{
 "answer": "In the District Municipality of Saanich, British Columbia, hens permitted: True; max hens: maximum of five hens; roosters prohibited: True; bees permitted: True. Source: Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (consolidated), verified 2026-08-28.",
 "municipality_id": "gx-000121",
 "municipality": "Saanich",
 "status_type": "District Municipality",
 "jurisdiction": "British Columbia",
 "country": "CA",
 "topic": "backyard_animals",
 "label": "Backyard hens & livestock",
 "status": "found",
 "last_verified": "2026-08-28",
 "official_website": "http://www.saanich.ca",
 "documents": [
  {
   "primary": true,
   "is_official": true,
   "title": "Animals Bylaw, 2004, No. 8556 (consolidated)",
   "category": "backyard_animals",
   "document_type": "bylaw",
   "status": "adopted",
   "adopted_date": null,
   "document_url": "http://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/animals-bylaw-2004-no-8556.pdf",
   "summary": "Up to 5 hens allowed on residential lots 557m2+ (registration required, owner must live on site); coop setbacks 3m from lot lines/windows, max 2m high. Bees: up to 4 hives on RS-zone lots over 465m2, hives 6m from property lines.",
   "discovered_by": "bc-newcats",
   "discovered_at": "2026-08-28",
   "capture_sha256": "4cf2618457dc90fda9ff4746b75f7f1d5e8178e0763c327b47552b04329d2070",
   "captured_at": "2026-08-29T03:03:43+00:00",
   "capture_http_status": 200,
   "snapshot_url": "https://pub-e61c5ee2a8704225bfa8de0c280e8a2c.r2.dev/bylaws/4cf2618457dc90fda9ff4746b75f7f1d5e8178e0763c327b47552b04329d2070.pdf",
   "link_dead": false,
   "facts": {
    "hens_permitted": true,
    "max_hens": "maximum of five hens",
    "roosters_prohibited": true,
    "bees_permitted": true,
    "livestock_rule": "Prohibited in RS Zone unless parcel >0.65 hectares; max two farm animals.",
    "permit_or_licence": "Registration of flock of hens required; no fee payable",
    "setback": "3 m from rear/side lot lines (coop); 6.05 m from property line (hive)"
   },
   "fact_citations": {
    "hens_permitted": "s. 38.3",
    "max_hens": "s. 38.3",
    "roosters_prohibited": "s. 40",
    "bees_permitted": "s. 48.1",
    "livestock_rule": "s. 4",
    "permit_or_licence": "s. 38.6, s. 38.7",
    "setback": "s. 38.4, s. 49"
   },
   "transcript_url": "/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-hens/text-4cf2618457dc/",
   "transcript_quality": "exact"
  }
 ],
 "source": "https://govanswers.org/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-hens/"
}