Food Policy

Backyard Chickens

In March 2009, City Council instructed staff to develop policy guidelines on allowing backyard chickens in Vancouver. The policy is to have a focus on protecting the health and welfare of citizens and ensuring the humane treatment of backyard hens. In preparing the policy, staff has been working with the City’s Food Policy Council and other stakeholders, such as local health authorities, the SPCA and Humane Society and other municipalities. A set of draft guidelines for the keeping of hens was released for public comment in Fall 2009.
UPDATE: Draft guidelines are now in the process of being revised based on public comment. A set of final guidelines will be presented to Council in early 2010, along with a series of recommendations that will allow Council to examine the potential for repealing the various bylaws that currently prohibit backyard hens.		Hen image courtesy of FCIT.

Questions and Answers

The following is an overview of some of the key questions pertaining to the keeping of backyard hens in Vancouver.

• Can I now keep chickens in my backyard?
• What bylaws need to be looked at around this issue?
• Has this by-law been changed yet?
• What sorts of things will the guidelines cover?
• When will these guidelines be produced?
• Will roosters be allowed or just hens? What about ducks, turkeys, goats, etc.?
• Will there be a limit on the number of hens that can be kept?
• Will residents be allowed to sell the eggs from backyard hens?
• Will people be allowed to slaughter chickens, or are they meant just for eggs?
• How is the City going to ensure that people’s health will not be put at risk (e.g. noise, smell, avian flu and other health concerns)?
• What will happen to the chickens In the event of an avian flu outbreak, a mass cull?
• What other cities allow chickens?
• Do you anticipate any opposition from the egg/poultry industry?
• How can I be kept informed about this issue?

Does this mean I can now keep chickens in my backyard?

No. The City is in the process of developing new guidelines. Until the relevant regulation is changed by Council, it is still against City bylaw to keep backyard chickens.

What bylaws need to be looked at around this issue?

The most relevant bylaw relating to this issue is the Animal Control By-law (PDF, 84KB)(#9150 and #9433, section 7.2).

Has this by-law been changed yet?

No. The date and process for changing the bylaw still has to be determined. The City is in the process of preparing policy guidelines and recommendations in this regard.

What sorts of things will the guidelines cover?

It is anticipated that the guidelines will look at best practices for humane treatment of backyard hens and for the protection of the health and welfare of citizens. This could include such issues as numbers of hens, the conditions that hens are kept in, whether a permit is required, details regarding any lot size requirements and sanitation requirements.

When will these guidelines be produced?

Staff are working with a number of stakeholders to best determine the guidelines. The amount of time this work will require will depend upon various stakeholders input into and agreement on the guidelines. Draft Discussion Guidelines (PDF, 47KB) have been developed.

Will roosters be allowed or just hens? What about ducks, turkeys, goats, etc.?

The Council motion refers only to developing guidelines for backyard hens. At present, it is anticipated that only hens will be allowed.

Will there be a limit on the number of hens that can be kept?

This will be determined when we develop the policy.

Will residents be allowed to sell the eggs from backyard hens?

No, the purpose of the policy guidelines will be to enable residents to keep backyard hens as pets and for personal consumption.

Will people be allowed to slaughter chickens, or are they meant just for eggs?

The intention of the Council motion was to keep backyard hens for egg laying purposed only.

How is the City going to ensure that people’s health will not be put at risk (e.g. noise, smell, avian flu and other health concerns)?

We will be working in consultation with Vancouver Coastal Health experts and other municipalities to learn from their experience in developing our policy guidelines.  

What will happen to the chickens In the event of an avian flu outbreak, a mass cull?

This will be one of the areas we’d be looking at in developing the policy guidelines.

What other cities allow chickens?

Other cities which allow chickens include New York (PDF, 167KB), Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Victoria (PDF, 70KB), Surrey (PDF, 2.34MB), and New Westminster (PDF, 99KB). A table of Canadian and American cities and their approach to chickens can be found here (PDF, 54KB). A separate listing of American municipal ordinances pertaining to chickens can be found here.

Do you anticipate any opposition from the egg/poultry industry?

Again, this is something that we’ll be looking into in our policy review.

How can I be kept informed about this issue?

To be kept up-to-date on the backyard hens guidelines, please send us an email at foodpolicy@vancouver.ca.

 

[top]