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

Backyard hens & livestock — Abbotsford, British Columbia

In the City of Abbotsford, British Columbia, bees permitted: True; permit or licence: beekeeper must be registered with the Province in accordance with their beekeeping requirements; setback: entrance minimum 6.0 m from any property line; side and rear minimum 3.0 m from any property line; behind solid fence or hedge minimum 1.8 m in height along all adjacent property lines. Source: Zoning Bylaw, 2014 -- Section 140 General Regulations (Urban Beekeeping), verified 2026-08-28.

Zoning Bylaw, 2014 -- Section 140 General Regulations (Urban Beekeeping) adopted bylaw

bees permitted	True	s. 140.2.11 — "Urban Beekeeping is permitted in all zones in which a Single Detached Dwelling is permitted"
permit or licence	beekeeper must be registered with the Province in accordance with their beekeeping requirements	s. 140.2.11.a.iii — "registered with the Province in accordance with their beekeeping requirements"
setback	entrance minimum 6.0 m from any property line; side and rear minimum 3.0 m from any property line; behind solid fence or hedge minimum 1.8 m in height along all adjacent property lines	s. 140.2.11.a.v — "setback the entrance a minimum of 6.0 m from any property line; setback the side and rear a minimum of 3.0 m from any property line"

scout note

Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014 permits urban beekeeping on single-detached-dwelling lots (not agriculture-zoned): 0 hives under 540m2 lot, up to 6 hives/nucleus colonies on lots >=2,000m2, behind an 1.8m fence/hedge with setbacks and registration.