Backyard hens & livestock — Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

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

In the Town of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, backyard hens & livestock rules are set by Town of Mahone Bay Land Use Bylaw, 2024, verified 2026-09-27. Livestock rule: Commercial livestock operations prohibited; urban agriculture excludes other livestock; hobby livestock buildings permitted in Residential Unserviced (RU) Zone. Setback: Beehives: at least 3.0 metres from any lot line; located in rear yard or side yard that is not a flankage yard.

Town of Mahone Bay Land Use Bylaw, 2024 adopted bylaw
hens permitted yes s. 5.51.4; s. 8.2.1
bees permitted yes s. 5.51.3
livestock rule Commercial livestock operations prohibited; urban agriculture excludes other livestock; hobby livestock buildings permitted in Residential Unserviced (RU) Zone. s. 5.14.1; definition 'Urban Agriculture'; s. 11.2.1
setback Beehives: at least 3.0 metres from any lot line; located in rear yard or side yard that is not a flankage yard. s. 5.51.3
scout note

Land Use Bylaw permits keeping bees as an urban agriculture use (hives at least 3.0 m from any lot line, in the rear yard or a non-flankage side yard) and permits keeping chickens and/or meat rabbits as an urban agriculture use subject to conditions; coops and other urban-agriculture accessory structures are capped at 6.0 m high, and commercial livestock operations

Machine-readable: backyard-hens.json · Official website: http://www.townofmahonebay.ca · Last verified 2026-09-27 · Backyard hens & livestock across Nova Scotia · Backyard hens & livestock in other municipalities