Urban Chicken Laws in Washington
Here are the chicken laws for cities throughout Washington state. This list was originally compiled by TheCityChicken.com and we have gone through and made our own additions and edits.
Know some that aren’t completed here? Let us know!
By City:
Aberdeen – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Airway Heights – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Algona – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Anacortes – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Arlington – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Asotin – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Auburn – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Bainbridge Island – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Battle Ground, WA – No restrictions on poultry or game birds, and roosters are allowed.
Bellevue – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Bellingham – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Benton City – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Bingen – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Black Diamond – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Blaine – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Bonney Lake – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Bothell, WA – You may own 3 or less fowl. Must keep coop 20 ft. from your own property line. If your neighbors say it’s okay, you may place chickens closer to your shared property line.
Bremerton – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Brewster – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Bridgeport – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Brier – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Buckley – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Burien – Up to 4 hens are allowed. Other details needed.
Burlington – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Camas, WA – The city code doesn’t appear to explicitly outlaw chickens, but it just says you can’t keep any animal that becomes a “public nuisance.” And nuisance is defined there as “…annoying noise or odor, causing detriment to the health, safety and welfare of neighboring persons and properties…kept in such manner as to be nauseous, foul or offensive.”
Carnation – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Cashmere – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Castle Rock – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Centralia – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Chehalis – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Chelan – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Cheney – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Chewelah – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Clarkston – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Cle Elum – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Clyde Hill – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Colfax – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
College Place – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Colville – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Connell – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Cosmopolis – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Covington – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Davenport – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Dayton – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Deer Park – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Des Moines – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
DuPont – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Duvall – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
East Wenatchee – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Edgewood – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Edmonds, WA – As of November 15, 2009, up to three hens (no roosters) may be kept per single family lot.
Electric City – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Ellensburg – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Elma – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Entiat – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Enumclaw – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Ephrata – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Everett, WA – No roosters. Five hens allowed without a permit. If you want more than five, you must get a facility license permit from Animal Services. This requires inspection of your facilities/property. Chickens must be kept enclosed.
Everson – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Federal Way – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Ferndale – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Fife – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Fircrest – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Forks – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
George – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Gig Harbor, WA – No regulations for animals except bees.
Gold Bar – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Goldendale – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Grand Coulee – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Grandview – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Granger – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Granite Falls – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Harrington – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Hoquiam – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Ilwaco – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Issaquah – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kahlotus – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kalama – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kelso – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kenmore – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kennewick – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kent – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kettle Falls – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kirkland – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Kittitas – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
La Center, WA – Having a few chickens is neither specifically permitted nor prohibited under La Center current code. Conform to nuisance and health rules.
Lacey – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Lake Forest Park – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Lake Stevens – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Lakewood – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Langley – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Leavenworth – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Liberty Lake – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Long Beach – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Longview – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Lynden – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Lynnwood, WA – An accessory building for the housing of small animals or fowl shall not exceed 36 square feet in floor area when located on a residential lot and neither the building nor the fenced area for roaming shall be closer than 25 feet to a property line.
Mabton – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Maple Valley – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Marysville – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Mattawa – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
McCleary – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Medical Lake – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Medina – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Mercer Island – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Mesa – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Mill Creek, WA – If you want to keep chickens, the square footage of your lot must be 7,500 sq. ft. Up to six hens allowed. Roosters illegal. thoroughfare.
Millwood – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Milton – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Monroe – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Montesano – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Morton – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Moses Lake – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Mossyrock – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Mount Vernon – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Mountlake Terrace – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Moxee – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Mukilteo – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Napavine – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Newcastle – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Newport – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Nooksack – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Normandy Park – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
North Bend – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
North Bonneville – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Oak Harbor – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Oakville – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Ocean Shores – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Okanogan – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Olympia, WA – Up to 3 birds, hens are considered, roosters prohibited.
Omak – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Oroville – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Orting – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Othello – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Pacific – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Palouse – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Pasco – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Pateros – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Pomeroy – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Port Angeles – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Port Orchard – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Port Townsend – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Poulsbo – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Prescott – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Prosser – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Pullman – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Puyallup – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Quincy – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Rainier – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Raymond – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Redmond – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Renton – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Republic – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Richland. WA – Each dwelling unit and the accompanying lot or common area is limited to five (5) household pets. (chickens are considered household pets). “Household Pets” means any dogs, cats, rabbits, ducks, geese, pigeons, chickens or other similar animals over the age of six (6) months.
Ridgefield – From our reader Greg on 06/09/2013: “7.04.052 – Regulations and violations relating to livestock. It is unlawful for any person owning or having in his or her possession, care or control any cow, cattle or livestock to permit or suffer the same to run at large, or to be so tethered or pastured that the same can graze or go upon any street, sidewalk or public way within city limits. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to permit or allow any poultry, fowl or other birds to run at large within the city. It is unlawful to house any poultry or livestock other than normal household pets within one hundred feet of any residence. Up to five hen chickens are considered normal household pets. It is unlawful for poultry to make unreasonably loud and raucous noise, or for odor emanating from the rearing of poultry to be perceptible at the property boundaries. Poultry shall be housed a minimum of forty feet from the front property line.”
Ritzville – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Rock Island – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Roslyn – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Roy – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Royal City – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Ruston – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Sammamish – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Seatac, WA – Up to five chickens (including roosters) on any sized lot. The total number of chickens allowed will be reduced by the number of other animals (including cats and dogs) on the property.
Seattle, WA – Major update from Nov. 2010 for chickens in Seattle: Up to eight domestic fowl may be kept on any lot. Roosters are not permitted. Hen house must be located at least 10 feet away from any residential structure on an adjacent lot.
Sedro-Woolley, WA – It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to maintain any stable, pen, lot, place, or premises in which any horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, mink, fox, chinchilla, or any other animals, or in which any chickens, ducks, or other fowl or poultry may be confined or kept in such manner as to be nauseous, foul, or offensive to any community, neighbor, family, or person, or to allow such animals to roam at large within the city limits. (Ord. 828 § 4, 1976)
Selah – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Sequim - No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Shelton - From our reader Molly on 05/15/2013: “Shelton, WA city limits…. Up to 5 chickens, NO roosters and cannot be able to get out into the neighborhood. Must keep sanitary as well. Information from the person to talk to at the city.”
Shoreline – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Snohomish – From our reader Daniel on 03/14/2013: “No roosters allowed period inside city limits. the rest goes by lot size in sq footage: 5,000-24,999 5 hens. 1 additional hen for each 5,000 sq ft over the 20,000. all animals kept outside shall be cooped or kept in hutches, pens or appropriate structures that have a min setback from property lines of 10′. ” Code can be found at http://www.ci.snohomish.wa.us/
Snoqualmie – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Soap Lake – From our reader Anna on 04/17/2013: “Soap Lake now allows 4 chickens. Must buy license – $10 per year (not per chicken) and a one time permit fee of $50 is required for coop plan review and inspection.”
South Bend – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Spangle – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Spokane, WA – Up to three chickens allowed.. Can have up to three animals total.
Spokane Valley – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Sprague – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Stanwood – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Stevenson – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Sultan – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Sumas – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Sumner – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Sunnyside – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Tacoma, WA – Livestock allowed in the city
Tekoa – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Tenino – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Tieton – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Toledo – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Tonasket – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Toppenish – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Tukwila – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Tumwater – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Union Gap – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
University Place – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Vader – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Vancouver, WA – Chickens are allowed, however roosters and peacocks are not.
Waitsburg – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Walla Walla – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Wapato – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Warden – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Washougal – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Wenatchee – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
West Richland – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Westport – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
White Salmon – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Winlock – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Woodinville, WA – No restrictions in the code for animals according to the planning department.
Woodland – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Woodway – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Yakima - 4 hens, no roosters. Coop must be 10ft from property line. Chickens don’t need to be confined to a coop, only kept on your property, but poultry at large is a misdemeanor. Chapter 15.04 (Thanks to Felicity for updating us)
Yelm – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Zillah – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated County Areas:
Unicorporated Adams County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Asotin County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Benton County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Chelan County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Clallam County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Clark County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Columbia County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Cowlitz County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Douglas County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Ferry County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Franklin County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Garfield County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Grant County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Grays Harbor County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Island County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Jefferson County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated King County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Kitsap County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Kittitas County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Klickitat County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Lewis County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Lincoln County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Mason County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Okanogan County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Pacific County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Pend Oreille County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Pierce County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Skagit County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Skamania County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Snohomish County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Spokane County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Stevens County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Thurston County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Walla Walla County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Whatcom County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Whitman County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!
Unicorporated Yakima County – No information yet – please let us know if you know what the rules are!