Warfield backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in Warfield?
Short answer
In Warfield you may keep up to 10 hens, no roosters, in zones where domestic agriculture is permitted, on a property with a single-unit or two-unit home where the owner lives and keeps the hens. Bees are allowed in any zone under hive rules. No hen registration is set.
Key facts
| Hens allowed | Yes, where domestic agriculture is permitted (Table 5-1 lists R1, R2, R3, R3-M, RIH, C1, C2 and ICF zones), on a property with a single-unit or two-unit dwelling whose owner lives there and keeps the hens.Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021, consolidation to June 2024, s. 5.12.3; Table 5-1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingChickens may be kept the areas where domestic agriculture is permitted have at least one residential dwelling on it and that dwelling is either a Single Unit Dwelling or Two-Unit Dwelling the owner of the chickens resides at the property where the chickens are kept Agriculture, Domestic P P P P P P P P P P |
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| Most hens | No more than 10 hens per property.Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021, consolidation to June 2024, s. 5.12.3(b)(iii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinghave no more than ten (10) hens (female chickens) and no roosters (male chickens) per property |
| Roosters | No. Roosters are not allowed.Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021, consolidation to June 2024, s. 5.12.3(b)(iii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinghave no more than ten (10) hens (female chickens) and no roosters (male chickens) per property |
| Coop rules | A coop that protects hens from wind, rain and predators, is kept up to limit odour, and meets the accessory building setbacks. Chicken feed must be stored securely. If a complaint shows hens were not protected, the owner may have to remove or rebuild the coop.Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021, consolidation to June 2024, s. 5.12.3(b)(v), (c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingthe coop must protect chickens from wind, precipitation, and predators the coop must comply with the required setbacks for accessory buildings and structures the owner will be required to remove the coop completely, or restructure the coop store chicken feed securely to prevent attracting predators or vermin |
| Permit or registration | None set. Warfield's Zoning Bylaw sets no permit, licence or registration for hens. |
| Bees | Allowed in any zone. Hives must be in the rear yard, at least 3 m from any property line, building or accessory suite, and either inside a solid 1.8 m fence (if within 9 m of a property line) or at least 2.4 m off the ground, with entrances facing away from neighbours.Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021, consolidation to June 2024, s. 5.12.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBackyard beekeeping is permitted in any zone, subject to the requirements of this section. Not locate a beehive within 3 m of any property line, principal building or accessory suite Locate beehives in the rear yard of the property |
| Other livestock | Farm animals, poultry and rabbits may be kept only as the Zoning Bylaw allows (Animal Control Bylaw s. 8.0). The Zoning Bylaw's domestic agriculture section adds only that it must not create offensive odours or a nuisance.Animal Control Bylaw No. 703, 2007, s. 8.0(d); Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021, consolidation to June 2024, s. 5.12.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbe kept on any parcel of land or property other than in accordance with the Village’s Zoning Bylaw not generate offensive odours or create a nuisance via storage and composting related to the use |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (s. 5.12), and Animal Control Bylaw No. 703, 2007 (Part 8)Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021, consolidation to June 2024, s. 1.1.1; Animal Control Bylaw No. 703, 2007, s. 1.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Warfield Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021.” Animal Control Bylaw No. 703, 2007 |
How it works
In Warfield, hens are allowed under the Zoning Bylaw No. 896 (section 5.12.3) where domestic agriculture is permitted. Table 5-1 lists the R1, R2, R3, R3-M, RIH, C1, C2 and ICF zones. The property must have a single-unit or two-unit dwelling, and the owner must live there and keep the hens. No more than 10 hens are allowed per property, and roosters are not allowed.
Steps
- Check your property's zone with the Village Office (250-368-8202).
- Build a coop that protects the hens from wind, rain and predators, is kept up to limit odour, and meets the accessory building setbacks.
- Store chicken feed securely.
Good to know
- If a complaint shows the hens were not protected, the owner may have to remove or rebuild the coop.
- The Zoning Bylaw sets no permit, licence or registration for hens.
- Bees are allowed in any zone. Hives must be in the rear yard, at least 3 m from any property line, building or accessory suite. They must either be inside a solid 1.8 m fence (if within 9 m of a property line) or at least 2.4 m off the ground, with entrances facing away from neighbours.
- Other farm animals, poultry and rabbits may be kept only as the Zoning Bylaw allows (Animal Control Bylaw 703, s. 8.0). The Zoning Bylaw's domestic agriculture section adds only that it must not create offensive odours or a nuisance. No goat, horse or duck rule was found.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Trail · Rossland · Fruitvale · Castlegar · Salmo · Nelson
Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021, consolidation to June 2024 (PDF), Village of Warfield (read 2026-11-08)
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 703, 2007 (PDF), Village of Warfield (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact Us, Village of Warfield (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.