Council directs staff to ‘explore options’ for backyard chickens

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John council is continuing to explore options for city-dwellers to keep backyard fowl through bylaw amendments. 

During the October 27th council meetings, the city council reviewed a presentation and report from municipal staff regarding backyard chickens, specifically options for caring for sick chickens and surrendering or disposing of deceased chickens within the municipality. 

While this has been an on-and-off topic of discussion for the city council since 2017, this most recent request to staff began in July 2025, with research by staff beginning in August. 

According to the October presentation by staff, bylaw officers have received 11 livestock complaints about backyard chickens within the city limits in the past two years. 

Staff explained their research included surveying the bylaws of approximately 15 municipalities “from Prince George to the Yukon” to gain insight into how backyard chickens are governed throughout the region. 

“We are one of the only communities that does not offer backyard hen keeping,” staff explained during the meeting. 

Across the region, allowed quantities varied, with most allowing between four and six fowl, but some allowing up to eight. 

The primary concern for the city is the need to have a service provider for residents to seek out in the event a chicken – be it dead, deceased or unwanted – must be disposed of. 

In Fort St. John, staff noted there were no abattoirs available for residents to dispose of deceased chickens, and while vet clinics in the region approached by the municipality stated they would accept and dispose of them, there would be a cost to the owner. 

Upon reaching out to the BC SPCA, staff noted the society maintained the stance it established in 2017 during the last municipal inquiry that it was not able to accommodate chickens at the North Peace branch. The closest SPCA that accepts chickens is the South Peace SPCA in Dawson Creek. 

When asked by Councillor Sarah MacDougall, staff stated they had not asked for cost approximations from the clinics. 

Following the presentation, councillors voted to recommend staff “explore the option of an Animal Control Bylaw amendment to include backyard hens.”

The recommended bylaw amendment will return to council at a future meeting, the exact date of which was not disclosed.

Energeticcity.ca reached out to the BC SPCA for clarification on its stance on backyard chickens, but did not immediately hear back in time for publication.