---
title: West Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules
question: "Can I keep chickens, bees, or other livestock in West Vancouver?"
place: West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/west-vancouver
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of West Vancouver
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens.json"
---

# West Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of West Vancouver, https://westvancouver.ca)  

## Key facts

- **Hens allowed:** Backyard chickens may be kept in single-family residential zones.
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Most hens:** West Vancouver permits up to six chickens per lot in single-family residential zones.
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Roosters:** Roosters are prohibited.
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Coop rules:** One enclosure per home, located outside the front yard.
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "* a maximum of one chicken enclosure is permitted per home * chicken enclosures are not permitted in front yards"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Permit or registration:** Register with Bylaw and Licensing Services. The fee is $50 per flock.
  - Source: [Backyard Chickens, Backyard Chickens / More Information](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens)
  - Official wording: "* registration is required, the fee is $50 per flock" … "Contact Bylaw and Licensing Services to register."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bees:** In B.C., register the beekeeper and each apiary together. Local permission, hive numbers and siting for this property still need confirmation.
  - Source: [B.C. Bee Regulation, B.C. Reg. 3/2015, B.C. Bee Regulation section 3(1), registration](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/3_2015)
  - Official wording: "#### 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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Other livestock:** Livestock are prohibited except for chickens kept where zoning permits them and in compliance with other applicable bylaws.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, Section 10.3.1, livestock](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, together with applicable zoning rules.
  - Source: [Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, Sections 10.3–10.4, livestock and chickens](https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/4545%20CONSOLIDATED%20ANIMAL%20CONTROL%20AND%20LICENCE%20BYLAW%204545%202008.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

Start 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.

## Steps

1. 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.
2. Identify the number, age and type of birds you plan to keep. Compare those details with the limits below before buying birds or materials.

## Good to know

- Backyard chickens may be kept in single-family residential zones.
- In B.C., register the beekeeper and each apiary together. Local permission, hive numbers and siting for this property still need confirmation.
- Livestock are prohibited except for chickens kept where zoning permits them and in compliance with other applicable bylaws.
- Roosters are prohibited.
- 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).

## Related questions

- [West Vancouver home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/home-based-business.md)
- [West Vancouver zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/backyard-chickens.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/backyard-chickens.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/backyard-chickens.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/backyard-chickens.md)

## Sources

- [Backyard Chickens](https://westvancouver.ca/government-administration/bylaw-enforcement-licensing/dogs-backyard-chickens/backyard-chickens) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Online Services](https://westvancouver.ca/services/online-services) (read 2026-11-09)
- [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) (read 2026-11-09)
- [West Vancouver municipal office contact information](https://westvancouver.ca/contact) (read 2026-11-09)
- [B.C. Bee Regulation, B.C. Reg. 3/2015](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/3_2015) (read 2026-11-09)

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