Are Chickens Allowed in Ottawa, Ontario?

BySusan Medlin

No — under the current City of Ottawa bylaws, keeping chickens (or other backyard poultry) in standard urban and suburban residential zones is not permitted. Chickens are only allowed in areas zoned agricultural. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what Ottawa’s rules say, what is prohibited vs allowed, what efforts have been made to change things, and what factors to check if you’re thinking about having hens.

What the By-law Says Now

  • Ottawa’s Animal & Pets Bylaw includes a section on “Other Animals (livestock, fowl etc.)”. It states that “domestic farm animals, farm animals and fowl (such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, including chickens, ducks and geese)” are **prohibited in urban or suburban areas**. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
  • By-law #2003-77 is one of the relevant bylaws which prohibits keeping chickens and other poultry in residential zones (non-agricultural). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
  • In areas zoned agricultural — or zones that allow an agricultural use — keeping poultry is allowed under the bylaw. Ottawa’s zoning map shows some rural and agricultural municipalities or community areas where such uses may be legitimate. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

What Is Not Allowed in Most Residential Zones

  • Keeping chickens, ducks, geese or other poultry in suburban or urban residential lots (standard residential housing) is prohibited. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
  • Allowing poultry to run freely (“run-at-large”) is also disallowed, even in zones that permit agricultural or rural residential uses. Animals must be confined. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
  • No roosters are mentioned as being allowed in residential zones under any exception (from the sources found), suggesting restrictions on crowing poultry. (Though the bylaw wording focuses more broadly on “poultry/fowl”, not always distinguishing gender.) :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

What Residents Have Proposed / Efforts to Change the Rules

  • There are civic groups (e.g. *Urban Hens Ottawa*) pushing for amendment of By-law #2003-77 to allow backyard hens. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
  • There have been petitions (e.g. “Let Manordale Lead”) to start pilot projects allowing hens in certain low-density neighbourhoods. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
  • By-law enforcement has received complaints: The city has seen dozens of calls related to backyard chickens, suggesting some residents are keeping them despite the bylaw. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Key Things to Check If You’re Thinking of Keeping Chickens

  • Zoning of your property: Is it an agricultural zone or rural residential? If so, you might be allowed to have chickens. If not, likely not. Use Ottawa’s zoning map or GeoOttawa to check. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
  • Property size / lot density: Even in agricultural or rural zones, factors like lot size matter — whether your property is large enough to accommodate a coop without violating nuisance or setback issues.
  • By-law numbers: Know which bylaw applies — especially By-law #2003-77 and the “Other Animals” section of Ottawa’s Animal & Pets Bylaw. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
  • Neighbours / complaint potential: Even where allowed, odour, noise, pests, or escaped birds can trigger bylaw complaints. Ottawa has already responded to many such complaints. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
  • Changes / upcoming bylaws: Keep an eye on city council or standing committee agendas in case poultry laws are proposed or pilot programs considered. Petitions suggest there is public interest. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Summary

In summary: No — chickens are **not allowed** in most residential urban or suburban parts of Ottawa under the current bylaws. They are prohibited by the “Other Animals (livestock / poultry / fowl)” rules unless your property is in an agricultural or suitably rural zoning. There’s been interest in changing this, including petitions and proposals for pilot programs, but as of now, the bylaw remains restrictive.

If you tell me your specific address or neighbourhood (or what your zoning designation is), I can check whether your property might *qualify* under the agricultural or rural zones — in some cases, people *on the outskirts* or in rural-residential zones do have legal potential. Do you want me to look up your location?