Can you keep backyard chickens in Manitoba, Canada?
In Manitoba, whoever owns or runs premises where poultry are kept, for any purpose, must give the director its details within 30 days (Man. Reg. 104/2010). Your municipal council may regulate animals by by-law.
Read from 6 official sources39 passages quotedChecked October 26, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
Where hens can live
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
Who decides where hens can live
The law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. What the checked sources say:
- A council may pass by-laws for municipal purposes respecting wild and domestic animals and activities in relation to them, and in such a by-law may regulate or prohibit.
- Check with your municipal council for its by-laws on keeping chickens.
No province-wide permission for or ban on backyard chickens was found in section 232 of the Municipal Act. The City of Winnipeg Charter, any provincial farm-practices or right-to-farm law, and local by-laws were not read.
The law's own words are quoted under rules on keeping poultry below.
How to check: Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
A sourced reading of the law in Manitoba, Canada, not legal advice. Local bylaws and zoning, property or tenancy rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local rules before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.
Registering as a poultry keeper
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Manitoba
Applies to: Manitoba’s Animal Premises Identification Regulation (Man. Reg. 104/2010, under the Animal Diseases Act; first version, in effect since 29 July 2010), for owners and operators of a farm or other premises where a commercial animal is kept for any purpose. Commercial animals include live poultry.
Outside this finding's scope
- Registration does not give permission to keep chickens at a particular property.
What the checked sources say
- The owner or operator of a farm or other premises where a commercial animal is kept for any purpose must give the director the listed information, including the legal land description of the primary animal premises, the species of commercial animals kept and the maximum capacity. Where a commercial animal is kept for a non-agricultural or non-commercial purpose, the owner names an individual who can be contacted for the purposes of the Act, instead of the person in charge of day-to-day operations.
- For a premises that had no commercial animal when the regulation came into force, the information is due within 30 days after a commercial animal is kept there, and whenever the director asks. Changes must be reported within 30 days.
- An owner includes a person who occupies the premises. Where the owner and the occupier or operator are different people, the duty applies to both, and either may meet it. Information a producer board gives the director counts to the extent of that information.
- Manitoba Agriculture’s page says all owners and operators of premises with livestock and poultry must complete a premises identification application, and that there is no cost to participate.
Thresholds
- The regulation sets no minimum number of animals; it applies wherever a commercial animal, including live poultry, is kept for any purpose.
Authority: Manitoba Agriculture premises identification program (information is given to the director under the regulation)
Fee: Manitoba Agriculture’s page says there is no cost to participate.
The official wording
3(1) The owner or operator of a farm or other premises at which a commercial animal is kept for any purpose must provide the director with the following information:
s. 3(1) · Checked
"commercial animals" include (a) horses, cattle, sheep, swine and live poultry,
Animal Care Act s. 1, commercial animals · Checked
"commercial animal" has the same meaning as in The Animal Care Act ;
in the case of a premises at which a commercial animal is kept for a non-agricultural or non-commercial purpose
s. 3(1)(b) · Checked
the name, address, and contact phone and fax numbers of an individual who can be contacted for the purposes of the Act;
s. 3(1)(b) · Checked
(b) the name of the individual who is in charge of day-to-day operations at the farm or other premises and his or her business address and contact phone and fax numbers, or
s. 3(1)(b) · Checked
(a) the legal land description of his or her primary animal premises and, if so required by the director, the georeferenced co-ordinates of the premises;
s. 3(1)(a) · Checked
(f) the species of commercial animals kept and the maximum capacity of the farm or other premises for keeping commercial animals.
s. 3(1)(f) · Checked
(b) in the case of a farm or other premises at which no commercial animal is kept on the day that this regulation comes into force, (i) within 30 days after a commercial animal is kept at the farm or other premises, and (ii) at any other time that the director requests it.
s. 3(3)(b) · Checked
3(6) The owner or operator must inform the director within 30 days after any change in the information required by any of clauses (1)(a) to (f) or subsection (4).
s. 3(6) · Checked
"owner" , in relation to a farm or other premises, includes a person who occupies the farm or other premises.
s. 1, owner · Checked
3(7) If the owner and the occupier, or the owner and the operator, of a farm or other premises are not the same person, the requirements of section 3 apply to them both equally. The requirements may be satisfied by either of them providing the required information or by them providing the information in combination.
s. 3(7) · Checked
4(5) An owner or operator whose information is provided to the director by a producer board is deemed to have complied with section 3 to the extent of the information provided.
s. 4(5) · Checked
As of October 26, 2026, this is the most current version available. This is the first version. It has been in effect since July 29, 2010.
version header · Checked
Under the Animal Premises Identification Regulation, all owners and operators of premises with livestock and poultry must complete a premises identification application .
There is no cost to participate in this program.
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
Check the official current-status pageOrders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.
Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-10-26
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Conditions apply to this finding
Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence, within the limits listed under “Outside this finding’s scope” below.
Jurisdiction: Manitoba
Applies to: The director’s confinement, quarantine and biosecurity orders under Manitoba’s Animal Diseases Act (version current as of 23 October 2026), where “animal” means any creature not human.
Outside this finding's scope
- These powers are triggered by a suspected disease or hazard. The sections read contain no general rule that birds must be kept indoors, and this finding does not establish that any order applies now.
- Federal powers of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency were not read.
What the checked sources say
- If the director has reason to suspect that an animal has or might have a disease, or is or might be exposed to a hazard, the director may, in the public interest and at the owner’s expense, order that it be confined or quarantined.
- The director may also order the owner to carry out biosecurity measures relevant to the disease or hazard at any place where the owner keeps animals, or for any vehicle used with them.
- Every owner or person having custody of an animal who suspects or notices that it appears to be suffering from a disease must notify the nearest veterinarian or inspector forthwith. Manitoba Agriculture’s avian influenza page tells flock owners to contact a veterinarian immediately if sudden deaths or respiratory signs increase in a flock.
- Current mandatory housing status remains unconfirmed; check Manitoba Agriculture’s avian influenza update page.
- Checked
- Recheck due
Historical evidence, as checked
These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.
"animal" means any creature not human;
s. 1, animal · Checked
3(1) If the director has reason to suspect that an animal has or might have a disease, or is or might be exposed to a hazard, the director may, in the public interest and at the expense of the owner, make any of the following orders:
s. 3(1) · Checked
(iv) that it be confined or quarantined,
s. 3(1)(a)(iv) · Checked
(b) an order that biosecurity measures relevant to the disease or hazard be implemented by the owner in respect of any place where the owner keeps animals or any vehicle that the owner uses in connection with the animals.
s. 3(1)(b) · Checked
2(1) Every owner, breeder, dealer in, or person having custody of any animal who suspects or notices that any animal owned by them or in their custody appears to be suffering from a disease shall forthwith notify the nearest veterinarian or inspector of their suspicion.
s. 2(1) · Checked
This version is current as of October 23, 2026. It has been in effect since February 26, 2022.
version header · Checked
Contact a veterinarian immediately if any increase in sudden death or respiratory signs is seen in a flock.
Small-flock welfare minimums
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Manitoba
Applies to: Manitoba’s Animal Care Act (version current as of 23 October 2026), where “animal” means a non-human living being with a developed nervous system, binding anyone who has ownership, possession or control of an animal.
Outside this finding's scope
- The Act’s legislative history lists SM 2026, c. 16 as not yet proclaimed; its changes were not read. The Animal Care Regulation and any codes it adopts were not read.
What the checked sources say
- A person who has ownership, possession or control of an animal must ensure it has an adequate source of food and water, provide adequate medical attention when it is wounded or ill, and provide reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold.
- That person must not confine the animal to an enclosure or area with inadequate space, unsanitary conditions, inadequate ventilation or lighting, or without an opportunity for exercise, so as to significantly impair its health or well-being.
- No one may be convicted under these duties for treating an animal in a way consistent with a standard or code specified as acceptable in the regulations, consistent with generally accepted practices for the activity, or otherwise reasonable in the circumstances.
- No person may inflict acute suffering, serious injury or harm, or extreme anxiety or distress that significantly impairs an animal’s health or well-being. This does not apply where it is caused by a treatment, process or condition in the course of an accepted activity. Agricultural uses of animals are an accepted activity only if carried out in a manner consistent with a standard specified as acceptable in the regulations, or consistent with generally accepted practices, or otherwise reasonable in the circumstances (the last two only without needless suffering), and not a practice prohibited in the regulations.
The official wording
"animal" means a non-human living being with a developed nervous system;
s. 1, animal · Checked
2(1) A person who has ownership, possession or control of an animal (a) shall ensure that the animal has an adequate source of food and water;
s. 2(1)(a) · Checked
(b) shall provide the animal with adequate medical attention when the animal is wounded or ill; (c) shall provide the animal with reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold;
s. 2(1)(b)-(c) · Checked
(d) shall not confine the animal to an enclosure or area (i) with inadequate space, (ii) with unsanitary conditions, (iii) with inadequate ventilation or lighting, or (iv) without providing an opportunity for exercise, so as to significantly impair the animal's health or well-being.
s. 2(1)(d) · Checked
A person shall not be convicted of an offence under subsection (1) for treating an animal in a manner (a) consistent with a standard or code of conduct, criteria, practice or procedure specified as acceptable in the regulations; (b) consistent with generally accepted practices or procedures for such activity; or (c) otherwise reasonable in the circumstances.
s. 2(2) · Checked
3(1) No person shall inflict upon an animal acute suffering, serious injury or harm, or extreme anxiety or distress that significantly impairs its health or well-being.
s. 3(1) · Checked
3(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where the suffering, injury, harm, anxiety or distress is caused by a treatment, process, or condition that occurs in the course of an accepted activity.
s. 3(2) · Checked
4(1) Subject to subsection (2), for the purposes of this Act, an accepted activity includes the following activities: (a) agricultural uses of animals;
s. 4(1)(a) · Checked
4(2) An activity is an accepted activity under subsection (1) only if it is carried out in a manner (a) consistent with a standard or code of conduct, criteria, practice or procedure specified as acceptable in the regulations;
s. 4(2)(a) · Checked
(b) consistent with generally accepted practices or procedures for such activity, and that does not cause needless suffering; or (c) that is otherwise reasonable in the circumstances, and that does not cause needless suffering; and is not a practice or procedure specified as prohibited in the regulations.
s. 4(2)(b)-(c) · Checked
This version is current as of October 23, 2026. It has been in effect since May 30, 2023.
version header · Checked
SM 2026, c. 16 • not yet proclaimed
legislative history · Checked
Rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Manitoba
Applies to: The by-law powers of Manitoba municipal councils under the Municipal Act (version current as of 23 October 2026).
Outside this finding's scope
- No province-wide permission for or ban on backyard chickens was found in section 232 of the Municipal Act. The City of Winnipeg Charter, any provincial farm-practices or right-to-farm law, and local by-laws were not read.
What the checked sources say
- A council may pass by-laws for municipal purposes respecting wild and domestic animals and activities in relation to them, and in such a by-law may regulate or prohibit.
- Check with your municipal council for its by-laws on keeping chickens.
The official wording
232(1) A council may pass by-laws for municipal purposes respecting the following matters:
s. 232(1) · Checked
(k) wild and domestic animals and activities in relation to them, including by-laws differentiating on the basis of sex, breed, size or weight;
s. 232(1)(k) · Checked
232(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a council may in a by-law passed under this Division (a) regulate or prohibit;
s. 232(2)(a) · Checked
This version is current as of October 23, 2026. It has been in effect since September 30, 2026.
version header · Checked
Elsewhere in Canada
- AlbertaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- British ColumbiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- New BrunswickRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Nova ScotiaRegistration: not establishedSet locally
- OntarioRegistration: not establishedSet locally
- QuebecRegistration: not establishedSet locally
- SaskatchewanRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Manitoba, Canada?
- Registration: conditions apply. The finding covers: Manitoba’s Animal Premises Identification Regulation (Man. Reg. 104/2010, under the Animal Diseases Act; first version, in effect since 29 July 2010), for owners and operators of a farm or other premises where a commercial animal is kept for any purpose. Commercial animals include live poultry. The regulation sets no minimum number of animals; it applies wherever a commercial animal, including live poultry, is kept for any purpose. Outside this finding's scope: Registration does not give permission to keep chickens at a particular property. Authority: Manitoba Agriculture premises identification program (information is given to the director under the regulation).
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Manitoba, Canada?
- The law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. A council may pass by-laws for municipal purposes respecting wild and domestic animals and activities in relation to them, and in such a by-law may regulate or prohibit. Check with your municipal council for its by-laws on keeping chickens. No province-wide permission for or ban on backyard chickens was found in section 232 of the Municipal Act. The City of Winnipeg Charter, any provincial farm-practices or right-to-farm law, and local by-laws were not read. Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in Manitoba, Canada?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. This page links the official status page to check today.
Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.
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