Animal Control Bylaw No. 4728 – Adopted
Council adopted the new Animal Control Bylaw 4728 on February 9, 2026, making the new bylaw active.
Link to Animal Control Bylaw No. 4728
Dogs & Natural Parks
There have been no changes to designated off leash areas and off leash areas in natural and undeveloped parks (such as South Canoe, Little Mountain, Coyote or Parkhill), where you must have a leash with you and have your dog under control at all times.
For other parks, please follow directions on the signage for the park you are visiting.
You still need to register your dog, and you are required to have your dog on leash at all times in public areas.
Poultry
The regulations around keeping poultry (chickens, hens, ducks etc.) were changed to make it easier. Where your home has direct access to an outdoor yard space, you can keep poultry (or rabbits) subject to the following:
- The property is be fenced or enclosed in a manner that prevents the poultry or rabbits from leaving and being at large, if the animals are not contained in a pen or enclosure
- Where the lot or property is less than 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) in area, six (6) rabbits or poultry are permitted
- Where the lot or property is equal to or more than 0.2 ha (0.5 acre) but less than 0.4 ha. (1.0 acre) in area, not more than ten (10) rabbits or poultry
- Where the lot or property is equal to or more than 0.4 ha. (1.0 acre) but less than two acres (0.8 ha) in area, not more than twenty four (24) rabbits or poultry
- Where the lot or property is equal to or exceeds 0.8 ha (2.0 acre) in area, not more than forty eight (48) rabbits or poultry
- Roosters are not permitted at all
Required Provincial Poultry Premises (ID) Identification
You must register your poultry (regardless of how many) with the Province. British Columbians who own or care for livestock are required to register their premises, to support the Province’s emergency response network. The Premises ID program helps B.C. farmers and ranchers protect their animals, support the health of their farming community and be better prepared during an emergency.
More information is available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/premises-id
You can register here: https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ext/pid-ext/
The Province has provided some basic guidelines for the care of poultry at the following:
Beekeeping
Where your house has direct access to an outdoor yard space, beekeeping is allowed when the property is 0.4 ha (1 acre) or greater in size. Please ensure that beekeeping does not pose a risk to persons on adjacent property, and all hives need to be located behind a solid fence, hedge or other enclosure to prevent access, and shall be located no less than 6.0m (20 feet) from any property line.
Required Provincial Premises (ID) Identification
It is a Provincial requirement that anyone keeping bees in B.C. and the hive locations must be registered under the Premises ID Program (link below - click on beekeeper registration): Premises Identification
The BC government actually has quite an extensive set of resources on their website related to beekeeping, including a rough calendar guide for required maintenance tasks each month, a basic foraging plant guide.
The Province also provides a series of bulletins that contain information about the general health, care and maintenance of bees and hives:
Those interested in beekeeping are encouraged to consider potential membership in the Shuswap Beekeepers Association.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1502531983348520/
Anyone that is interested in beekeeping could take the free online course provided by the Province in the spring, with details on how to register here.
The BC Tech-Transfer Program also has a wealth of resources for beekeepers, including courses that anyone could take if interested.
The Pollinator Partnership also has a foraging guide for beekeepers.