Backyard hens & livestock — Markham, Ontario

Can I keep chickens, bees, or livestock on my property?

In the City of Markham, Ontario, backyard hens & livestock rules are set by By-law 2018-91, Animal Protection and Services By-law, verified 2026-09-25. Livestock rule: No person shall keep livestock in any area of the City unless the area is zoned for that purpose.

By-law 2018-91, Animal Protection and Services By-law adopted bylaw
hens permitted no s. 1 definition ("Livestock" includes "domestic fowl (including chickens...)"); s. 6.1(1)
livestock rule No person shall keep livestock in any area of the City unless the area is zoned for that purpose s. 6.1(1)
scout note

Sec.6: livestock (incl. chickens/geese/ducks/turkeys) may only be kept in zoned areas. Sec.7: domestic pigeons banned in residential zones; elsewhere max 30 birds, club membership, 7m dwelling/3m lot-line setback. Sec.8: max 3 pet rabbits, hutch setback 7m/3m.

Machine-readable: backyard-hens.json · Official website: https://www.markham.ca/ · Last verified 2026-09-25 · Backyard hens & livestock across Ontario · Backyard hens & livestock in other municipalities