Under the amended Animal Control By-Law, residents are allowed to keep chickens on their property, provided you get the proper approval from both the Town and your neighbours and follow all regulations.
Animal Control By-law [PDF/216KB]
Regulations
- An application must be submitted to the Town for approval with required documentation
- A maximum of three hens per lot is permitted on any residential property (excludes Multi-Residential)
- All hens must be at least four months old
- The keeping of roosters is prohibited
- A tenant must obtain permission from the property owner to keep hens on the owner's property
- Permission must be obtained from all abutting property owners
- The owner of the hens must reside on the property where the hens are kept
- Hens must be kept in their coops from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- A minimum enclosure size of 10 square feet is required per hen
- Hens must be kept in an enclosed hen run when not in their coop
- Hen coops and runs should be 1.2m from the rear lot line and 1.2m from any side lot line of the dwelling lot on which the hen coop is located
- Hen coops and hen runs should be a minimum of 3m from all windows and doors of dwellings that are located on an abutting property
- Hen coops shall be less than 2.4m in height
- Hen coops are not permitted in any front yard
- Hen coops and hen runs shall be maintained in a clean condition and the coop shall be kept free of obnoxious odours, substances and vermin
- Home slaughter of hens is prohibited and any deceased hens shall be disposed of at a livestock disposal facility or through the services of a veterinarian