As part of the Village’s efforts to help residents get involved in small-scale domestic food production, residents can now keep up to four (4) hens in your backyard in some residential areas. There are several important rules you will need to comply with in order to keep a backyard coop from being a nuisance for your neighbours, including:

  • A maximum of four (4) hens per parcel in permitted residential areas
  • Roosters are not allowed in residential areas
  • Ducks, turkeys, or other fowl are not allowed in residential areas
  • Eggs, meat, and manure from backyard hens in residential areas cannot be used for commercial purposes
  • The slaughtering of hens on the property is not allowed in residential areas

Steps to keeping backyard hens

There are four steps to follow to keep hens in your backyard:

  1. Review the Village’s Zoning Bylaw Map to see if you qualify to keep hens.
  2. Learn how to care for hens
  3. Get a British Columbia Premises ID (BCPID) registration number
  4. Apply for a Backyard Hens Permit with the Village

Step 1: Review the Village’s Zoning Bylaw provisions on keeping hens

Review the Village’s Zoning Bylaw Map to see if you qualify to keep hens. Lots must be greater than 550 m² and permitted zones include:

    • Low Density Residential (R1)
    • Low Density – Small Lot Residential (R1A)
    • Medium Density Residential (R2)
    • Limited Medium Density Residential (R2A)
    • Recreational Residential (R5)

Section 4.15 of the Village’s Zoning Bylaw sets out the requirements for keeping backyard hens, including the minimum lot size and coop location details.

Some of the provisions include: 

  • The applicant must be the owner of the lot and reside on the lot, or reside on the lot and have written consent from the owner
  • Each hen must be provided with food, water, light, ventilation, and care, sufficient to maintain the hen in good health
  • A coop and attached outdoor hen enclosure must be provided on the lot with at least 0.5 m² (4.3 square feet) of interior coop floor area and at last 1.0 m² (10.8 square feet) of outdoor hen enclosure per hen
  • The coop must be situated at least 3 metres (9.84 feet) from the rear and side lot line and at least 3 metres (9.84 feet) from any dwelling unit
  • The coop must be no more than 10 m² in floor area and 2 metres in height
  • Each hen must be provided with its own nest box and perch that is at least 15 cm (6 inches long) within a coop
  • The coop and outdoor hen enclosure must be secured from sunset to sunrise
  • The coop and outdoor hen enclosure must be situated in a back yard with a continuous fence that is in accordance with Section 4.10 Fences of the Zoning Bylaw
  • Feed must be stored within a fully enclosed container and any leftover feed must be removed in a timely manner
  • Manure produced by hens must be stored within a fully enclosed container, with no more than 0.08 m3 [2.8 cubic feet] of manure stored on the lot at a time
  • Permit holders must immediately consult a licensed veterinarian if a hen becomes infected with an infectious or communicable disease

Step 2: Learn how to care for hens

Next, you should read the following hen keeping information, which provide an overview of considerations for keeping hens:

Step 3: Get a B.C. Premises ID Registration (BCPID) number

A British Columbia Premises ID (BCPID) is a unique nine-character code assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture to properties who intend to keep livestock or poultry in the province. All Premises ID numbers start with BC (for example: BC449GP7N). There is no financial cost to register and obtain your premises ID number with the Ministry.

There are five options for submitting your Premises Registration:

  1. Mail your registration to: BCPID, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3
  2. Email a scanned copy of your registration to: BCPID@gov.bc.ca
  3. Fax your registration to: 604 556 3030
  4. Drop off your registration at any BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food office.
  5. Apply online at www.gov.bc.ca/premisesprogram

Once you receive your unique nine-character code from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, you will then use that ID number to register your hens with the Village.

Step 4: Apply for a backyard hens permit with the Village

After you review the backyard hen guide documents and bylaw regulations, and receive your BCPID number, you can register your property to keep hens with the Village of Chase. Permit applications can be downloaded here or picked up at the Village office. An annual registration fee of $25.00 applies and can be paid at the Village office at 826 Okanagan Avenue, during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm).

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Properties that are greater than 550 m² and are zoned Low Density Residential (R1), Low Density – Small Lot Residential (R1A), Medium Density Residential (R2), Limited Medium Density Residential (R2A) or Recreational Residential (R5) are allowed to keep hens, as long as they are registered with the Village, BCPID and all Zoning Bylaw requirements are followed. Hens are not permitted on stratified lots or lots containing multifamily dwellings or Mobile Home Parks. Agricultural zones may keep hens without the need for registering them with the Village.

A resident of a single-family dwelling may keep a maximum of four (4) hens.

Every Coop or Outdoor Hen Enclosure used to accommodate hens must be:
• Located within the rear yard of the lot behind a dwelling
• A minimum of 3 metres (9.84 feet) from a dwelling unit
• A minimum of 3 metres (9.84 feet) from any lot line
• A minimum of 3 metres (9.84 feet) from a flanking street

No, roosters are not allowed within Chase residential zones.

No, slaughtering of hens in your backyard is not permitted. Hens at the end of their life will need to be taken to a veterinarian, farm, livestock auction or abattoir.

No, eggs produced by backyard hens in residential areas are for personal use only.

Organic matter ‘manure’ from backyard hens may be composted on site for private use in gardens and/or disposed of in Village garbage carts provided that the manure is appropriately contained within a kraft paper bag. If complaints are received by the Village for excess odours and smells, the Village may contact the owner to ensure appropriate practices are in place. Manure may not be sold for commercial purposes.

Owners must comply with Zoning Bylaw standards, as well as Provincial and Federal standards for care. The BC Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act also ensures the humane treatment of animals and outlines the powers of their offices, rights of seizure and disposal or sale of animals taken into custody. Reporting of inhumane acts against animals is the responsibility of each of us in our society. Owners should educate themselves on proper maintenance care for hens.

Chickens can live 14 years or more. Egg-laying hens need approximately 15 hours of light a day in order to keep laying. Egg laying for a hen generally starts at 6 months old. Domesticated hens have been bred to lay one egg a day, but by 18 months of age, egg laying generally diminishes and many adult or senior hens stop laying altogether.

Besides construction of a chicken coop and pen, and purchase of the hens, start-up costs also include food storage, security locks, lighting, and feed and water dishes. Ongoing costs include building maintenance and cleaning, bedding, food, nutritional supplements, parasite control, grooming, vet care, and care when you are away over a longer period of time.

Food receptacles should be made of non-corrosive material that is easily cleaned. This minimizes spillage, prevents contamination with droppings and keeps food the dry. The containers should be large enough for all the birds to comfortably eat at once or numerous enough to prevent competition or intimidation. Clean up uneaten food and any kitchen scrapes that you may give them soon after they feed in order to avoid attracting nuisance animals.

Water receptacles should be made of non—corrosive material that can be cleaned and disinfected with a solution of chlorine bleach, prevent contamination with droppings and is spill and leak proof. The containers should be large enough for all the birds to comfortably drink at once and hold enough water for all birds for an entire day. Food should be slightly positioned higher than the water or far enough away to prevent contamination with food. In the cold weather you will need to ensure that their drinking water does not freeze.

If you are concerned about backyard chickens in violation of bylaw regulations, email chase@chasebc.ca or call 250 679 3238 to register a hen-related complaint.

The following federal and provincial legislation provide standards and guidelines related to health and safety. These acts give senior, regional, or local government authorities the tools to gather information, inspect, and require mitigation.

Federal Government – Health of Animals Act – 1990, c. 21 – This Act outlines steps that may be taken by inspectors in the case where diseases (e.g. avian flu) or toxic substances are suspected of being on a site that may affect animals or that may be transmitted by animals to persons. Prohibitions in this act include: concealment, keeping diseased animals and selling or disposing of diseased animals. https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-3.3/FullText.html

Canadian Food Inspection Agency – The agency develops and delivers programs and services designed to protect Canadians from preventable food safety hazards and ensure that food safety emergencies are effectively managed and that the public is aware of–and contribute to–food safety through administration of the Federal Act such as Canadian Agricultural Products Act, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act & Feeds Act. – https://inspection.canada.ca/

BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food – Provides information on best management practices. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/poultry

BC Provincial Public Health Act – Provides health officers the authority to order preventative measures to control a health hazard (e.g. Avian Flu outbreak) http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/phact/

BC Provincial Animal Disease Control Act – Veterinarians and physicians are obligated to report known or suspected animals or persons that are suffering from or have died from a communicable disease. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-health/reportable-notifiable-diseases

BC Integrated Pest Management Act – This Act mainly regulates pesticide use, but also gives authority to the Minister to order an Integrated Pest Management Plan for managing pest populations (including rats and insects) and reduce damage caused by pests. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-health/reportable-notifiable-diseases

BC Environmental Management Act – The Ministry of Environment regulates issues regarding organic matter (manure) and recycling for larger retail grade practices through this act. https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03053_01

Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 736-2010 establishes fines for the following offences:

  • Hens not permitted – $100.00
  • More than four (4) hens – $150.00
  • Rooster not permitted – $150.00
  • No hen registration – $100.00
  • Inadequate hen shelter – $150.00
  • Fail to clean coop/hen enclosure – $150.00
  • Sale of hen products – $250.00
  • Slaughter of hen on residential lot – $250.00
  • Hen in residential dwelling unit or on a balcony or deck – $150.00

 

Questions or Concerns

If you are concerned about backyard hens in violation of bylaw regulations, email chase@chasebc.ca or call 250 679 3238 to register a hen-related complaint involving:

  • Pests, insects, or wildlife drawn by the backyard hens
  • Noise or smell from the hens
  • Hens that are injured, abandoned, stray / at large, or neglected
  • The owner is not registered with the Backyard Hens program
  • The number of hens exceeds bylaw guidelines
  • The hens are not being cared for according to the Bylaw Requirements