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

# Wells backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**Short answer:** The District of Wells Zoning Bylaw has no backyard hen rule. Poultry, beekeeping and livestock are allowed only as agricultural operations in the RR 1, RR 2 and R/A zones. The residential zones (R 1, R 1A, R 2, R 3, R 4) list no agricultural use.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Wells, https://www.wells.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit or fee is stated.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4243 Sanders Ave, Wells, BC V0K 2R0 (Hours are not stated on the District website.)
- Phone: District Office, 250-994-3330
- Email: District Office, clerk@wells.ca

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** The Zoning Bylaw has no backyard-hen rule. The RR 1, RR 2 and R/A zones allow agricultural operations, including livestock and intensive (commercial) livestock operations, which include poultry or fowl operations. The residential zones (R 1, R 1A, R 2, R 3, R 4) list no agricultural use.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 4.13.1(b)(x), 4.14.1(b)(x)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "agricultural operations, including horticulture, silviculture, livestock, intensive livestock operation, stockyard, beekeeping and aquaculture" … "means the raising and feeding of livestock on an intensive basis for commercial purposes" … "includes cattle, horses, mules, ass, sheep, goats, swine, musk ox, llamas, alpacas and rabbits" … "Agricultural operations, including horticulture, silviculture, livestock, intensive livestock operation, stockyard, beekeeping and aquaculture"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 2.0, definition 95](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "this definition includes feedlots, poultry or fowl operations, fur farms"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 4.8.1 (R 1 zone; the R 1A, R 2, R 3 and RC zones read the same way)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall, within any R 1 zone, use any lot or erect, alter or use any building or structure for any purpose except one or more of the following R 1 uses"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Most hens:** None set. Wells' Zoning Bylaw sets no hen limit, rooster rule, coop or run rules, permit or fee.
- **Roosters:** None set. Wells' Zoning Bylaw sets no hen limit, rooster rule, coop or run rules, permit or fee.
- **Coop rules:** None set. Wells' Zoning Bylaw sets no hen limit, rooster rule, coop or run rules, permit or fee.
- **Permit or registration:** None set. Wells' Zoning Bylaw sets no hen limit, rooster rule, coop or run rules, permit or fee.
- **Bees:** Beekeeping is allowed as part of an agricultural operation in the RR 1, RR 2 and R/A zones. The residential zones (R 1, R 1A, R 2, R 3, R 4) list no beekeeping.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 4.13.1(b)(x), 4.14.1(b)(x)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "agricultural operations, including horticulture, silviculture, livestock, intensive livestock operation, stockyard, beekeeping and aquaculture" … "Agricultural operations, including horticulture, silviculture, livestock, intensive livestock operation, stockyard, beekeeping and aquaculture"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 2.0, definition 19](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: ""BEEKEEPING" means an apiary or a place where bees are kept and raised"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other livestock:** Livestock (cattle, horses, mules, ass, sheep, goats, swine, musk ox, llamas, alpacas and rabbits) is allowed as an agricultural operation in the RR 1, RR 2 and R/A zones. The residential zones list no agricultural use.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 4.13.1(b)(x), 4.14.1(b)(x)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "agricultural operations, including horticulture, silviculture, livestock, intensive livestock operation, stockyard, beekeeping and aquaculture" … "includes cattle, horses, mules, ass, sheep, goats, swine, musk ox, llamas, alpacas and rabbits" … "Agricultural operations, including horticulture, silviculture, livestock, intensive livestock operation, stockyard, beekeeping and aquaculture"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 2.0, definition 102](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "includes cattle, horses, mules, ass, sheep, goats, swine, musk ox, llamas, alpacas and rabbits"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 4.8.1 (R 1 zone; the R 1A, R 2, R 3 and RC zones read the same way)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall, within any R 1 zone, use any lot or erect, alter or use any building or structure for any purpose except one or more of the following R 1 uses"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Wells Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw No. 26, 2000; the amending bylaws call it the Zoning and Tree Protection Bylaw)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 4.13.1, 4.14.1](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "agricultural operations, including horticulture, silviculture, livestock"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District's [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf) (Bylaw No. 26, 2000) has no rule written for backyard hens. It allows agricultural operations in the RR 1, RR 2 and R/A zones. These include livestock (cattle, horses, mules, ass, sheep, goats, swine, musk ox, llamas, alpacas and rabbits), poultry or fowl operations, and beekeeping. The residential zones (R 1, R 1A, R 2, R 3, R 4) list no agricultural use, so hens, bees and livestock are not listed uses there.

## Steps

1. Find out which zone your lot is in. The zone maps are in the Zoning Bylaw, or ask the District Office at 250-994-3330.
2. If it is RR 1, RR 2 or R/A, ask what applies to poultry, bees or animals on your lot.
3. If it is a residential zone, ask before buying birds or hives.

## Good to know

- The bylaw sets no hen limit, no rule on roosters, no coop or run rules and no hive limits. It states no permit or fee.
- The RR 1 zone has a minimum lot size of 4 ha and RR 2 has 2 ha.
- The bylaw's name in the amending bylaws is the Zoning and Tree Protection Bylaw.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000 (PDF), District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Wells zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/backyard-chickens.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Valemount](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000 (PDF), District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws, District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 4 are recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Wells. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/backyard-chickens/_