GovHandbook

West Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules

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

West Vancouver, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-09

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.

Key facts

Hens allowedBackyard chickens may be kept in single-family residential zones.Backyard Chickens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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.
Most hensWest Vancouver permits up to six chickens per lot in single-family residential zones.Backyard Chickens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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
RoostersRoosters are prohibited.Backyard Chickens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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
Coop rulesOne enclosure per home, located outside the front yard.Backyard Chickens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
Official wording
* a maximum of one chicken enclosure is permitted per home * chicken enclosures are not permitted in front yards
Permit or registrationRegister with Bylaw and Licensing Services. The fee is $50 per flock.Backyard Chickens, Backyard Chickens / More Information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
Official wording
* registration is required, the fee is $50 per flock
Contact Bylaw and Licensing Services to register.
BeesIn B.C., register the beekeeper and each apiary together. Local permission, hive numbers and siting for this property still need confirmation.B.C. Bee Regulation, B.C. Reg. 3/2015, B.C. Bee Regulation section 3(1), registration · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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.
Other livestockLivestock are prohibited except for chickens kept where zoning permits them and in compliance with other applicable bylaws.Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, Section 10.3.1, livestock · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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.
BylawAnimal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, together with applicable zoning rules.Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, Sections 10.3–10.4, livestock and chickens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
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

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. 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).

The same question in other places

Bowen Island · Lions Bay · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver · Vancouver · Richmond

Backyard chicken rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Backyard Chickens (read 2026-11-09)
  2. Online Services (read 2026-11-09)
  3. Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008 (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
  4. West Vancouver municipal office contact information (read 2026-11-09)
  5. B.C. Bee Regulation, B.C. Reg. 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. How answers are checked.