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THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF NORTH GRENVILLE
BY-LAW NO. 96-2025
Being a By-law to Regulate the Keeping of Backyard Laying Hens in the Municipality of North
Grenviile
WHEREAS Section 11(3) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O.2001,c. 25, as amended (the
"Act"), perrnits a municipality to pass by-laws respecting animals;
AND WHEREAS section 8(3) of the Act, permits a municipality to provide for a system of
licences with respect to animals;
AND WHEREAS section 425 of the Act, provides that a municipality may pass by-laws
providing that a person who contravenes a by-law of the municipality passed under the
Act is guilty of an offence;
AND WHEREAS section 429 of the Act, provides that a municipality may establish a
system of fines for offences under a by-law of the municipality passed under that Act;
AND WHEREAS section 434.1(1) of the Act, provides that a municipality may require a
person, subject to such conditions as the municipality considers appropriate, to pay an
administrative penalty if the municipality is satisfied that the person has failed to comply
with a by-law of the municipality passed under this Act;
AND WHEREAS section 436 of the Act, provides that a municipality has the power to
pass bylaws providing that the municipality may enter on land at any reasonable time for
the purpose of carrying out an inspection to determine whether or not a bylaw of the
municipality is being complied with;
AND WHEREAS Council deems it desirable to permit the keeping of hens in certain areas
of the Municipality under regulated conditions;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the IVIunicipaHty of North
Grenville enacts as follows:
DEFINITIONS
1. In this By-law:
"Administrative Penalty By-law" means the Administrative Penalty By-law of the
Municipality, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereof;
"Applicant" means any person who applies for a backyard laying hen licence under
this By-law.
"Director" means the Director of Planning and Development for the Municipality, or
their designate.
"Officer" means a person appointed by the Municipality as a Municipal Law
Enforcement Officer.
"Backyard Laying Hen" means a domesticated female chicken (Gallus galius
domesticus) kept for the purpose of producing eggs for personal use. A Laying Hen
does not include any chicken kept for the purpose of meat production.
"Meat Hen" (or "Broiler Chicken") means a domesticated chicken of any sex that
is kept or raised primarily for the purpose of meat production, including but not
limited to broilers, masters, and any other chickens intended for slaughter.
"Coop" means a fully enclosed structure for the shelter of hens.
"Designated provision" means any section of this By-law designated in accordance
with section 27;
"Run" means a securely enclosed outdoor area attached to a coop where hens may
roam.
"License" means a license issued under this By-law permitting the keeping of
backyard laying hens.
"Municipality" means the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
2. No person shall keep backyard laying hens within the Municipality unless in
accordance with the provisions of this By-law.
3. No person shall keep backyard laying hens unless they are located on properties
zoned for residential use, including single detached, semi-detached and townhouse
dwelling units, and not on rnuiti-residential, commercial, or industrial properties.
4. This by-law shall not apply to properties zoned Rural and Agriculture where hobby
farms are a permitted use.
5. No person shall permit the keeping of roosters. Only backyard laying hens are
permitted.
6. No person shall keep, raise, or permit to be kept any Meat Hen on a residential
property to which this by-law applies.
7. No person shall keep more than the maximum number of hens allowed per property,
which is seven (7).
8. No person shcill permit the sale, public distribution, or commercial exchange o^eg^s
which is Gtrictiy prohibited. Eggs produced by backyard laying hens shall be for
personal use only.
9. No person shall permit backyard laying hens to be at large. Backyard laying hens must
be kept securely within the owner's property boundaries at all times. Allowing hens to
access public property or neighbouring properties is prohibited.
LICENSING AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
10. No person shall keep backyard laying hens without first obtaining a license from the
Municipality.
11.The applicant shal!:
a) Be the owner of the property or have written consent from the owner.
b) Reside on the same property that the coop will be located.
c) Submit a site plan showing the location of the coop and run.
d) Pay a license fee of in accordance with the fees and charges by-iaw.
e) Ensure compliance with zoning and property standards by-laws.
12. The license shall be valid until such a time that the backyard laying hens and
associated coop and run are removed from the property.
13. The application requirements, including all supporting documentation and the
method of submission, shall be determined by the Director.
14.All applications shall be reviewed by an Officer, and the issuance of a Licence shall
be at the discretion of the Officer once a physical inspection of the property and the
chicken coop has been completed during regular business hours with a scheduled
appointment.
15.The Municipality may refuse, suspend, or revoke a license for non-compliance with
this By-law.
16.A Licence Issued under this By-law may also be revoked by an Officer or the
Director under the following circumstances:
a) The Licensee provided false or misleading information in their application for a
License;
b) There are reasonable grounds for belief that the chicken coop poses a safety risk
to the public;
c) Written notice has been received from the Medical Officer of Health, or other
authority, stating that the Licensee is operating contrary to this by-!aw or any
other provincial statute.
17. If a Licensee fails to remove the chicken coop within the time period specified by an
Officer, the Municipality may remove, or cause the removal of, the chicken
coop without further notice. A!l costs associated with such removal shall be the sole
responsibility of the Licensee and may be recovered by the Municipality through any
lawful means.
18. In the event of a Licence revocation, a! I fees paid in connection with the Licence
shall be non-refundable. The Licensee may submit a new application for a Licence,
subject to the applicable fees as set out in the Fees and Charges By-law.
19. Licences are non-transferable.
COOP AND RUN REQUIREMENTS
20. No person shall permit the establishment of a Coop and runs that does not comply
with thefol!owing:
a) Only one coop and one run are permitted per lot.
b) The maximum ground floor area of the coop shall not exceed 9 m2.
c) The roof height of the coop shall not exceed 2.5 metres.
d) Combined coop and manure storage shall not exceed 10 m2.
e) The minimum floor area per hen shall be 0.37 m2 (4 ft2).
f) The minimum run area per hen shall be 0.92 m2 (10 ft2)
g) The run and coop must be enclosed, including a roof, predator proof, vented and
weatherproof.
h) The coop and run shall be located in the rear yard only.
i) Any coop or run shail be setback a minimum of 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) from any lot
line.
j) Any coop or run shall be setback a minimum of 2.4 metres (7.8 feet) from any
dwelling on the same lot.
k) Any coop or run shail be setback a minimum of 3 metres (9.8 feet) from any part
of an adjacent dwelling.
I) Any coop or run shall be setback a minimum of 3 metres from any part of any
septic system.
m) Any coop or run shall be setback a minimum of 15 metres (49.2 feet) from any
part of any wel! and 30 metres (98.4 feet) from a non-cased well.
n) A coop and a run is required.
21. No person shall permit any part of the coop or run to be located in any drainage
easement or utility corridor.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
22. The owner shall:
a) Provide food, water, and shelter appropriate to the species.
b) Store feed in a rodent-proof container.
c) Maintain the coop and run to prevent offensive odours or unsanitary conditions.
d) Collect and dispose of manure in a sanitary manner; composting is permitted in
accordance with municipal standards.
e) Provide proper vet care and regular upkeep on the backyard laying hen's health.
f) Ensure that backyard laying hens are kept in the coop from sunset to sunrise.
23. No person shall slaughter or euthanize a backyard laying hen on the property.
ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES
24. Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers may reasonably enter and Inspect any
property to determine compliance.
25. No person shall hinder, obstruct, or attempt to obstruct an Officer, or any employee
or agent acting on behalf of the Municipality, in the performance of their duties under
this By-Law.
26.Any person contravening this by-law, shall upon request by an officer identify
themselves.
27. Sections 2, 3, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11. 20. 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26 of this By-law are
hereby designated as parts of this By-law to which the Administrative Penalty By-law
applies.
28.Any person shall, upon issuance of a penalty notice for a contravention of this By-
law, In accordance with the Administrative Penalty By-law, be liable to pay an
administrative penalty and any administrative fees, in accordance with the
Administrative Penaity By-law.
29. Any person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is, upon conviction, guilty
of an offence and is liable to any penalty as provided in the Provincial Offences Act.
30.All the provisions of this by-law continue to apply in the Provincial Offences Act in
addition to the designated provisions of this by-law.
31 -Where a person has not paid the administrative penalty within thirty (30) days in
accordance with the Administrative Penalty By-law, the Municipality may add the
administrative penalty to the tax roll for any property for which the owner or owners
are responsible for paying the administrative penalty under Section 28.
32. Each day of non-compliance constitutes a separate offence.
ADMINISTRATIVE
33. If any provision of this By-law is found to be invalid or unenforceable, it shall not
affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
34. The licensee is required to comply with all other by-iaws and applicable laws as it
relates to the keeping of backyard laying hens.
35. The Clerk of the Municipality of North Grenville is hereby authorized to make any
minor modifications or corrections of an administrative, numerical, grammatical,
semantic or descriptive nature or kind to this by-law and schedules as may be
deemed necessary after passage of this By-Law, where such modifications or
corrections do not alter the Intent of the By-Law.
36. This By-Law shall be known as the "Backyard Laying Hen By-Law".
37.This By-law shall come into force and take effect on January 1st, 2026.
PASSED AND ENACTED
THIS 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.
NANCr-PSCKFORD
Mayor
KAITLIN BOS
Clerk