Backyard hens & livestock — Newmarket, Ontario

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

In the Town of Newmarket, Ontario, hens permitted: True; max hens: three (3); roosters prohibited: True; livestock rule: Only animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce farming labour or agricultural commodities are permitted. Source: Animal Control By-law 2020-30 (Urban Hens), verified 2026-08-28.

Animal Control By-law 2020-30 (Urban Hens) adopted bylaw
hens permitted True s. 8(2)
max hens three (3) s. 8(2)
roosters prohibited True s. 8(4)
livestock rule Only animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce farming labour or agricultural commodities are permitted Schedule 'A' — AGRICULTURAL LIVESTOCK
permit or licence Application with supporting documents required; no fee stated in this by-law (fee schedule deferred to Fees and Charges By-Law) s. 8(1)
setback 1.2m from rear lot line and 1.2m from any side lot line; minimum 3 meters from all windows and doors of abutting dwellings s. 8(9); s. 8(10)
scout note

Urban Hens program: up to 3 hens (4+ months old) per registered residential lot, coop/run min. 10 sq ft per hen, coop under 2.4m tall, setbacks from lot lines, no front-yard coops, no roosters, no home slaughter.

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