Backyard Chickens - Guelph

Registration

Prospective urban hen keepers need to register with the City of Guelph by filling out the Poultry Registration Form and paying a one-time registration fee of $25.

Chicken coop

A backyard coop can contain up to a maximum of 10 hens (no roosters). An adequate chicken coop will allow hens to be warm and dry during winter, will provide proper ventilation, will protect the hens from predators (eg. raccoons), and will prevent the spread of animal-transmitted infectious diseases.

Guelph Rules and Regulations

• Maximum of 10 hens (no roosters) in the backyard NOT the front yard of a property that is NOT multi-residential like an apartment building

• Chicken pens (coop and run) must be at least 1.2 m away from the rear and side lots and any property lines

• Pens must be at least 7.5 m away from the lot lines nearby any businesses, schools, or religious institutions

• On an abutting property chicken pens must be at least 3 m away from any windows/doors

• Need to have coop flooring that makes it easy to maintain a clean coop that can be disinfected regularly

• To accept to provide for the urban hens in an adequate manner, ensuring that their health and wellness needs are being met

• Food for urban hens needs to be stored in a safe container that will not attract wild animals

• Chickens must be enclosed on the residential property

• Slaughter of urban hens is prohibited