Backyard hens & livestock across Nova Scotia
Can I keep chickens, bees, or livestock on my property?
32 of 49 municipalities in Nova Scotia have an adopted bylaw on backyard hens & livestock on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town |
Town of Amherst Land Use Bylaw P-2 | bees permitted: no · livestock rule: Keeping agricultural animals is prohibited except on three listed lots with existing agricultural uses. | 2026-09-27 |
| Annapolis County municipality |
Annapolis County Land Use Bylaw | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 25 egg laying fowl and/or rabbits in R1; 100 egg laying fowl in R2 · livestock rule: R2: three cows, horses, goats, sheep, or pigs per acre; R1 only egg laying fowl/rabbits. | 2026-09-27 |
| Antigonish County municipality |
Municipality of the County of Antigonish Land Use By-law
adopted 2024-06-11 |
livestock rule: one (1) accessory structure, with a gross floor area no greater than 20.0 square metres (215.27 square feet), for the keeping of livestock | 2026-09-27 |
| Antigonish Town |
Town of Antigonish Land Use By-law
adopted 2020-01-20 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 4 laying hens · livestock rule: No lot in any Residential Neighbourhood Zone shall be used for the rearing or farm animals, except for a maximum of 4 laying hens | 2026-09-27 |
| Barrington District municipality |
Municipality of the District of Barrington Land Use By-law
adopted 2013-11-25 |
bees permitted: yes · livestock rule: Domestic Agriculture in RG/MU/RD: min lot area 15,000 sq ft; 29,000 sq ft if keeping horse(s) or cow(s). | 2026-09-27 |
| Bridgewater Town |
Town of Bridgewater Land Use By-law
adopted 2014-11-10 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: two chickens (hens) · bees permitted: no | 2026-09-27 |
| Cape Breton Regional municipality |
Responsible Animal Husbandry By-law (No. R-100)
adopted 2019-03-12 |
hens permitted: yes · roosters prohibited: yes · livestock rule: Domestic livestock used solely to provide a product exclusively for the owner are permitted throughout the Regional Municipality. | 2026-09-27 |
| Clare District municipality |
Municipality of the District of Clare Land Use By-law (By-law #27)
adopted 2012-07-18 |
livestock rule: Hobby farms permitted in any zone; must be contained by fencing, enclosures, or buildings; setbacks apply. | 2026-09-27 |
| Digby District municipality |
Municipality of Digby Land Use By-law, By-law 2023-03 | hens permitted: yes · roosters prohibited: yes · bees permitted: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Digby Town |
The Urban Chicken By-law No. 2020-02
adopted 2020-09-08 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: six (6) · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| East Hants District municipality |
Municipality of East Hants Land Use Bylaw
adopted 2023-07-27 |
hens permitted: yes · livestock rule: Ungulates permitted for personal use in CR, LR, R1, R2; shelter required, 6 m setback, 4,000 m2 first animal, +2,000 m2 each additional. | 2026-09-27 |
| Guysborough District municipality |
Municipality of the District of Guysborough Land Use Bylaw | livestock rule: R-1 occupants may keep hoofed animals for pets/non-commercial use; min 1 acre first animal, 0.5 acre each additional. · setback: 20 ft (6.1 m) from rear and side yard lot lines; not in front yard | 2026-09-27 |
| Inverness County municipality |
Municipality of the County of Inverness Land Use By-law (2025)
adopted 2025-05-22 |
livestock rule: one (1) accessory structure, gross floor area no greater than 20.0 square metres, for keeping livestock; fencing required. | 2026-09-27 |
| Kentville Town |
Town of Kentville Land Use Bylaw (2019, updated October 2023) | hens permitted: no | 2026-09-27 |
| Kings County municipality |
Municipality of the County of Kings Land Use By-law (By-law 106) | — | 2026-09-27 |
| Lunenburg Town |
Town of Lunenburg Land Use By-law, 2021
adopted 2021-07-27 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: five (5) or fewer on lots 1,000 square metres (10,764 square feet) in area or smaller; and ten (10) or fewer on lots larger than 1,000 square metres (10,764 square feet) · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Mahone Bay Town |
Town of Mahone Bay Land Use Bylaw, 2024
adopted 2024-01-31 |
hens permitted: yes · bees permitted: yes · livestock rule: Commercial livestock operations prohibited; urban agriculture excludes other livestock; hobby livestock buildings permitted in Residential Unserviced (RU) Zone. | 2026-09-27 |
| New Glasgow Town |
Towns of New Glasgow, Pictou, Stellarton, Trenton and Westville (Common) Land Use By-law | livestock rule: R1 permits stables/kennels; hobby farm occupants may keep ungulates with 30.5 m shelter setback and 1 ha minimum. | 2026-09-27 |
| Pictou County municipality |
Municipality of Pictou County Land Use Bylaw (2025) - Hobby Livestock Farms
adopted 2025-05-05 |
livestock rule: Livestock operations are not permitted in Residential Community Zone; hobby livestock farms are permitted subject to Part 5. · permit or licence: Development permit required; fees in conformance with the fee schedule adopted by resolution of Council. | 2026-09-27 |
| Pictou Town |
Towns of Pictou, Stellarton, and Trenton (Common) Land Use By-law (2025) - Hobby Farms | livestock rule: R1 Zone occupants permitted to keep ungulates for Use as pets or other non-Commercial purposes (including a hobby farm), subject to s. 34 conditions. · setback: 30.5 metre (100 foot) from the Rear and Side Yard Lot Lines; existing nonconforming accessory building not within 15.2 metres (50 feet) of any property line. | 2026-09-27 |
| Queens Regional municipality |
Region of Queens Municipality Land Use Bylaw (2022) - Fowl, Rabbits and Household Livestock
adopted 2022-05-24 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 10 or fewer fowl and/or rabbits · roosters prohibited: no | 2026-09-27 |
| Richmond County municipality |
Municipality of the County of Richmond Land Use By-law (Plan Richmond) - Accessory Agriculture Uses
adopted 2024-01-29 |
livestock rule: One accessory structure for keeping livestock, max 20.0 m²; fencing required under Fences and Detention of Stray Livestock Act. | 2026-09-27 |
| St. Mary's District municipality |
Municipality of the District of St. Mary's Land Use By-Law
adopted 2022-10-18 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 5 in the Low Density Residential Zone and Medium Density Residential Zone, and 15 in all other zones · roosters prohibited: no | 2026-09-27 |
| Stellarton Town |
Towns of Pictou, Stellarton, and Trenton (Common) Land Use By-law
adopted 2024-10-15 |
livestock rule: R1 permits keeping ungulates as pets/non-commercial (hobby farm) with conditions; other residential zones prohibit keeping livestock. | 2026-09-27 |
| Stewiacke Town |
Town of Stewiacke Consolidated Land Use By-law | hens permitted: yes · max hens: five · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Trenton Town |
Towns of Pictou, Stellarton, and Trenton (Common) Land Use By-law
adopted 2024-10-22 |
livestock rule: R1 occupants may keep ungulates as pets/non-commercial; min lot 1 hectare (2.5 acres) first animal, additional 0.2 hectare (1/2 acre) each. · setback: 30.5 metre (100 foot) from the Rear and Side Yard Lot Lines | 2026-09-27 |
| Truro Town |
Town of Truro Community Plan Land Use By-law (Part 7)
adopted 2023-11-06 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 1 animal unit per 93.0 m2 (1,000 ft2) of lot area; 1 Chicken = 1 Unit · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Victoria County municipality |
Municipality of the County of Victoria Land Use By-law
adopted 2025-05-26 |
bees permitted: yes · livestock rule: one accessory structure, gross floor area no greater than 20.0 square metres, for keeping livestock | 2026-09-27 |
| West Hants Regional municipality |
Municipality of the District of West Hants Land Use By-law
adopted 2008-05-13 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: Chickens included in total animal limits: 5, 10, or 15 depending on lot size; max 8 animal units on >1 acre · roosters prohibited: no | 2026-09-27 |
| Westville Town |
Towns of New Glasgow, Pictou, Stellarton, Trenton and Westville (Common) Land Use By-law
adopted 2016-02-22 |
livestock rule: permitted to keep ungulates for Use as pets or other non-Commercial purposes (including a hobby farm) · setback: not located in the Front Yard; minimum Setback distance of 30.5 metre (100 foot) from the Rear and Side Yard Lot Lines | 2026-09-27 |
| Wolfville Town |
Town of Wolfville Land Use Bylaw
adopted 2026-05-13 |
— | 2026-09-27 |
| Yarmouth District municipality |
Municipality of the District of Yarmouth Land Use By-Law
adopted 2025-01-22 |
livestock rule: Household livestock operations permitted in residential zones subject to s. 7.7: min lot 4,000 m2; animal housing max 340 m2; 50 m setbacks. | 2026-09-27 |
Nothing on file for backyard hens & livestock
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Other bylaws on file, none on this topic (17) — Annapolis Royal, Argyle, Berwick, Chester, Clark's Harbour, Colchester, Cumberland, Halifax, Lockeport, Lunenburg, Middleton, Mulgrave, Oxford, Port Hawkesbury, Shelburne, Shelburne, Yarmouth.