Backyard hens & livestock — Smithers, British Columbia

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

In the Town of Smithers, British Columbia, hens permitted: True; max hens: six (6) hens as an auxiliary use to a detached, single-family dwelling; twelve (12) hens on a P-1 property in conjunction with a Community Garden; twelve (12) poultry for each 0.4 ha of parcel area in zones A-1 or R-7.; roosters prohibited: True; livestock rule: No cattle or farm animals unless in R-7 Rural Residential Hobby Farm, A-1 Agricultural Zone, or Fall Fair Grounds.. Source: Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1780 (Consolidated Jan 2020), verified 2026-08-28.

Animal Control and Licencing Bylaw No. 1780 (Consolidated Jan 2020) adopted bylaw
hens permitted True s. 6-2
max hens six (6) hens as an auxiliary use to a detached, single-family dwelling; twelve (12) hens on a P-1 property in conjunction with a Community Garden; twelve (12) poultry for each 0.4 ha of parcel area in zones A-1 or R-7. s. 6-3 c)
roosters prohibited True s. 6-3 b)
livestock rule No cattle or farm animals unless in R-7 Rural Residential Hobby Farm, A-1 Agricultural Zone, or Fall Fair Grounds. s. 6-4
permit or licence Backyard hen flocks must be registered for a fee of $15 s. 6-3 m)
setback 3.0 m (9.84 ft) from the principal building and 1.5 m from the side or rear property line s. 6-3 d) iii
scout note

Backyard hen keeping on lots >550m2 in R-1/R-2/R-6/P-1: max 6 hens (12 on community-garden P-1 land), no roosters, coop setbacks 1.5-3m, registration required.

Machine-readable: backyard-hens.json · Official website: https://www.smithers.ca/ · Last verified 2026-08-28 · Backyard hens & livestock in other municipalities