Urban Hens Program

To keep hens, you must:

Hold a valid Urban Hen License for the current year.
Pay the annual license fee of $75.
Obtain a Saskatchewan Premises Identification (PID).

Urban hen keepers are not permitted to sell eggs, hen manure, chicken meat or any other product derived from keeping hens.

Hens must not be butchered or euthanized on a residential property. If a hen needs to be butchered or euthanized, it must be transported to an appropriate location and disposed of lawfully.

Urban hen licenses allow a maximum of five (5) hens to be kept on one property.
Roosters and chicks are not permitted to be kept.

The coop and hen run must meet the requirements of the Zoning Bylaw and Building Bylaw.

Any changes made to the coop and run after initial approval must be approved before the changes are made.

Coop and Hen Run Size Requirements

Minimum space required

• The coop must provide at least 0.37 m² of floor area per hen
• The run must provide at least 0.92 m² of floor area per hen

Maximum size limits

• The combined area of the coop and run must not exceed 18 m²
• The run must not exceed 1.8 m in height
• The coop must not exceed the maximum accessory building height allowed under the Zoning Bylaw

Other Requirements

• The coop and run must be fully enclosed and the outside run must be enclosed on the top
• The run must include a surface of vegetation, bare earth, or a combination of both
• A minimum of one perch per hen must be provided and must be at least 15 cm long
• A minimum of one nest must be provided

Coop and Hen Run Location Requirements

Setbacks and Placement

• The coop must:
  • Meet the minimum yard setbacks in the Zoning Bylaw
  • Be at least 3 metres from a neighbouring dwelling
• The run must:
  • Be at least 1 metre from any property line
  • Be at least 3 metres from a neighbouring dwelling
• Coops and runs must not be located in the front yard, as defined by the Zoning Bylaw
• Coops and runs must be located within a fully fenced yard

All hen keepers must:

Follow all Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture requirements and regulations.
Follow biosecurity procedures recommended by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Comply with the National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys.

Cleaning and Maintenance

• Hen keepers must ensure that coops and runs are cleaned of all manure and wet shavings weekly.

Confinement and Overnight Requirements

• Hens must remain within the enclosed coop and run area at all times.
• Hens must be kept in the coop overnight between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM