Are Chickens Allowed in Montréal, Québec?

BySusan Medlin

It depends — in most of Montréal, keeping egg-laying hens is prohibited, but in certain boroughs there are pilot projects that allow chickens under strict rules. If you’re considering backyard hens in Montréal, you’ll need to check whether your borough participates, follow specific regulations, and obtain required permissions. Below is a detailed breakdown of what is allowed, where, and what conditions apply as of mid-2025.

What the City-Wide Rules Say

  • Montréal’s general by-law states that the keeping of egg-laying hens is prohibited under most circumstances.
  • Birds in the orders Galliformes (which includes chickens, turkeys, quail, etc.) are listed among the species of birds not allowed in the general “pets” by-law.
  • Pigs are similarly prohibited (except for certain special cases predating the law). Rabbits are generally permitted. The city categorizes chickens, pigs, rabbits under “Lapins, poules et cochons” (“rabbits, hens, and pigs”).

Pilot Projects and Borough-Specific Exceptions

Some boroughs within Montréal allow urban hens under pilot programs. These exceptions follow clearly defined rules. If you live in one of those boroughs, you may be allowed to keep a small number of hens. Here are recent developments:

  • Boroughs involved include: Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (MHM), Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, and Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
  • For example, in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, there is a pilot program: up to 4 hens, no roosters allowed, and strict requirements about coop location, size, property setbacks, and other sanitary & housing standards.
  • Other boroughs may have similar programs or may be considering them. But outside these pilot zones, the general prohibition still applies.

Typical Rules in the Pilot Zones

If you are in a borough that allows chickens under a pilot project, here are the kinds of rules you’ll need to follow (using MHM as an example):

  • Register your coop through the “Cultive ta ville” portal.
  • Only one coop per property, located in the backyard. Coops adjoining public streets need fencing around the permitted area.
  • You may keep a minimum of two and maximum of four hens.
  • Roosters are not permitted.
  • No chicks or hens under 16 weeks of age.
  • Coop size & run size requirements:
    • Minimum enclosed coop area: ~0.37 m² per hen.
    • Minimum outdoor run (volière) area: ~0.92 m² per hen.
    • Maximum coop footprint: about 10 m²; maximum roof height about 2.5 m.
  • Setback & placement: the coop must be at least 1.5 metres from property lines (unless adjacent to a public street, which has special fencing rules) and about 3 metres away from any window or door of neighbouring buildings.
  • Sanitation and odour control: coop must be kept clean, prevent smells perceptible outside your property, avoid attracting rodents or insects.
  • Egg sales or other commercial use is prohibited — eggs must be for personal/pet use only.

What to Check If You Want Chickens in Montréal

  1. Check your borough: whether it’s one of those with a pilot or approved program. If not, you’re likely still prohibited.
  2. Look up local ordinances: the municipal by-law & pilot project regulations in your specific borough. For example, MHM has ordinance no. 6 in force for this pilot.
  3. Ensure you meet all the coop design, size, setback, and sanitary requirements.
  4. Register or apply via the platform (if required). In MHM, the “Cultive ta ville” portal is used.
  5. No roosters. Only hens, and usually limited young birds. Prohibited to carry out commercial operations (selling eggs, etc.) under these programs.
  6. Maintain good neighbour relations — smells, noise, upkeep matter under these rules. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement.

Conclusion

So, in summary: in most of Montréal, chickens are not allowed under normal by-laws. But several boroughs have pilot programs that allow hens under tight regulation. If you live in one of those boroughs and follow the rules (coop type, setback, numbers, no rooster, registration etc.), then yes — you may be able to legally keep chickens.

If you tell me which borough you’re in (for example: Plateau-Mont-Royal, Verdun, MHM, etc.), I can check exactly whether there’s a program for your area and format all the info in HTML for your site. Want me to do that?