Backyard Poultry

Keeping Backyard Poultry

 

On October 26, 2026, the Town of Ladysmith passed the Town of Ladysmith Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2026 No. 2238 and related Zoning Bylaw changes that allow backyard poultry in designated areas of Town.

• Animal Responsibility Bylaw

What does “Backyard Poultry” mean?

In the Animal Responsibility Bylaw, “Backyard Poultry” means domesticated adult hens (i.e., female chickens and female ducks) that are allowed on a residential property, so long as regulations in the Town of Ladysmith Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2026 No. 2238 and related regulations in the Zoning Bylaw are met.

If your property contains a single-detached residential dwelling, is outside of the Backyard Poultry Exclusion Areas (see Schedule E – Backyard Poultry Exclusion Areas), and falls within the following zones, you may keep up to six (6) hens (i.e., female chickens or ducks):

• RU-1 – Rural Residential
• R-1 – Single Dwelling Residential
• R-1-A – Single Dwelling Residential – Small Lot A Zone
• R-2 – Old Town Residential
• R-2-B – Oyster Cove Residential Zone
• R-3 – Medium Density Residential

The Backyard Poultry Exclusion Areas:

The keeping of backyard poultry can contribute to wildlife attractants within urban environments. In response to this, the Town of Ladysmith has established a Backyard Poultry Exclusion Area that includes areas more suitable for wildlife habitat and corridors. Keeping backyard poultry on properties that fall within this exclusion area is prohibited by the Animal Responsibility Bylaw. Additional rules are written into the Animal Responsibility Bylaw to ensure uses related to keeping backyard poultry appropriately manage possible wildlife attractants.

• Map & webmap
• Backyard Poultry Exclusion Areas Map - Schedule E

What are some key requirements for keeping backyard poultry?

Below are some key rules for keeping backyard poultry:

• Coops and pens are not allowed within the front yard of a property, and they must be located a minimum of 1.0 metre from any property line and a minimum of 3.0 metres from any dwelling unit.
• Must have written consent of the property owner to keep backyard poultry on that property.

• Eggs laid by backyard poultry on that property may be sold at a produce stand to those who will directly consume the eggs, given the eggs meet the standards established by the BC Centre for Disease Control and all other Health regulations (see page in Temporary Food Markets: Guideline for the Sale of Foods at Temporary Food Markets by BC Centre for Disease Control).

• Must be kept in a coop and pen that are sized as follows:
  • Coops:
    • Minimum floor area of 0.37 square metres per hen and a minimum volume of 0.6 cubic metres per hen.
    • Maximum floor area of 10.0 square metres or volume of 30.0 cubic metres.
    • Maximum height of 3.0 metres.
  • Pens:
    • Minimum area of 0.93 square metre per hen and a minimum volume of 1.0 cubic metre per hen.
    • Maximum area of 10.0 square metres.
    • Maximum height of 3.0 metres.
• Coops and pens must be kept clean, in good repair, and free of vermin.
• Backyard poultry enclosures (i.e., coops and pens) must be fully contained within a continuous animal-proof fence.
• Food and manure storage containers must be secure, vermin-proof, and wildlife-proof, and no more than 0.085 cubic metres (3.0 cubic feet) may be stored at a time.

Things to remember when considering keeping Backyard Poultry:

• Chickens can live up to 10 years or more, while ducks can live between up to 15 years. Keeping backyard hens is a long-term commitment and should be carefully considered before keeping poultry.
• Follow the best practices for safe handling of poultry, including:
  • Keeping poultry and their supplies outside of the home, especially where food for human consumption is prepared and eaten.
  • Have dedicated clothing and footwear for taking care of your backyard poultry and keep them outside of your home.
  • Wash your hands with warm soapy water immediately after touching poultry or anything in their environment.
  • Supervise children if they are around poultry to make sure they do not let the backyard poultry or poultry supplies too close to their faces, food, or drinks.
  • Those who are immuno-compromised, aged 5 or under, aged 65 or older, and those who are pregnant are at greater risk of illness and should not handle or touch backyard poultry.
• Make sure you have access to a veterinarian who can treat poultry for illness or injuries.
• Ducks and chickens are social animals and should be kept in flocks of two or more.
• Ducks use water such as in pools or ponds, to maintain their plumage, so ducks should have access to a larger source of water (e.g., a trough, tub, or a pool).

What are some resources for backyard poultry “best practices?

• Backyard Poultry Information Guide – Town of Ladysmith
• Hen Basics: Chicken Facts – District of Saanich
• Keeping Ducks 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Duck Care
• Homegrown 101: Raising Ducks
• BC SPCA – Thinking of keeping backyard chickens?
• Small Flock Poultry Health: Disease Prevention and Good Management
• Raising Chickens for Eggs – University of Minnesota Extension
• Health-Related Resources:
  • Protect Your Flock – Ministry of Agriculture and Food
  • Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in BC: How Can I Protect Myself?
  • Avian Influenza – Province of British Columbia
  • National Avian On-Farm Biosecurity Standard (Second Edition) – Government of Canada
• Egg Quality and Selling Resources:
  • Selling Ungraded Eggs – BC Egg
  • Best Industry Practices for Small Flock Egg Handling and Selling – Province of British Columbia
  • Temporary Food Markets: Guideline for the Sale of Foods at Temporary Food Markets – BC Centre for Disease Control

Livestock and poultry – 9.4 Egg Handling – Province of British Columbia