Despite recent complaints from citizens of Nanaimo about the number of chickens on residential properties, councillors think the number allowed is appropriate as it is. (Dreamstime)

By Nathan Maley

poultry policy

City of Nanaimo backs backyard chickens, aims to clarify rules

May 1, 2024 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Despite complaints rising on backyard chickens in Nanaimo, it appears the City is comfortable with existing guidelines.

Nanaimo City councillors opted to maintain current bylaws and limits surrounding the number of chickens permitted on residential lots, during their governance and priorities committee meeting on Monday, April 29.

Councillors looked for clarification on current rules, and whether changes were necessary.

“Staff would still recommend that this [bylaw] continue to support household food security, gives an opportunity for very small scale husbandry of animals and educational opportunities,” Lainya Rowett, City manager of current planning, told the meeting.

Staff largely recommended a continuing of the bylaw with no significant changes, however Rowett outlined several potential negatives for councillors to consider.

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Those included the attraction of animals and predators, increasing the spread of diseases, and an increase to noise and odours.

She emphasized permitting chickens on residential lots is intended for individual food security purposes and not commercial production and distribution.

Current bylaws allow up to 12 poultry birds for appropriately zoned residential properties with lot sizes up to 4,000 square metres.

Properties zoned for agricultural use of any lot size have no restriction.

With a bylaw on the books for several years, multiple complaints for local residents have emerged.

Collin MacQuarrie spoke Monday about the issues he’s faced with one of his neighbours, who he thinks has a backyard with around 150 chickens and two roosters.

Under the City’s bylaw, roosters are prohibited.

MacQuarrie covered the costs for a fence in between the two properties to prevent deer from getting into his backyard, although the neighbour didn’t pay for it because he told him he didn’t have the money for it.

After the fence was installed, MacQuarrie said the number of chickens at his neighbour’s swelled, bringing unwanted noise and smell.

“This is what happens when a bylaw is not enforced,” MacQuarrie said at the meeting. “This is the kind of thing that can happen, and it can happen to obviously anybody in this scenario. That’s why you have zoning and that’s why you have agricultural areas.”

Coun. Ben Geselbracht deviated from his council colleagues by hoping to modestly increase the number of chickens on residential lots.

“I am not supportive of having 150 chickens on one acre in the middle of town with roosters I think that is crazy and I think it’s totally reasonable that we do have bylaw limiting situations like that,” Geselbracht said.

City staff were directed by the committee to prepare amendments to zoning bylaws, adding the term “poultry” into definitions surrounding agriculture.

Specific limits on birds remained unchanged.

The bylaws will come back for Council consideration at a future meeting.

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