Backyard hens & livestock — Houston, British Columbia
Can I keep chickens, bees, or livestock on my property?
In the District Municipality of Houston, British Columbia, backyard hens & livestock rules are set by Development Bylaw No. 1040, 2013 (Consolidated Jan 2025), verified 2026-09-24. Max hens: eight (8). Livestock rule: Farm animals only on A1 or A2 zones; chickens permitted in R1/R2. ALR parcels exempt. Setback: 4.5 metres (15 ft) of a lot line.
Development Bylaw No. 1040, 2013 (Consolidated Jan 2025)
adopted bylaw
hens permitted
yes
s. 5.25(2)
max hens
eight (8)
s. 5.25(2)(a)
roosters prohibited
yes
s. 5.25(2)(c)
livestock rule
Farm animals only on A1 or A2 zones; chickens permitted in R1/R2. ALR parcels exempt.
s. 5.25(1), 5.25(2)
setback
4.5 metres (15 ft) of a lot line
s. 5.25(3)
scout note
Chickens permitted in R1 and R2 zones: max 8 hens (no roosters) per property, kept for personal use only (no sale of eggs/meat/manure), housed in an accessory structure, not slaughtered on-site. Appendix 3 gives chicken-keeping guidelines.