Backyard hens & livestock across New Brunswick
Can I keep chickens, bees, or livestock on my property?
42 of 77 municipalities in New Brunswick have an adopted bylaw on backyard hens & livestock on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaurivage Town |
Town of Beaurivage Zoning By-law (By-Law 25-03) | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 25 hens · livestock rule: Accessory buildings cannot be used for agricultural purposes or keeping animals other than household pets. | 2026-09-27 |
| Beausoleil Rural community |
By-Law 2018-02: By-Law to Adopt the Rural Plan of the Cocagne Rural Community (predecessor of Beausoleil)
adopted 2018-06-26 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: fifteen (15) hens including other similar species · livestock rule: hobby farming: a maximum of fifteen (15) hens including other similar species or a maximum of two (2) livestock, at a ratio of 1 livestock for each 4000 m2 of lot area | 2026-09-27 |
| Belle-Baie Town |
Municipalité de Belle-Baie - Arrete de zonage (Zoning By-law No. 2025-07) | hens permitted: yes · bees permitted: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Belledune Village |
Village of Belledune Rural Plan (By-law No. 17-01-2008)
adopted 2008-04-07 |
— | 2026-09-27 |
| Cap-Acadie Town |
Zoning By-law of the Regional Town of Cap-Acadie, By-law No. CA-18
adopted 2025-06-02 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: a maximum of 6 chickens is permitted on a lot up to 4000 square meters in area, and a maximum of 12 chickens on lots 4001 square meters or larger · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Caraquet Town |
Arrêté de zonage de Caraquet, Arrêté n° 2025-06
adopted 2025-11-17 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 8 poules pondeuses · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Carleton North Town |
District of Carleton North Zoning By-law, By-law #P-02 | hens permitted: yes · max hens: six hens · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Dieppe City |
By-law Z-10 (2021) - Zoning / Arrêté de zonage Z-10 (2021)
adopted 2021-04-12 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: not more than 12 poultry (hobby farming, RR or RA zone) · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Doaktown Village |
Village of Doaktown Rural Plan, By-law No. 2017-1
adopted 2017-10-18 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: up to three (3) hens or ducks · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Eastern Charlotte Rural community |
By-law Z.2 - A By-law to Adopt the Village of Blacks Harbour Rural Plan (predecessor: Village of Blacks Harbour)
adopted 2022-06-01 |
livestock rule: No accessory building shall be used for agricultural operations or for the keeping of animals other than household pets. | 2026-09-27 |
| Edmundston City |
Arrêté municipal 33R2024 / Municipal By-law 33R2024 -- Arrêté de zonage d'Edmundston / Edmundston Zoning By-law
adopted 2024-06-18 |
livestock rule: New residential use must respect reciprocity distance from existing agricultural livestock use; minimum distance between main buildings: 150 m. | 2026-09-27 |
| Fredericton City |
City of Fredericton Zoning By-law No. Z-5
adopted 2013-06-24 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 3 hens | 2026-09-27 |
| Fredericton Junction Village |
Village of Fredericton Junction Rural Plan By-law No. 2020-01 | hens permitted: no · bees permitted: yes · livestock rule: Except in RA, PRI, and OS zones, land may not be used for keeping or breeding livestock. | 2026-09-27 |
| Fundy Albert Village |
Village of Alma Rural Plan By-law No. 97
+2 more |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 12 · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Fundy-St. Martins Village |
Fundy-St. Martins Rural Plan By-law No. 11 | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 12 · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Grand Bay-Westfield Town |
By-law No. PD-009: Zoning By-Law (Consolidated to October 2024) | bees permitted: yes · livestock rule: No accessory building shall be used for agricultural purposes or keeping of animals other than household pets unless in Rural Resource or Rural Residential Zones. | 2026-09-27 |
| Grand Manan Village |
Grand Manan Rural Plan, By-law 56-22 | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 10 hens · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Grand-Bouctouche Town |
Arrêté de zonage de Grand-Bouctouche, Arrêté No. 2025-02
adopted 2025-04-30 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 6 poules pondeuses (RS); 15 poules pondeuses (RR, terrain <8000 m2); 25 poules, perdrix ou faisans (ferme d'agrément) · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Hampton Town |
Hampton Zoning By-Law, By-law No. HAM-2023-16 | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 6 chickens · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Hanwell Rural community |
Rural Community of Hanwell Rural Plan (By-Law 11-2016)
adopted 2016-03-09 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 10 · livestock rule: RR/RU zones: keeping livestock (except backyard chickens) requires lot width 59 m and area 1 hectare. | 2026-09-27 |
| Hartland Town |
Town of Hartland By-Law No. B-46.5 (Zoning By-Law Amendment - Backyard Hens)
adopted 2022-06-14 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: six · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Harvey Rural community |
Village of Harvey By-law 2020-2, A By-law to Adopt the Village of Harvey Rural Plan
adopted 2021-01-20 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: up to a maximum of 24 chickens · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Haut-Madawaska Town |
Ville de Haut-Madawaska, Arrêté de zonage n° 2025-07 (Zoning By-law)
adopted 2025-11-12 |
— | 2026-09-27 |
| Hautes-Terres Town |
Village de St-Isidore, Arrêté n° 11-20, Arrêté de zonage (predecessor by-law, amended by Municipalité des Hautes-Terres)
adopted 2011-06-28 |
— | 2026-09-27 |
| Lakeland Ridges Village |
Ministerial Regulation for the South Central Carleton County Planning Area (Rural Plan, 11-SCC-045-00) | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 0.5 or less AU of ducks, chickens, and turkeys · bees permitted: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Memramcook Village |
Plan rural no 38 (Village de Memramcook) | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 12 volailles · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Miramichi City |
City of Miramichi Zoning By-Law No. 110 | hens permitted: yes · max hens: six (6) · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Moncton City |
City of Moncton Zoning By-Law | max hens: up to four hens | 2026-09-27 |
| Nashwaak Rural community |
Stanley By-Law No. 20-01 - The Village of Stanley Rural Plan | hens permitted: no · bees permitted: yes · livestock rule: Except RU and Rec Zones, land may not be used for keeping or breeding livestock. | 2026-09-27 |
| Riverview Town |
Town of Riverview Zoning By-law No. 300-8 | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 8 chickens · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Rivière-du-Nord Town |
Arrêté de zonage de la Ville de Rivière-du-Nord (Arrêté n° 014-00-2026) | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 12 poules pondeuses · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Rothesay Town |
Rothesay Zoning By-law No. 2-10 | livestock rule: Only domestic animals may be kept in any residential zone. · setback: Accessory buildings housing animals shall be located in the rear yard and those housing animals in the Rural Zone shall be set back a minimum of 10 metres from any property line. | 2026-09-27 |
| Saint-Quentin Town |
Arrêté de zonage de la Ville de Saint-Quentin no 27-2018
adopted 2018-11-20 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: quatre (4) · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Shediac Town |
Town of Shediac Zoning By-law Z-14-44 (Consolidated May 2021)
adopted 2014-04-28 |
hens permitted: no · max hens: fewer than 200 poultry · livestock rule: Accessory buildings cannot house animals other than household pets; household pet excludes cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, poultry, bees. | 2026-09-27 |
| Shippagan Town |
Arrêté de zonage de Shippagan no 78 (version refondue 22 septembre 2023)
adopted 2007-09-24 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: Le nombre est limité à 4 poules pour des terrains d'une superficie inférieure ou égale à 1 acre. Pour les terrains plus grands, le nombre est limité à 4 poules par acre, jusqu'à un maximum de 12 poules · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| St. Stephen Town |
Municipal District of St. Stephen Zoning By-law (By-law Z-4)
adopted 2025-10-29 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: six (6) · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Strait Shores Rural community |
Village of Port Elgin Zoning By-law No. 01-43 (predecessor entity, carried by Strait Shores)
adopted 2002-03-11 |
hens permitted: no · roosters prohibited: yes · bees permitted: no | 2026-09-27 |
| Sussex Town |
Town of Sussex Zoning By-law #1350-24 (Consolidated Version, amending By-law #1350-21)
adopted 2024-08-19 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: 6 hens · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Three Rivers Village |
Community of Three Rivers Rural Plan By-law No. 2026-09 | hens permitted: yes · max hens: four · setback: minimum of 3 metres from an adjacent lot | 2026-09-27 |
| Tracy Village |
Village of Tracy By-Law No. 32-2021 (amendment to Rural Plan By-law No. 29) — Backyard Chickens | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 10 hens · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Woodstock Town |
Town of Woodstock Zoning By-law No. Z-501 | hens permitted: yes · max hens: 6 hens · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
| Île-de-Lamèque Town |
Arrêté de zonage de Ste-Marie-St-Raphaël (Arrêté no 03-01), poulailler provision added by Arrêté 21-04
adopted 2021-06-14 |
hens permitted: yes · max hens: quatre poules pondeuses · roosters prohibited: yes | 2026-09-27 |
Nothing on file for backyard hens & livestock
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Other bylaws on file, none on this topic (32) — Alnwick, Arcadia, Bathurst, Bois-Joli, Butternut Valley, Campbellton, Central York, Champdoré, Five Rivers, Fundy Shores, Grand Falls, Grand Lake, Heron Bay, Kedgwick, Maple Hills, McAdam, Miramichi River Valley, Nackawic-Millville, Neguac, New Maryland, Nouvelle-Arcadie, Oromocto, Saint Andrews, Saint John, Salisbury, Southern Victoria, Sunbury-York South, Tantramar, Tobique Valley, Tracadie, Valley Waters, Vallée-des-Rivières.
No bylaws published online (2, verified negatives) — Campobello Island, Upper Miramichi.
Unconfirmed (1, leads but nothing verified) — Quispamsis.