 50 feet (15.24 m) from any lot line, while Schedule A sets the 1 m / 3 m coop setbacks for urban hens. Schedule A is the specific hen rule. Also: no more than 1 cubic metre of composted manure, dead hens disposed of within 24 hours, no backyard slaughter (Schedule A s. 8-10).Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, Schedule A s. 5-7; Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, s. 3(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording a coop shall be located a minimum of 1 meter from the rear lot line If a property line is less than 23 meters from a neighbouring residential structure, or the neighbouring lot is vacant, a coop shall be located at least 3 meters from the rear lot line. Every coop shall be located at least 3 meters from any side lot line of the lot on which the coop is located. Every coop shall be designed and constructed to ensure proper ventilation and sufficient space for the urban hens in no case may be less than a minimum of fifty (50) feet (15.24 metres) from any front, side, or rear lot line of the lot it occupies. in no case may be less than a minimum of fifty (50) feet (15.24 metres) from any front, side, or rear lot line of the lot it occupies.
Permit or registration	Yes. Register with the City (the Clerk or designate) and pay $5 per hen per year.Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, Schedule A s. 12; Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909 (consolidated), Schedule A, section 13 (Bylaw Enforcement), item F · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person may keep urban hens unless registered with the Clerk or designate and upon paying the required fees and charges Licencing fee for the keeping of Urban hens $5.00 per hen - per year
Bees	Yes. Up to 2 hives on property of 0.1 ha or less, 4 on larger, in the rear yard behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.8 m high with a 6 m setback (3 m if hives are raised 2 m). Not at schools or hospitals unless tied to a community garden or educational use.Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, Schedule F s. 4-8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Up to 2 beehives on property less than or equal to 0.1 ha, and Up to 4 beehives on property greater than 0.1 ha. All beehives shall be situated in the rear yard of a property. Sited behind a solid fence or hedge that is at least 1.8m in height with a setback of 6m from the property line beehives shall not be located on the same property as schools or hospitals beehives shall not be located on the same property as schools or hospitals, except if the beehives are associated with a maintained community garden or educational use.
Other livestock	Only on larger lots in agricultural or rural zones. Bylaw 5252 names zones A1-A3 and RR from the replaced Zoning Bylaw 5000: over 1/2 acre, 10 rabbits or poultry; over 1 acre, one horse, cow or sheep plus 10 rabbits or poultry. No swine or male goats unless farm land. Confirm zones with the City.Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, s. 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv), 3(h) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording but less than two acres (.81 ha.) in area: one (1) horse, or one (1) cow, or one (1) sheep, or one (1) other large animal; plus ten (10) rabbits or ten (10) poultry or a combination thereof are permitted. In the RR zone, as defined in the Zoning Bylaw, where the lot is or exceeds 2 acres (.81 ha.) in area: No person shall keep swine, male goats, or more than four (4) guinea pigs
Bylaw	Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw Number 5252, 2010 (urban hens: Schedule A; beekeeping: Schedule F). Fees: City of Vernon Fees & Charges Bylaw Number 3909, 1993.Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252, s. 13; Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909 (consolidated), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw Number 5252, 2010 City of Vernon Fees & Charges Bylaw Number 3909, 1993

How it works

The City of Vernon's Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252 allows urban hens and bees with conditions. The bylaw names zones (A1, A2, A3, RR) from the old Zoning Bylaw 5000, which the City has replaced with Zoning Bylaw 6000. Those names cannot be matched to the new zones, so confirm your lot with the City.

Urban hens

Register with the City (the Clerk or designate) and pay $5 per hen per year, under Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909.
Keep no more than four hens (female, at least four months old). More than four is allowed only as an agricultural use in an agricultural zone.
Your lot needs a single family detached dwelling, at least 12 m of frontage and 20 m of depth.
Keep the hens in a fully enclosed coop in the rear yard. The setback is 1 m from the rear lot line if the neighbouring house is 23 m or more away, otherwise 3 m, and 3 m from side lines.
No more than 1 cubic metre of composted manure, dispose of dead hens within 24 hours, and no backyard slaughter.

Bees

Up to 2 hives on property of 0.1 ha or less, 4 on larger property, in the rear yard.
Behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.8 m high with a 6 m setback (3 m if hives are raised 2 m).
Provide water on the property and follow the provincial Bee Regulation.

Good to know

Roosters: the bylaw has no rooster rule, but "poultry" includes roosters and excludes urban hens, and poultry are allowed only on larger lots. So roosters are not allowed on ordinary residential lots.
Section 3(e) separately says buildings for non-companion animals must be 50 feet (15.24 m) from lot lines. Confirm the coop setback with Bylaw Compliance.
Other livestock is allowed only on larger lots: over half an acre, 10 rabbits or poultry; over 1 acre, one horse, cow or sheep plus 10 rabbits or poultry. Pigeons need a $25 City permit (maximum 8 adult birds). Mini pigs: two, registered at $25 per pig per year. No swine or male goats unless farm land.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Coldstream · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Lumby · Enderby

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Animal Regulation and Animal Pound Bylaw 5252 (PDF), City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909 (consolidated) (PDF), City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)

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.