The number of chickens or ducks that can be kept in the City of Nanaimo depends on the size of your property:

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Less than 0.045 hectares (450 sq m): no more than 4 chickens or ducks

Less than 0.4 hectares (1 acre) but greater than 0.045 hectares (450 sq m): no more than 6 chickens or ducks

0.4 hectares (1 acre) or more: 12 unless zoned for agricultural use

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• No roosters or peafowl may be kept on any property less than 1 acre
   

• A minimum enclosure of 4 square feet per chicken or duck must be provided
   

• Any structure containing poultry, whether portable or stationary, is subject to the setback requirements of the zone
   

• Structures housing poultry must be kept clean, dry, and free from odours
   

• Areas within and surrounding any structure housing poultry must be kept free from vermin
   

• Any diseased chicken or duck must be killed and the carcass destroyed
   

• No slaughtering of chickens or ducks may occur on the property
   

• Chicken and duck manure and waste products must be composted or disposed of to prevent odours
   

• Chickens or ducks are not permitted within a dwelling unit
   

• Poultry may not stray or trespass anywhere other than the property of the owner and may not roam on any unfenced land
   

• Welfare requirements such as adequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care also apply to poultry

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Failure to comply with these conditions can result in fines of up to $150 per day. The impound fee for any poultry found at large is $10 and the board fee is $10 per day.

 

Other Poultry
 

Domesticated fowl such as geese, turkeys and quail are permitted to be kept on properties of at least one acre. They may not stray or trespass in any public place or on any private property and may not graze on unfenced land.

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Keeping Happy and Healthy Chickens

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If you are serious about keeping chickens do yourself a big favour and build yourself a decent chicken coop. If you can't conveniently enter the coop you will be less likely to clean it. Dirty chicken coops generate complaints: odor, flies, rats, and disease. Don’t build a chicken coop out of three sheets of plywood and a hockey net unless you want to meet an Animal Control Officer. Chickens are smart and it won’t take them long to find a way out. They’ll be exploring, scratching and eating things in your neighbour’s garden in no time and we won’t talk about the messy stuff they’ll leave behind.

 

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