PROPOSED Urban (Backyard) Hens By-law

On this page:
1. Background
2. Timeline
3. Provisions
4. Frequently Asked Questions

Background

The Town does not currently allow backyard hens in the urban or rural residential areas. This means the primary settlement areas in Thornbury and Clarksburg, residential properties in hamlets such as Ravenna and Red Wing, as well as residential communities near recreational amenities such as Castle Glen and Lora Bay, are currently not permitted to have agricultural uses including the keeping of chickens. 

Many communities have adopted by-laws that permit owners to keep a limited number of backyard hens on residential properties. The proposed Backyard Hens By-law is a response to public interest in doing so as part of a movement toward sustainable living, greater self-sufficiency, and healthy eating.

*Attention: Residential-zoned property owners in the Town’s rural areas* The draft by-law was originally called an “Urban Hens By-law”, to highlight the residential nature and to distinguish the proposed by-law from agricultural and rural land uses where raising poultry is permitted. However, there are properties in the rural area that permit residential development, but do not allow the raising of poultry. The intent of the proposed by-law is to allow residents of the Town’s residential areas to be permitted to keep backyard hens. As a result, the proposed by-law is being renamed from “Urban Hens By-Law” to “Backyard Hens By-law”. All residential uses – urban or rural – where keeping poultry is not currently permitted, would be allowed to keep backyard hens under the provisions of the proposed by-law. All of the provisions of the proposed draft Urban (Backyard) Hens By-law remain appropriate and intact despite this change in the naming convention”. 

Timeline 

A Public Meeting to receive input from the public was held on March 31, 2026.

View Meeting Recording

View Public Meeting Notice

Once the Public Meeting has been held, staff will prepare and present a report for Town Council’s consideration. This report will summarize what was heard from the public and will provide Council with an updated proposed Backyard Hens By-law, and could be received by Council at a Committee of the Whole meeting as early as April 28, 2026. If this by-law is approved by Council on April 28, 2026, it will be officially enacted by Council at the following May 11, 2026 Council meeting. Following this, a public notice announcing the adoption of the by-law will be made and the content on this website will be updated. 

Provisions

The proposed by-law emphasizes the domestic scale, usage and responsible care of hens on residential properties, as distinct from agricultural land uses. The following list identifies each section of the proposed by-law and includes a quick summary of the provisions within each section. For a full understanding of the proposed Urban (Backyard) Hens By-Law, including every provision and the table of Administrative Monetary Penalties, please refer to the proposed by-law [link]. 

1. Definitions: defines relevant terms, including “Urban Hens” (to be re-named “Backyard Hens”, to avoid confusion as the by-law would affect urban, recreational, and rural residential properties where raising hens is not currently permitted)
2. Property Regulations: establishes that the by-law allows hens in Residential Type 1, 2 and 3 zones on properties that are not multi-residential, and that the by-law does not in any way affect the ability of Agricultural or Rural landowners to own hens consistent with agricultural uses permitted in those zones. 
3. Keeping of Hens: maximum 6 hens, no roosters, and the keeping of hens within the coop between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. with access to a run at all other times.
4. Humane Treatment: hens must have access to clean food and water, kept in clean and healthy condition, and provided with appropriate space for chicken activities. 
5. Hen Coop and Hen Run Sizing: the hen coop and run are limited to a combined 10 square metres of floor space, with minimum space requirements per hen and a maximum structure height of 2 metres 
6. Hen Coop and Hen Run Construction: located in the rear yard only, with minimum setbacks from lot lines and neighbouring structures, and other requirements for how the coop and run are outfitted. 
7. Maintenance: requirements for cleaning and storage of food, manure, and the general cleanliness and repair of the coop and run. 
8. Prohibitions: owners are not permitted to sell products of the hens (such as eggs or manure) and are not permitted to slaughter hens on the premises 
9. Registration and Information Resources: information resources for owners to review, and an expectation that owners will register with Chicken Farmers of Ontario. 
10. Responsible Care: regulations regarding illness response and the provision of a heat source for the winter months 
11. Administrative Monetary Penalties: a schedule of administrative monetary penalties is outlined in Schedule “A” of the by-law, to be applied in cases of non-compliance. 

Frequently Asked Questions

I thought this proposed by-law was only for the urban settlement areas. Wouldn’t I already be permitted to raise chickens in a residential zone in the rural area (i.e. R1-4 or R1-5)?

A deputation brought to Committee of the Whole on October 6, 2025, identified that a complaint had been brought to the Town regarding backyard chickens at a residential property in Clarksburg. Upon receiving this complaint, it was realized that the Town does not currently permit backyard hens on any residential zoned property in the Town, including in the Town’s rural hamlets. The proposed Urban (Backyard) Hens By-law was written with all residential zoned properties in mind, to provide a fair and even approach to allow the raising of hens in all residential areas, as no residential area currently permits agricultural land uses such as the raising of hens. It is possible that some rural residential property owners are already raising hens; however, the Town has not received complaints concerning chickens in rural residential zones in recent memory. The proposed by-law will ensure there are common rules and expectations in place for all residential property owners (excluding multi-residential buildings). Residents across the Town’s urban and rural communities are encouraged to review the proposed by-law and provide their input. The following table outlines how the proposed by-law would affect (or not affect) various zones in the Town.

What could I expect to experience if a neighbour decides to start raising hens in their backyard and complies with the regulations in the proposed by-law?

Your neighbour would need to install a structure consisting of a chicken coop and run no larger than 10 metres square in floor area and no more than 2 metres tall, respecting a minimum of 2 metres setback from any lot line and at least 3 metres from your home. As the by-law draws from the provisions of other municipalities with active Urban Hen/Backyard Chicken bylaws, the provisions of the proposed by-law should largely mitigate the potential impacts on neighbouring properties such as noise and smell. The Town would encourage neighbours to communicate and share information about plans to raise hens and proactively address any concerns. 

Can’t chickens be noisy?

Roosters will not be allowed under the Backyard Hens By-law, and a nighttime curfew combined with the relatively small number of hens (up to 6, per section 3 of the proposed by-law) and setback requirements (per section 6 of the proposed by-law) should reduce the low-impact noises associated with healthy hens – clucking, scratching, and fluttering.

What about the smell of manure?

The by-law requires that chicken manure be removed from the coop and run in a timely manner, stored in a relatively small (maximum 3 cubic feet) enclosed structure to prevent odour, and that any manure not used for composting or as fertilizer be disposed of in the Town’s green bin program. Other provisions require that owners keep a well maintained and sanitary environment for their hens. See section 7 in the proposed by-law for more detail.

What about pests, such as rodents, coyotes or racoons?

There are a number of animals already residing in the Town that could pose a threat to backyard hens. Owners are expected to protect their hens from predators and vermin through well-constructed enclosures, which also helps to protect hens from birds that could carry avian-borne illnesses. Relevant provisions can be found in sections 6 and 7 of the proposed by-law. 

What does this mean for families and farm operations currently raising hens in the Town’s Agricultural and Rural zones?

The raising of chickens and other poultry is a well-established and permitted agricultural activity in the Town. The proposed Urban (Backyard) Hens By-law affects residential zones in the Town and does not change or affect the raising of hens in Agricultural or other zones where raising hens is already permitted as an agricultural land use. Rural residential zoned properties face the same limitations as urban residential zoned properties and the keeping of hens would not currently be permitted. Other non-residential zones (such as commercial zones) will also remain unaffected by the proposed by-law as it applies exclusively to the Town’s residential zones. Section 2 of the proposed by-law makes these distinctions clear. 

What if I am already raising hens in one of the Town’s residential zones?

We encourage all residents to review the proposed Urban (Backyard) Hens By-Law, provide comments on the by-law’s proposed regulations for the March 31, 2026 Public Meeting, and stay tuned for updates and the potential enactment of this by-law. If the Town receives a complaint about the keeping of hens in the Town’s residential zoned areas, the Town’s Municipal By-law Officers will respond and may assess that violations of the by-law (once enacted) have occurred. Non-compliance with the by-law could result in Administrative Monetary Penalties, as detailed in Schedule A of the proposed Urban (Backyard) Hens By-Law. 

What are best practices for keeping hens healthy and safe?

The proposed by-law requires that owners register their flocks with the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) Family Food Program. Registration can occur at point-of-sale when purchasing hens or pullets, or it can occur via phone or email directly with CFO. This program ensures owners are notified of any nearby illness outbreaks that could affect their hens, and ensures owners are provided with up-to-date information on how to protect the health of their chickens. The small flock size of up to six (6) hens also helps reduce the risk of disease transmission. It is also expected that Backyard Hen owners will fully read and apply the best practices of the following resources: 

• Raise Healthy Small Flock Poultry (OMAFRA)
• Rodent Control in Livestock and Poultry Facilities (OMAFRA)
• Reducing Health Risks Associated with Backyard Chickens (Ministry of Health)

If you’ve reviewed the information on the proposed Backyard Hens By-law and still have questions, you can visit the Planning Services Department located at Town Hall during regular office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or contact the Sustainability Coordinator.