GovHandbook

View Royal backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock?

View Royal, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

The Town of View Royal allows up to four hens (no roosters) in the R-1, R-1A and R-1B zones, and bees in several zones with two to four hives depending on lot size. Other livestock is allowed only in Agriculture zones on lots of at least 4 hectares.

Key facts

Hens allowedYes, in the R-1, R-1A and R-1B zones under the Animal Control Bylaw; the Zoning Bylaw also permits chickens in the P-4 zone. The Town brochure says chickens and bees are not permitted within 15 m of the sea or 30 m of a lake, pond, marsh or stream.Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 8, s. 8.0; Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), sections 3.3.2 and 4.4, s. 4.4.1; View Royal Supports Chickens and Bees (brochure, PDF) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of chickens is permitted on properties within the R-1, R-1A, R-1B zones with the
The keeping of chickens is permitted on properties within the P-4, R-1, R-1A, R-1B
The keeping of chickens or bees is NOT permitted within:
Most hensR-1, R-1A, R-1B zones: no more than four hens, all over four months old. P-4 zone: no more than 50 chickens.Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 8, s. 8.0(a); Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), sections 3.3.2 and 4.4, s. 4.4.1, 4.4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a) No more than four (4) hens may be kept on a property, all of which must be over the age of 4
a) No more than 4 chickens may be kept on a lot, all of which must be over the age of 4
a) No more than 50 chickens may be kept on a lot.
RoostersNo. Roosters are prohibited in all residential zones (and in the P-4 zone).Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 8, s. 8.0(b); Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), sections 3.3.2 and 4.4, s. 4.4.1, 4.4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
b) Roosters are prohibited in all residential zones;
b) Roosters are prohibited.
Coop rulesHenhouse in the rear yard, at least 3 m from the rear, side and flanking lot lines. Chickens must be contained in the rear yard at all times. Selling eggs or meat and slaughtering chickens are prohibited in residential zones. P-4 zone: chickens must be in henhouses.Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 8, s. 8.0(c)-(f); Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), sections 3.3.2 and 4.4, s. 4.4.2(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
e) Henhouses shall be located in the rear yard of a residential property and must be set back a
f) Chickens must be contained in the rear yard at all times.
c) The sale of eggs and meat is prohibited in all residential zones;
d) The slaughter of chickens is prohibited in all residential zones;
e) Chickens must be contained in henhouses.
Permit or registrationNot confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
BeesAllowed in R-1, R-1A, R-1B, P-1, P-3 and P-6 zones: up to 2 hives on lots of 600 m² or less, up to 4 hives on larger lots, and up to 8 on P-4 lots. Hive top at least 2.4 m above ground, entrance facing away from neighbours behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.8 m high, and at least 7.5 m from rear, side and flanking lot lines.Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), sections 3.3.2 and 4.4, s. 4.4.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The keeping of bees is permitted on lots within the R-1, R-1A, R-1B, P-1, P-3 and P-6 zones
a) On lots up to and including 600m2 no more than 2 beehives are permitted;
b) On lots greater than 600m2 no more than 4 beehives are permitted;
c) On lots zone P-4, no more than 8 beehives area permitted;
i) The top of a beehive must be situated 2.4m or more above ground level; and
iii) a beehive must be located a minimum of 7.5m away from any rear, side and
Other livestockLivestock is prohibited except on Agriculture-zone lots of at least 4 ha or where the Zoning Bylaw expressly permits it. The Zoning Bylaw definition names rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, horses and cattle; ducks are not named. Animal Control Bylaw: up to ten rabbits and ten rodents over 12 weeks old.Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), sections 3.3.2 and 4.4, s. 3.3.2(a); Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 8, s. 8.1, 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a) The keeping of livestock is prohibited except:
i) on lots within Agriculture Zones with a minimum lot size of 4 ha; or
work, including but not limited to: rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, horses, cattle, poultry kept for the purpose
No person shall own, possess or harbour more than ten (10) rabbits over the age of twelve (12)
No person shall keep any more than ten (10) rodents over the age of twelve (12) weeks on any
BylawAnimal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005 (s. 8.0 and Part 10) and Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014 (s. 4.4)Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 8, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), sections 3.3.2 and 4.4, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005.”
ZONING BYLAW NO. 900, 2014

How it works

Hens are allowed in the R-1, R-1A and R-1B zones under Animal Control Bylaw 614. Zoning Bylaw 900 also permits chickens in the P-4 zone. The bylaws do not mention a permit or fee for chickens, so ask Planning to confirm.

Chickens

  • R-1, R-1A, R-1B: no more than four hens, all over four months old. P-4: no more than 50 chickens, in henhouses.
  • No roosters.
  • Henhouse in the rear yard, at least 3 m from the rear, side and flanking lot lines. Chickens stay in the rear yard at all times.
  • No selling eggs or meat and no slaughtering in residential zones.

Bees

  • Allowed in R-1, R-1A, R-1B, P-1, P-3 and P-6 zones: up to two hives on lots of 600 m2 or less, up to four on larger lots, and up to eight on P-4 lots.
  • Hive top at least 2.4 m above ground, entrance facing away from neighbours behind a solid fence or hedge at least 1.8 m high, and hives at least 7.5 m from the rear, side and flanking lot lines.

Good to know

  • Other livestock is prohibited except in Agriculture zones on lots of at least 4 ha, or where the Zoning Bylaw expressly permits it. The bylaw names rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, horses, cattle and poultry kept for meat. Ducks are not named.
  • Animal Control Bylaw 614 also allows up to ten rabbits and ten rodents over 12 weeks old. Wild or exotic animals are banned.
  • The Town's brochure says chickens and bees are not permitted within 15 m of the sea or 30 m of a lake, pond, marsh or stream. The bylaws do not state this, so confirm with the Town.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Esquimalt · Colwood · Victoria · Langford · Saanich · Highlands

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF, consolidated June 2026), sections 3.3.2 and 4.4 (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Animal Control Bylaw 614 (PDF, consolidated May 2026), Part 8 (read 2026-11-05)
  3. View Royal Supports Chickens and Bees (brochure, PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 643 (PDF, to May 2026) (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.