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Urban Agriculture
Port Hardy’s Urban Agriculture Regulation
The District of Port Hardy adopted regulations in the Official Community Plan and subsequently in the Zoning Regulations (2013) to set the provisions of urban agriculture including small scale urban agriculture as an accessory use, urban hens and mason Bbe keeping in the residential zones.
Small Scale Urban Agriculture
Small Scale Urban Agriculture is a permitted as an accessory use in a Residential Zone subject to the following conditions:
(1) A greenhouse is subject to the setback requirements for an accessory building for the zone in which it is located and the maximum footprint of the greenhouse shall not exceed 28 square metres (301.4 square feet)
(2) Artificial lighting is permitted within a greenhouse, provided that the lighting is not permitted to spill out onto adjacent parcels. Lighting must be directed downwards and/or shielded to prevent spillage of light onto adjacent parcels; and,
(3) One advertising sign is permitted provided it is in the form of a free standing sign located on the parcel on which the Small Scale Urban Agriculture use is located, or a fascia sign attached to the dwelling on that parcel, and the sign is not backlit nor illuminate light, and does not exceed 1.0 square metre (10.76 square feet) in total surface area.
Mason Bees
The keeping of mason bees is a permitted accessory use in all zones.
Urban Hens
The keeping of Urban Hens is a permitted accessory use on parcels in the R-1, R-1s, R-2 and RR-1 Zones, and with respect to the R-3 Zone, on a parcel in a subdivision development in which each Manufactured Home Dwelling is located on its own parcel, subject to the following conditions:
(1) Up to 4 urban hens are permitted on parcels that are less than or equal to 450 square metres (4,842.8 square feet) in area;
(2) Up to 6 urban hens are permitted on parcels that are greater than 450 square metres (4,842.8 square feet) in area;
(3) No roosters, cocks or cockerels are permitted;
(4) A structure must be provided to house the urban hens and said enclosure must provide a minimum of 0.37 of a square metre (4 square feet) per urban hen;
(5) A structure used to enclose urban hens, whether portable or stationary, is subject to the setback requirements for accessory buildings and structures for the zone in which it is located however, if the structure used to enclose the urban hens is located on a corner parcel, it shall not be located in the side exterior yard;
(6) Only one structure for the purpose of housing urban hens is permitted on a parcel and it shall not exceed 9.3 square metres (100 square feet) in area or 2.0 metres (6.5 feet) in height above grade;
Urban Hen Applications are voluntary. However, property owners are encouraged to complete and submit an application to keep the the municipality informed in the event of an emergency and confirm compliance with all applicable regulations should a complaint be received.