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Corporation of the Town of Petawawa
By-law 1806/26
Being a By-law to regulate and license the keeping of backyard chickens
within the Town of Petawawa
Whereas Section 11(3) of the Municipal Act, 2001 S.O. 2001 c. 25, as amended,
authorizes the councils of municipalities to pass by-laws with respect to animals;
And Whereas the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa deems it
appropriate to enact a by-law for this purpose;
And Whereas certain rules and conditions must be established to limit disruption to
residents, as provided for in this by-law;
Now Therefore the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa enacts as
follows:
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
1.1
Purpose
The purpose of this by-law is to establish regulations and conditions under which
residents may keep chickens within the municipal boundaries of the Town of
Petawawa.
1.2
Scope
Except as otherwise provided, the regulations established by this By-law apply to
all backyard chickens and their Owners on residentially zoned properties within
the municipal boundaries of the Town of Petawawa, and do not apply to Rural
(RU) zoned lands.
DEFINITIONS
In this By-law, the following definitions shall apply:
2.1
"Animal" shall mean all species of fauna excluding humans, fish and aquatic
invertebrates.
2.2
"At large" shall mean to be any animal found in any place other than premises
of the Owner and not under the physical control of a person responsible.
2.3
"Backyard Chicken" means a domesticated female chicken or a Capon that are
permitted under Section 3 of this By-law and does not include roosters or other
types of poultry.
2.4
"Chicken Run" means a covered secure enclosure that allows backyard
chickens access to the outdoors.
2.5
"Coop" means a fully enclosed and weatherproof structure where chickens are
kept, providing shelter, nesting, and roosting space.
2.6
"Council" and "Town Council" mean the Council of the Corporation of the
Town of Petawawa.
2.7
"Dwelling" means a building or part of a building containing one or more
dwelling units.
2.8
"Front Yard" means a yard extending across the full width of a lot between the
front lot line and the nearest part of any building, structure or excavation on the
lot; FRONT YARD DEPTH means the shortest horizontal distance between the
front lot line of the lot and the nearest part of any building, structure or excavation
on the lot.
2.9
"Licence" means a licence issued by the Town of Petawawa authorizing the
keeping of backyard chickens in accordance with this By-law.
2.10 "Officer" means any Municipal Law Enforcement Officer appointed by the
Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa.
2.11 "Owner" shall mean any person, partnership, association or corporation that
owns, keeps, possesses or has control, care or custody over an animal, and
where the Owner is a minor, the person responsible for the custody of the minor.
2.12 "Rear Yard" means a yard extending across the full width of a lot between the
rear lot line and the nearest part of any building, structure or excavation on the
lot; REAR YARD DEPTH means the shortest horizontal distance between the
rear lot line of the lot and the nearest part of any building, structure or excavation
on the lot.
2.13 "Rooster" means a male chicken.
2.14 "Setback" means, with reference to a road, the distance between the centre line
of the road and the nearest building or structure and with reference to a water
body, the distance between the high-water mark and the nearest building or
structure.
GENERAL
3.1
Property Eligibility
3.1.1 Only residential zoned properties with an existing dwelling are eligible.
3.1.2 The following residential uses are ineligible: apartment units, condominium
units, duplexes, townhomes and other multi-residential uses without
individual backyards.
3.1.3 Properties with a commercial or industrial use are not eligible.
3.2
Hens Only
3.2.1 Only hens are permitted.
3.2.2 This By-law prohibits the keeping of roosters.
3.3
Maximum Number
3.3.1 No more than six (6) backyard chickens are permitted on residential lots
that are less than one acre.
3.3.2 No more than twelve (12) backyard chickens are permitted on residential
lots that are one acre or larger.
3.4
Other Applicable Legislation
Any other applicable federal or provincial legislation will apply in addition to this
by-law.
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR KEEPING BACKYARD HENS AND COOPS
4.1
Chicken coops, shelters and runs must comply with the Ontario Building Code. A
typical trigger for a building permit includes, but is not limited to, a gross floor
area exceeding 10 square metres (108 square feet).
4.2
Chicken coops, shelters and runs must meet the accessory structure provisions
of the Zoning By-law of the Town of Petawawa.
4.3
Chicken coops, shelters and chicken runs shall be located at least 15 metres
from any institutional uses such as schools and churches.
4.4
Chicken coops, shelters and runs shall be located at least 7.5 metres from any
commercial or industrial uses.
4.5
Coops, shelters and runs must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition,
free from noxious odours, vermin, and waste buildup.
4.6
Backyard chickens/hens must be kept in their coops between 10:00 p.m. and
6:00 a.m.
4.7
Hens must be provided with daily access to food and clean water, and they must
be kept in clean and dry shelters.
4.8
The sale of eggs, manure, and meat is prohibited. The sale of backyard hens is
only permitted for flock management purposes.
4.9
Breeding or commercial production is not permitted.
4.10 Hens found with parasites or disease must be treated.
4.11 Slaughtering hens on the property is prohibited. Dead hens must be disposed of
immediately through a licenced facility or veterinarian.
4.12 Manure must be stored in sealed containers, composted or disposed of weekly,
and it must be located with the same setback as the coop.
4.13 The Owner must ensure the keeping of hens is in accordance with the Prohibit
Unusual Noises By-law.
4.14 No Owner shall cause or permit their backyard chickens to be at large (i.e. found
in any place other than the premises of the Owner and not under the physical
control of a responsible person).
LICENCE REQUIREMENTS
5.1
Licence Requirement
5.1.1 No person shall keep backyard chickens within the Town of Petawawa
without first obtaining a valid licence issued by the Town in accordance
with this by-law.
5.1.2 Tenants must obtain and provide written permission from the property
owner to keep backyard chickens on the owner's property.
5.1.3 The applicant/Owner of the backyard chickens must reside on the property
where the backyard chickens/hens are kept
5.2
Licence Application
To apply for a licence, the applicant must submit a completed application form to
the Town including a sketch/plan showing details of the coop, shelter and/or run,
the location of the coop, shelter and/or run on the property, and the proximity of
those elements to property lines and any other structures on the property.
5.3
Licence Fee
5.3.1 The fee for a licence to keep backyard chickens shall be set by the Town
and may be amended from time to time.
5.3.2 A change in ownership or occupancy (i.e. new tenants) of the property
shall make the Backyard Chickens Licence null and void.
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
6.1
Administration
The Clerk or said designate shall be responsible for the administration and
enforcement of this by-law.
6.2
Offence
6.2.1 Every person who contravenes any provision of this By-law is guilty of an
offence and shall, upon conviction be subject to such fines as may be
provided for pursuant to the provisions of the Provincial Offences Act,
R.S.O. 1990, c.P.33, as amended.
6.2.2 Each day on which a person contravenes any provision of this bylaw shall
be deemed to constitute a separate offence under this bylaw as provided
for in section 429(2) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c. 25
6.2.3 No person shall obstruct, hinder or otherwise interfere with a Police
Officer, Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, or another duly appointed
individual in the lawful carrying out of their duties and responsibilities
under the provisions of this By-law.
6.2.4 Repeat offenders of this By-law may be subject to enforcement in
accordance with Part III of the Provincial Offences Act.
6.3
Interpretation
In the interpretation of this by-law, words in the singular include the plural and
vice-versa, words in one gender include all genders, and "person" includes an
individual, body corporate, partnership, trust, and unincorporated organization.
6.4
Powers of the Officer
The Officer may enter at all reasonable times upon the lands to ascertain
whether the provisions of this by-law are complied with and to enforce and carry
out its provisions, pursuant to the authority granted under section 436 of the
Municipal Act, 2001, (S.O.2001, c.25). Prior to entry, every reasonable attempt
shall be made to contact the Owner.
SEVERABILITY
7.1
In the event any part or provision of this by-law is held invalid, the remainder of
the by-law shall continue in force.
7.2
That it is hereby recognized that this By-law may be revoked and repealed at any
time by Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa.
7.3
Where there is a conflict between this By-law and the Town of Petawawa Animal
Control By-law, the provisions of this By-law shall prevail.
SHORT TITLE
8.
This by-law may be referred to as the "Backyard Chickens By-law".
EFFECTIVE DATE
9.
This by-law comes into force and effect on the day By-law 1805/26, being a by-law
to amend By-law 456/07 of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa, as
amended, comes into full force and effect.
By-law read a first and second time this 2nd day of February 2026
By-law read a third time and passed this 2nd day of February 2026
Original Signed.
By signing this by-law on February 2, 2026, Mayor Gary Serviss agrees not to exercise the strong
mayor power to veto this by-law, and therefore, this by-law will be deemed passed on the date
indicated.
Schedule "A"
Corporation of the Town of Petawawa
Backyard Chickens By-law 1806/26
Licence Fee
Item
Licence type
Fee
1
Backyard Chicken Licence
$50