Are Chickens (Backyard Hens) Allowed in Mississauga, Ontario?

BySusan Medlin

No — as of the latest decisions, backyard chickens are not permitted in Mississauga under its Animal Care and Control by-law. The city ran a pilot program for “urban hens,” but in late 2023, city council voted not to continue or expand that program. If you currently have hens under the pilot, there are some grandfathered allowances, but overall, new backyard chicken keeping is prohibited. Below is the detailed story, what rules apply now, what exceptions exist, and what you need to know if you are thinking of keeping chickens.

Historical & Pilot Program Context

  • Mississauga launched an Urban Hen Pilot Program that ran from May 2021 to May 2023.
  • The pilot allowed up to four hens per household, with no roosters, subject to property setback requirements, compliance with animal care bylaws, and other standards.
  • There were eleven slots for households in certain wards, and a very limited uptake (only six households participated).

Current Legal Status

  • In November 2023, Mississauga City Council voted 7-4 to end the Urban Hen Pilot Program and to keep hens a prohibited species city-wide under the Animal Care & Control By-law.
  • After the decision, no new participants may apply; existing pilot participants are allowed to keep the hens they already have until the end of their natural lifespan.
  • “Chicken coops” or keeping chickens in residential properties is explicitly not allowed under the Animal Care & Control By-law as currently enforced.

Exceptions & Who’s Affected

  • If you were part of the pilot program, you may keep your hens until they die naturally. You cannot replace them, increase their number, or add new ones under the program.
  • All other properties in Mississauga (outside of those few pilot participants) are not permitted to begin or continue keeping hens.

What the By-law Says

Relevant portions include:

  • The Animal Care and Control By-law 0098-2004, as amended, bans chickens (hens) except under very specific pilot program conditions.
  • The by-law under “Standards of Pet Care” says: “Chicken coops. Keeping chickens is not allowed under the Animal Care and Control By-law.”

What You Should Do If You’re Considering Chickens in Mississauga

  • Confirm whether your address was part of the original pilot program. If so, you may be grandfathered. If not, you cannot legally keep chickens now.
  • Check Mississauga’s by-laws yourself, especially the Animal Care & Control By-law, for any future changes. The city explicitly decided not to adopt a permanent program in late 2023.
  • If you want to advocate for change, you could keep an eye on council meetings, or public consultation processes, especially if there’s renewed interest.
  • Ensure you understand neighbourhood rules, zoning, and whether there are any covenants or homeowner association rules that might also affect what’s allowed.

Summary

So: as of now, no, chickens are not allowed in Mississauga, with limited exceptions for households that were part of the now-ended pilot. The pilot did not lead to a permanent allowance. Under the current law, new backyard hens are prohibited. If you’re dealing with a property that had hens under the pilot, you may keep them until they pass away — but you can’t replace them or expand the flock.

If you like, I can pull up the exact section of the by-law (with legal text) and check whether there have been any changes after November 2023 (maybe in early 2025) to see if the rules have shifted again.