The Village of Montrose is inviting public feedback on a draft bylaw that could see backyard hens permitted within municipal limits.
Council will host a public meeting on Monday, June 16, at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at the village office.
The meeting will focus on Animal Control Bylaw #789, which proposes to allow residents to keep up to four hens — no roosters — on R-1 zoned properties.
Residents who are unable to attend the meeting can submit written comments to the village office until 2 p.m. that day, either by hand or via email at admin@montrose.ca.
The draft bylaw is available for public viewing at the village office, weekdays, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The initiative to legalize backyard hens began earlier this year, when a Montrose resident pitched the idea to council during a meeting held Jan. 6.
Council reviewed the request at subsequent meetings and, following discussion on March 3, agreed to move forward with a draft bylaw.
Officials stressed that no final decision would be made without first gauging public support.
Montrose Chief Administrative Officer Larry Plotnikoff said council was mindful of establishing clear rules and sought community feedback before proceeding further.
The draft bylaw may take inspiration from neighbouring Fruitvale’s Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 922, enacted in 2020, which permits a limited number of backyard hens under strict conditions.
In Fruitvale, residents are allowed a maximum of four hens per residential property, with roosters strictly prohibited.
Prospective hen owners must submit a Hen Registration Form and obtain a British Columbia Poultry Premises Identification number from the Ministry of Agriculture before acquiring chickens.
Hens must be kept in a weather-proof coop with an attached outdoor enclosure, both located within a fully fenced rear yard. Each bird requires at least 0.37 square metres (four square feet) of interior coop space and 0.92 square metres (10 square feet) of outdoor enclosure space.
Structures must comply with zoning setback requirements.
The bylaw also prohibits slaughtering hens or burying carcasses on residential properties and forbids the sale of manure, though residents are allowed to give it away.
