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Backyard Chickens               

Raising chickens in urban settings is becoming increasingly more common in communities throughout British Columbia.  On March 17, 2025, Village of Keremeos Council adopted Animal Control Bylaw No. 843, 2025, which allows the keeping of urban hens in the backyard of most low density residential properties within the Village.  Council recognizes the benefits of hen-keeping, including:

  • Local food security – hens provide a relatively inexpensive, nutritious, and regular source of protein
  • Natural fertilizer – hen waste provides natural fertilizer for gardens
  • Pest control – hens are natural pest control as they eat harmful insects and weeds
  • Social benefits – hens bring positive social benefits to families, including educational opportunities for children
  • Reduce organic waste – hens can be fed kitchen food scraps, reducing both the cost to feed them and the amount of organic waste going into garbage

The Animal Control Bylaw No. 843, 2025 was drafted to reduce the challenges identified with hen-keeping.  Some of those challenges include:

  • Noise – while hens do not crow like a rooster, they do make some noise, particularly when laying an egg
  • Odors – if enclosures are not cleaned regularly or if manure is improperly stored
  • Pest attraction – rats may be attracted by food; raccoons, skunks and other predators may be attracted by potential meal of chicken and/or eggs
  • Disease – biosecurity measures must be followed

Hen-keeping can be a fun and fulfilling hobby, but comes with responsibilities to ensure healthy and happy hens, and to ensure you are a good neighbour.  This guide provides the requirements of keeping urban hens in the Village and some basics about keeping of hens.

We encourage that you research the extensive information, available online and in literature, on the keeping of urban hens before you embark on this adventure.

What is required to keep backyard hens in the Village?

Zoning & Parcel Size

Urban hens (female chickens) may be kept on a parcel zoned “Low Density Residential One (RS1)” as provided for in the “Village of Keremeos Zoning Bylaw No. 851, 2020”, as amended from time to time.

The parcel must be minimum 500m² in area.

Parcels zoned “Agricultural” continue to be allowed to keep poultry and other farm animals, however, they must be kept at least 100m from any zone designated residential, commercial or industrial.

Registration

In order to keep hens in the Village you will be required to apply for a no-cost Backyard Hen Licence.  Staff will review the application, which will include a site plan, for compliance before approving the licence. If you are not the owner of the property, a signed letter of permission to keep hens from your landlord will be required. By signing the application:

  • You agree to having read and will comply with the Animal Control Bylaw and Backyard Hens Information Guide;
  • You are aware that if a complaint is registered with the Village, a Bylaw Enforcement Officer may attend your property; and
  • You are aware that the Village may cancel your Backyard Hen Licence if you fail to comply with the provisions of the Animal Control Bylaw, and that the hens may have to be removed.

You will also be required to provide a BC Poultry Premises Identification Number obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture.  Registration with the BC Premises Identification Program is a mandatory provincial requirement for any owner of poultry.  There is no cost to register.

Number of Hens

You may keep a maximum of five (5) hens on an RS1 zoned property.  Roosters are not permitted.

Hens are social creatures and should not be kept on their own.  A minimum of two hens is recommended. 

Consider that domesticated hens have been bred to lay one egg a day.  They start laying at about 6 months of age and start to diminish after 18 months of age.  Eggs start to add up if not used daily.   This should be another consideration when determining the number of hens to keep as you will not be permitted to sell the eggs.

Coop and Run Requirements    

Coop and run design requirements are to ensure healthy hens, happy neighbours, and to keep hens safe from predators.

Coop Design and Siting:

  • Minimum of 0.37m² (4 sq. ft) floor area per hen and maximum 9.2m² (100 sq. ft) in total floor area;
  • Meets the setback requirements for accessory buildings or structures as provided for RS1 zoned properties in the Zoning Bylaw; and
  • Has at least one perch that is at least fifteen (15) cm long per hen and one nesting box per four hens that is large enough for the hen to turn around and sit.   

                                                                                                  

Run Design and Siting:

  • Is fenced on all sides and roofed in a manner that will keep predators from entering and hens from escaping;
  • Provides at least 1m² (10 sq. ft) of outdoor space per hen;
  • Is less than 2m (6 ft) in height
  • Is located to the rear of the front face of the principal building
  • Is sited at least 2.0m from all property lines and at least 3.0m from any doors or windows of any residential building, including neighbouring properties; and
  • Has a ground surface compromised of material that is clean, non-toxic, biodegradable, readily available, and easily replaceable, and which is well maintained.

Hen Care           

Each hen is to be provided with adequate food, water, shelter, light, ventilation, veterinary care, and opportunities for essential behaviours such as scratching, dustbathing, and roosting.  You must consider the temperature fluctuations from winter through summer.  Hens are not to be kept in cages.  Biosecurity procedures recommended by the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency should be followed.

Hens need approximately 15 hours of light a day in order to keep laying.  You may wish to provide an artificial light source during the winter months.  Without the light, hens take a natural break from laying during the winter.

Chickens are omnivores. Their main diet should come from a prepared feed that is balanced for vitamins, minerals and protein.  They eat grains, fruits and vegetables, and insects.  If feeding kitchen scraps, its best to avoid meats and fats that may attract rodents.  Be sure to research what foods chickens can eat or not eat.

Manure Management

Timely removal of manure from the coop and run is essential to minimize odour, fire hazards, protect water quality and prevent wildlife and rodent attraction.  Manure must be stored in a fully enclosed structure or container.  You may store no more than 1.0m³ of manure at any time.  Any manure not used for composting or fertilizing is to be removed from the property.

 Manure contains ammonia, which in excess amounts can be harmful to chickens and humans.  Coop and run cleaning should be done regularly to control manure and odor build up.  At least once a year, usually in spring, it is recommended to do a thorough cleaning of coop and run.  Also, clean before new birds are introduced to limit spread of disease.  A fall cleaning is helpful for mite control over the winter.

Sale of Products

Hens are to be kept for personal use only.  Eggs, manure, and meat are not to be sold.

When Hens Stop Laying

Hen owners will need an end-of-life plan.  Hens can live fourteen years or more, but egg production slows down after two years, and by year three or four production is not very efficient.  What will you do once your hens stop laying eggs?   The slaughtering and burial of hens is not permitted within Village limits.

Backyard Hen Licence Application & Information Guide

 

Recommended Resources:

Great forum for advice, ideas and general information.  Good resource for first time chicken owners.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/BackyardChickensBYC

Bird Health Basics – How to Prevent and Detect Disease                           https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/backyard-flocks-and-pet-birds

Website devoted to keeping of backyard chickens, including best management practices and coop design.   https://www.backyardchickens.com/

Things to consider when keeping chickens. Check out the link on enrichment for chickens!  https://spca.bc.ca/news/backyard-chickens/

 

Sources for this article:

Regional District of North Okanagan “Backyard Chickens in Electoral Areas”

BC SPCA “Bylaw Considerations Backyard Hens”