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Bylaw No. 1034,2025
Corporation of the City of Greenwood
Page 1 of 5
CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF GREENWOOD
BEES AND HENS BYLAW NO. 1034, 2025
A BYLAW TO REGULATE THE KEEPING OF BEES AND HENS IN THE CITY OF GREENWOOD
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Community Charter, Council may, by bylaw, regulate, prohibit and impose
requirements in relation to animals;
THEREFORE be it resolved that the Council of the Corporation of the City of Greenwood, in open meeting
assembled, enacts as follows:
1.
Title
This bylaw may be cited as the "City of Greenwood Bees and Hens Bylaw No. 1034, 2025".
2.
Interpretation
2.1
Words or phrases defined in the Local Government Act or any successor legislation, shall have the
same meaning when used in this Bylaw unless otherwise defined in this Bylaw.
2.2
If any part of this Bylaw is for any reason held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
invalid portion shall be severed and the severance shall not affect the validity of the remainder of
this Bylaw.
3.
General Regulations
3.1
No person shall obstruct or interfere with a Bylaw Enforcement Officer in the exercise of their
duties.
3.2
A Bylaw Enforcement Officer shall have the right to enter upon the property of any owner or
occupant at all reasonable times and in a reasonable manner for the purposes of inspecting to
determine compliance with the provisions of this Bylaw.
4.
Definitions
In this Bylaw:
"Backyard Bees" means a domestic honey producing bee (from the genus Apis of the family
Apidae).
"Backyard Hens" means domesticated female chickens that are at least four months old (from
the Gallus gallus domesticus species).
"Beehive" means a box or receptacle with movable frames, used for housing a colony of bees.
"Beekeeper" means a person who owns or controls bees, beehives or beekeeping equipment.
Bylaw No. 1034,2025
Corporation of the City of Greenwood
Page 2 of 5
"City" means the Corporation of the City of Greenwood.
"Owner" means person who owns or has custody, care or control of an animal regulated under
this Bylaw.
5.
BACKYARD HENS REGULATIONS
5.1
The keeping of backyard hens are permitted to be kept on residentially zoned properties or
properties that permit agricultural use as defined in the City of Greenwood Zoning Bylaw.
5.2
The maximum number of hens permitted per lot is:
I.
On lots with a minimum area of at least 465 square meters (5,000 square feet), the
maximum number of hens is five (5);
II.
On lots with a minimum area of at least 929 square meters (10,000 square feet), the
maximum number of hens is ten (10).
5.3
Every owner of backyard hens shall provide a coop for the backyard hens, with an outdoor
enclosure attached to the coop, which shall meet the following specifications:
I.
Coops must be fully enclosed and constructed in a manner that:
a) Eliminates potential for infiltration from predatory animals and rodents;
b) Provides reasonable sound attenuation;
c) Ensures proper ventilation and sufficient space for hens; and
d) Is accessible for persons to clean and maintain the coop.
II.
Coops must provide one perch and one nest per hen.
III.
Coops must be accompanied by an attached outdoor enclosure that is enclosed on all sides
and entirely covered from above in a manner that will keep predators and rodents out and
prevent hens from escaping.
IV.
Coops must provide a minimum of 0.5 m2 (5.38 square feet) per hen inside the coop, and a
minimum 1 m2 (10.76 square feet) of outdoor enclosure per hen.
5.4
Backyard hens must be housed completely within either a coop or an outdoor enclosure at
all times, and they must not be able to escape.
5.5
Coops and outdoor enclosures must be kept to a clean and sanitary condition.
5.6
All hens must be provided with sufficient food, water, shelter, light, ventilation, veterinary
care, and opportunities for essential behaviors such as scratching, dust-bathing, and
roosting.
5.7
Feces must be promptly removed and hygienically stored in a sealed container.
5.8
Manure must be stored within a sealed container, with no more than 0.08 m3 (3 cubic feet) of
manure stored at one time, and all manure not used for composting or fertilizing must be
immediately removed from the property.
Bylaw No. 1034,2025
Corporation of the City of Greenwood
Page 3 of 5
5.9
Feed for backyard hens must be stored in sealed containers and not located in an area
accessible by pests, wildlife or domestic animals.
5.10
Eggs produced by backyard hens are for personal use only, with commercial sales being
expressly prohibited.
5.11
The slaughtering or burial of backyard hens is prohibited on all residential zoned properties.
5.12
The keeping of backyard hens is subject to any applicable City of Greenwood policies, fees, and
Bylaws.
5.13
The keeping of backyard hens is subject to the owner licensing the backyard hen flock with
the City annually and paying the applicable licensing fee prescribed in the City of Greenwood
Fees and Charges Bylaw. Issuance of the annual license for the keeping of backyard hens is
subject to the following:
I.
The registered property owner(s) must provide their written consent in cases where the
applicant is renting the property on which the backyard hens are proposed to be located;
and
II.
A City representative or Bylaw Enforcement Officer must inspect the property upon which
the backyard hens are proposed to be located to confirm that all requirements of this
Bylaw and the City of Greenwood Zoning Bylaw have been satisfied.
5.14
Roosters are prohibited.
6.
BACKYARD BEES REGULATIONS
6.1
The keeping of backyard bees are permitted to be kept on residentially zoned properties or
properties that permit agricultural use as defined in the City of Greenwood Zoning Bylaw.
6.2
The maximum number of beehives permitted per lot is:
I.
On lots with a minimum area of at least 465 square meters (5,000 square feet), the
maximum number of beehives is two (2);
II.
On lots with a minimum area of at least 929 square meters (10,000 square feet), the
maximum number of beehives is three (3).
6.3
Beehives must be securely located to prevent accidental disturbance or trespass by people and
pets, and to prevent damage from wildlife.
6.4
The beekeeper responsible for the backyard bees on a property must ensure that:
I.
Beehives are maintained in a condition that will reasonably prevent swarming or aggressive
behavior;
II.
Backyard bees are requeened if they are subject to undue swarming or aggressive behavior;
III.
Backyard bees are provided with adequate water to prevent them from seeking water from
other sources;
Bylaw No. 1034,2025
Corporation of the City of Greenwood
Page 4 of 5
IV.
They comply with the Bee Regulation under the Animal Health Act and any other applicable
standards adopted by the Province of British Columbia; and
V.
They register their apiary location with the Province of British Columbia.
6.5
The Beekeeper must be a resident of the property where the backyard bees are kept.
6.6
Honey produced by backyard bees is for personal use only, with commercial sales being expressly
prohibited.
6.7
The keeping of backyard bees is subject to any applicable City of Greenwood policies, fees, and
bylaws.
6.8
The keeping of backyard bees is subject to the owner licensing the backyard bees with the City
annually and paying the applicable licensing fee prescribed in the City of Greenwood Fees and
Charges Bylaw. Issuance of the annual license for the keeping of backyard bees is subject to the
following:
I.
The registered property owner(s) must provide their written consent in cases where the
applicant is renting the property on which the backyard hens are proposed to be located;
and
II.
A City representative or Bylaw Enforcement Officer must inspect the property upon which
the backyard bees are proposed to be located to confirm that all requirements of this
Bylaw and the City of Greenwood Zoning Bylaw have been satisfied.
7.
Enforcement and Penalty
7.1
The provisions of this Bylaw may be enforced by any Bylaw Enforcement Officer.
7.2
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Bylaw is, upon summary conviction, liable
to the maximum fine provided in the Offence Act, plus the cost of prosecution for each offence.
7.3
Where the offence is a continuing one, each day the offence continues shall be a separate
offence.
8.
Repeal
"Backyard Hens Bylaw No. 1003, 2023",; "Backyard Bees Bylaw No. 1004, 2023" are hereby
rescinded.
Bylaw No. 1034,2025
Corporation of the City of Greenwood
Page 5 of 5
9.
Effective Date
This Bylaw shall come into full force and effect and be binding on all persons upon adoption.
Read a First Time this
11th
day of August, 2025.
Read a Second Time this
11th
day of August, 2025.
Read a Third Time this
11th
day of August, 2025.
Adopted by Council this
15th
day of September, 2025.
Mayor
I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of "City of Greenwood Hens and Bees Bylaw No. 1034,
2025"
On the ___ day of September, 2025.
Corporate Officer