Washington Backyard Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements vary by municipality and zoning. Find your researched Washington city or county below.
Quick legal answer
Are backyard chickens legal in Washington?
Conditional — rules vary by municipality or zoning
- Hen limit
- Varies by city
- Roosters
- Varies by city; nuisance rules may also apply
- Permit
- Varies by municipality
- Setback
- Varies by municipality and zoning district
- Zoning
- Your city or county ordinance controls
Last verified: May 2026
Official source varies by municipalityOrdinances and zoning rules change. Confirm the current requirements with your municipality before buying birds or building a coop.
5
Cities allow chickens
0
Cities ban chickens
0
Conditional rules
5
Cities covered
Important: Local zoning and animal ordinances determine whether a particular property qualifies. Confirm the city or county rule that applies to your address. HOA covenants can also be more restrictive.
Easiest cities
Strictest cities
Bellevue
Up to 6 hens. Commonly cited Bellevue animal-regulation guidance treats fewer than six fowl as household pets; more than six fowl are regulated as small domestic animals with additional land-use constraints
Seattle
Up to 8 hens. Structures housing domestic fowl must be at least 10 ft from any structure with a dwelling unit on an adjacent lot
Spokane
No fixed max. Animal and fowl enclosures must meet accessory-structure setback requirements
Tacoma
Up to 6 hens. Animal enclosures such as cages or coops must be at least 12 ft from the nearest portion of any residence, dwelling, hotel, apartment house, or rooming house
Vancouver
No fixed max. No simple hen-coop setback found in the reviewed city guidance; domestic animal and property maintenance rules still apply
About Washington Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements in Washington vary across cities, counties, and zoning districts. Local rules address flock size, roosters, permits, coop setbacks, sanitation, and property qualifications.
Always verify rules directly with your city clerk or planning department before purchasing birds or building a coop. Laws change — our pages include a last-verified date and link directly to the municipal code for each city.
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