FAQs

If approved by Council the proposed “Backyard Hen By-Law” will set out regulations for the keeping of chickens, including provisions for animal health and welfare, that property owners must follow in the non-urban residential and Urban Residential areas of the County of Brant. Draft regulations will be available for review prior to proceeding to the Committee for consideration later this year.

The County of Brant Noise By-Law 108-22 acknowledges that while daily noise exposure occurs exposure to unusual, unnecessary or excessive noise which unreasonably degrades the quality and tranquility or causes a nuisance should be prohibited, especially in residential areas. By-Law 108-22 is intended to prohibit and regulate nuisance noises likely to disrupt or affect the general health and wellbeing of residents. The “…persistent barking, calling or whining or other persistent Noise making by any domestic pet, or any other animal kept or used for any purpose other than agriculture…” is prohibited and would apply to chickens in residential areas. Noise exemptions under By-Law 108-22 relating to agriculture and normal farm practices only apply to the Agricultural (A) zone. 

To assist in mitigating potential nuisance and enforcement complaints relating to noise setbacks from chicken enclosures are suggested to provide a buffer between chicken enclosures and other properties. It is also suggested that chickens be kept in coops from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to help reduce potential noise impacts and protect against predators. Unlike chickens, crowing roosters can generate more noise. To avoid noise nuisance and mitigate complaints roosters are suggested to be prohibited within the residential areas of the County. These limitations and prohibitions are suggested to form part of future regulations. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) also recommends that roosters be avoided in densely populated areas.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) poultry are often a prey species for foxes, skunks, raccoons, cats, dogs, and rats, so proper enclosures will be required. Rodents may also be attracted to food and water. Proper animal care and maintenance of enclosures helps minimize unwanted pests. However, unmaintained chicken enclosures (ex. Coops and runs) can attract unwanted animals, including rodents. Consideration of regulations to help support proper animal health and welfare, enclosure, and property maintenance, as well as protection against pests and predators will form part of this project.

No. Only those who meet regulations developed as part of this project, pay a fee, and are municipally licensed will be permitted to legally keep chickens in residential areas of the County of Brant. 

Suggested regulations may include:

• Residing on a legal residential property in a single detached dwelling. The draft regulations are expected to exclude multi-residential properties, including apartments, townhouses, common element condominiums, and properties with additional residential units (ARUs).
• Minimum lot size stipulations.
• Locational requirements, such as setbacks from neighbouring properties and maximum size of the chicken enclosures.
• Limiting the location of the coop to the rear yard of the property with a minimum setback from property lot lines and dwellings.
• Limitations or prohibitions on properties in and around Source Water Protection Areas to protect municipal drinking water sources.

Owners will also be required to meet requirements around standards of care, pest control and waste management. Additional requirements such as property inspections may also be required prior to chickens being legally permitted on a residential property. 

Through the discussions on potential regulations, a licensing system is proposed but further Committee direction and public feedback will help inform the licensing process. A municipal licensing program would require interested residents to apply and pay an initial license fee. Successful applicants would need to meet regulatory requirements and may require an inspection of the yard and any chicken enclosure on the applicant’s property. Municipal licensing programs help track legal chickens in residential areas, enforce illegal instance or violations, and help trace disease and illness should an outbreak occur.

It is suggested that a maximum of up to 4 hens per property be permitted within the residential areas of the County of Brant for egg production, not personal consumption, subject to regulatory limitations and prohibitions. Chickens would also need to be four months or older in age to ensure they are hens, not roosters.

To alleviate food safety risks, help ensure proper biosecurity, and mitigate public health risks the sale of chicken products in residential areas including eggs, meat, and manure, is suggested to be prohibited within residential areas.

Bringing a chicken into your house significantly increases risks of contamination, infection, transmission, and spread of bird born disease and illnesses. Diseases and illnesses born in birds may be easily transmitted to other domestic household pets as well as humans. It is suggested that while chickens may be permitted in residential areas of the County of Brant that they be kept within an enclosed area, located in the rear yard of a property, in accordance with regulations.

Chickens can live up to 6-8 years, depending on the species, and most flocks will produce eggs for 3-4 years, depending on proper animal care. To alleviate contraventions of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7., help ensure proper biosecurity, and mitigate public health risks the slaughtering and disposal of chickens (contaminated, diseased or ill birds or flocks, or deadstock) in residential areas is suggested to be prohibited.

Chickens are quite messy when it comes to the amount of manure produced. A single chicken can produce upwards of 10lbs (4.5kg) of manure each month. Chicken owners can put down straw, or diatomaceous earth as temporary solutions but will ultimately need to be prepared to clean out the manure frequently to keep enclosures and yards in an acceptable state.

Regulations will consider biosecurity measures recommended by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s “Basic Biosecurity Principles for Poultry” and “Biosecurity for small flock and pet bird owners” as amended from time to time. The proposed regulations further require owners to maintain enclosures in clean and sanitary conditions and be kept free of obnoxious odours, substances, and vermin.

Regulations will apply to all residential properties who can meet the established regulations as approved by the Committee, including properties wherein chickens are currently illegally kept. There will be no consideration of “grandfathering” (permitting existing chickens which may not conform to regulations) or variation or amendments to regulatory by-laws once established.

Agricultural areas of the County will be exempt from any proposed regulations, licensing program or fees associated with this backyard hens program. 

Owners are required to seek professional services to deal with a sick or old chicken such as a veterinarian or a mobile abattoir (where available). In accordance with the Animal Health Act, 2009, S.O. 2009, c. 31, Section 6.1 of the Communicable Diseases Regulation (O. Reg. 557), and Communicable Diseases – General (O. Reg. 501/17) owners must notify authorities or a veterinarian, and veterinarians must notify the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) immediately if a bird/flock is suspected to be ill/infected. To alleviate contraventions of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7., help ensure proper biosecurity, and mitigate public health risks the slaughtering and disposal of chickens (contaminated, diseased or ill birds or flocks, or deadstock) in residential areas is suggested to be prohibited.

Residents interested in owning chickens ethically and safely may take a course by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), to better understand whether they are prepared to care for chickens prior to incurring further costs. OMAFRA currently approves a course housed by the Poultry Industry Council “Raising Backyard Chickens”. Through the process of drafting regulations, the Committee may also direct Staff to create a regulation in which residents are required to complete an educational course, approved by OMAFRA, similarly to other municipal approaches. The regulations will also have some standards of care.

Despite today’s inflated prices, raising your own flock of egg-laying hens may not be cheaper than buying eggs at the store. While keeping chickens may allow for local, sustainable food systems that may not be offered through eggs at a traditional grocery store, these animals also require a level of care similar to other domestic animals that many residents may not be fully aware. To help reduce transmission and outbreaks of disease and bird born illnesses, mitigate public health risks, maintain proper biosecurity measures, and ensure proper animal health and welfare it is suggested that regulations require chickens in residential areas to receive veterinary checks and care.