{"title":"West Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules","question":"Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in West Vancouver?","slug":"backyard-chickens","place":{"path":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of West Vancouver","url":"https://westvancouver.ca"},"short_answer":"West Vancouver permits up to six chickens per lot in single-family residential zones. Register the flock with Bylaw and Licensing Services. The registration fee is $50 per flock and the enclosure must be outside the front yard.","aliases":[],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[],"documents":[],"forms":[],"related":[{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"West Vancouver home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"West Vancouver zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/backyard-chickens/"},{"place":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/backyard-chickens/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens/"},"facts":{"hens_allowed":{"label":"Hens allowed","value":"Backyard chickens may be kept in single-family residential zones.","short":"Yes, single-family residential zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens","title":"Backyard Chickens","section":"Backyard Chickens","quotes":["Backyard chickens are permitted in single family residential zones in West Vancouver after a new bylaw was approved on April 4, 2016. If you’re thinking about having backyard chickens, please read the guidelines and learn more."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"max_hens":{"label":"Most hens","value":"West Vancouver permits up to six chickens per lot in single-family residential zones.","short":"Six chickens","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens","title":"Backyard Chickens","section":"Backyard Chickens","quotes":["Backyard chickens are permitted in single family residential zones in West Vancouver after a new bylaw was approved on April 4, 2016. If you’re thinking about having backyard chickens, please read the guidelines and learn more.","* chickens must be at least four months old * a maximum of six chickens is permitted per lot"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"roosters":{"label":"Roosters","value":"Roosters are prohibited.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens","title":"Backyard Chickens","section":"Backyard Chickens","quotes":["Chickens can live up to 14 years or longer and require responsible care. Keeping backyard chickens in West Vancouver requires the following regulations be followed: * roosters are not permitted"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"coop_rules":{"label":"Coop rules","value":"One enclosure per home, located outside the front yard.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens","title":"Backyard Chickens","section":"Backyard Chickens","quotes":["* a maximum of one chicken enclosure is permitted per home * chicken enclosures are not permitted in front yards"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"registration":{"label":"Permit or registration","value":"Register with Bylaw and Licensing Services. The fee is $50 per flock.","short":"Yes, $50 per flock","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens","title":"Backyard Chickens","section":"Backyard Chickens / More Information","quotes":["* registration is required, the fee is $50 per flock","Contact Bylaw and Licensing Services to register."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"bees":{"label":"Bees","value":"In B.C., register the beekeeper and each apiary together. Local permission, hive numbers and siting for this property still need confirmation.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/3_2015","title":"B.C. Bee Regulation, B.C. Reg. 3/2015","section":"B.C. Bee Regulation section 3(1), registration","quotes":["#### Registration 3   (1) Both of the following must be registered together on an application for registration, including an application to renew a registration, made under section 12 (1) of the Act: (a) the person who will engage in beekeeping; (b) each apiary in relation to which the person will engage in beekeeping."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"other_livestock":{"label":"Other livestock","value":"Livestock are prohibited except for chickens kept where zoning permits them and in compliance with other applicable bylaws.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 (PDF)","section":"Section 10.3.1, livestock","quotes":["10.3    Livestock Amendment Bylaw   10.3.1      No person may keep or permit to be kept livestock; other than a No. 4871, 2016                chicken where permitted under the Municipality’s Zoning Bylaw and in compliance with all other applicable bylaws."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, together with applicable zoning rules.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 (PDF)","section":"Sections 10.3–10.4, livestock and chickens","quotes":["Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 Effective Date – June 2, 2008","10.3    Livestock Amendment Bylaw   10.3.1      No person may keep or permit to be kept livestock; other than a No. 4871, 2016                chicken where permitted under the Municipality’s Zoning Bylaw and in compliance with all other applicable bylaws. 10.4    Chickens Amendment Bylaw No. 4871, 2016    10.4.1     No person may: (a)    keep a rooster of any age; (b)    keep a chicken that is less than 4 months old; (c)    keep more than 6 chickens on any one lot, as defined by"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":8,"matched":8,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nStart with the property, then plan the flock and the enclosure. The number of birds is only one part of the decision. How the bylaw describes the lot, the type of bird and the location of the coop can all affect a proposal. One enclosure per home, located outside the front yard.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the rules for your flock in [Backyard Chickens](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens). Find the property's zone and draw the proposed coop and run in relation to the home, neighbouring lots and street.\n2. Identify the number, age and type of birds you plan to keep. Compare those details with the limits below before buying birds or materials.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Backyard chickens may be kept in single-family residential zones.\n- In B.C., register the beekeeper and each apiary together. Local permission, hive numbers and siting for this property still need confirmation.\n- Livestock are prohibited except for chickens kept where zoning permits them and in compliance with other applicable bylaws.\n- Roosters are prohibited.\n- Read the applicable provisions in [Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 (PDF)](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf).","sources":[{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens","title":"Backyard Chickens","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/services/online-services","title":"Online Services","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf","title":"Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://westvancouver.ca/contact","title":"West Vancouver municipal office contact information","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/3_2015","title":"B.C. Bee Regulation, B.C. Reg. 3/2015","accessed":"2026-11-09"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-09","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens.json"}}