HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2011-07-11 Item 2B - Update - Tukwila Animal Regulations City of Tukwila
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Haggerton
Community Affairs and Parks Committee
FROM: Nora Gierloff, Deputy DCD Director
DATE: July 7, 2011
SUBJECT: Tukwila's Animal Regulations
ISSUE
This memo addresses a recent citizen request to revise Tukwila Municipal Code to allow the
keeping of chickens on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet. Tukwila's current regulations for
chickens and other farmyard animals were adopted by ordinance in 1956 and do not account for
changing public health priorities and local and national trends toward greater acceptance of
urban agriculture.
BACKGROUND
There is growing interest both locally and nationally in urban agriculture, motivated in part by "a
burgeoning interest in urban resilience and sustainability and a push for healthy eating" (Butler,
4). Keeping chickens, in particular, has become popular among city dwellers for a variety of
reasons: "Their eggs provide a sustainable source of protein for urban consumers, they are not
particularly noisy, and when cared for properly their waste and food needs can be handled in
ways that do not lead to pestilence or odor problems" (Butler, 22 -23). Recognizing these
benefits, the "backyard chicken" movement has spawned websites, blogs, and citizen
organizations advocating for the right to responsibly keep chickens in urban areas (including
urbanchickens.org, backyardchickens.com and www.mvpetchicken.com), see Attachment B.
Keeping backyard chickens is not without controversy. The presence of chickens and other
animals in urban areas raises concerns about the spread of disease, pests and unwanted noise
and odors. Tukwila's current regulations address these concerns by setting a minimum lot size
on which animals may be kept, as well as requiring setbacks and limiting the number of animals
allowed. Recently, other municipalities have reconsidered their regulations to provide greater
flexibility. The city of Seattle has "not encountered any major problems with their policies" which
now encourage urban agriculture and backyard chickens (Miller, 29). Moreover, despite recent
concerns about Avian Flu, the Worldwatch Institute reports that "homegrown poultry are not a
disease threat if the chickens are properly maintained" (Block).
ANALYSIS
In a 2011 report, a Florida State University report compared the regulatory treatment of
chickens in 22 municipalities nationwide (Butler). Each of the municipalities included in the
study allows chickens to some extent, but they vary considerably according to the stringency of
their restrictions. The study focused on three categories of restrictions: number of chickens
allowed, setbacks required, and minimum lot sizes.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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Table 1 applies this analysis to the South King County jurisdictions of Burien, Des Moines,
SeaTac, Kent, and Renton, as well as Tukwila and Seattle. Also noted is the year in which the
current regulations were adopted or revised.
City Min. Lot Setback: Lot Setback: #allowed* Regs
Size Line residence Revised
Seattle NONE NONE loft 8 2010
Renton 6,000 sq ft 10 ft* NONE 3* 2010
Kent 5,000 sq ft loft NONE 3 2007
SeaTac NONE NONE NONE 5* 2005
Burien NONE 20 ft NONE 3 2002
Des 22,000 sq ft 35 ft 45 ft 10 1981
Moines
Tukwila 10,000 sq ft 20 ft 65 ft 12 1956
*Number allowed typically increases with lot size. Renton allows more than three chickens with an
"additional animals permit." Renton allows chickens in rear yards only. SeaTac allows a total of 5 "outside
animals," which includes chickens.
Sources: Seattle Municipal Code 23.42.052, Renton Municipal Code 4 -4 -010, Kent Municipal Code
15.08.070, SeaTac Municipal Code 15.12.015, Burien Municipal Code 19.17.100, Des Moines Municipal
Code 18.33.070, Tukwila Municipal Code 7.08
These results reveal that Tukwila's regulations at TMC 7.08 are the oldest and among the most
restrictive of those examined. In the category of minimum lot size, Tukwila has the second most
restrictive requirement, as no chickens are allowed on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet.
Tukwila's setback requirements are the most restrictive of the jurisdictions examined requiring
that structures housing chickens be set back 20 feet from any lot line and 65 feet from any place
of human habitation other than the owner's.
Des Moines, the one city examined with more restrictive lot size regulations and similar setback
requirements, has not updated their regulations since 1981, while all other jurisdictions studied
have updated their regulations more recently. This suggests that the trend is toward increased
allowance for small animals kept on smaller residential lots.
Tukwila has a range of residential lot sizes but the trend is toward subdivision and infill
development. Of Tukwila's approximately 3,800 Low Density Residential zoned parcels 55% are
smaller than 10,000 square feet and many of the parcels larger than 20,000 square feet contain
environmentally sensitive areas such as steep slopes or wetlands or are in institutional use.
Allowing small animals to be kept on lots smaller than the existing threshold of 10,000 sf would
create flexibility on the majority of Tukwila's residential properties.
Other standards within Chapter 7.08 are either out of sync with our neighboring jurisdictions or
other sections of the TMC. For example there are references to a health officer and building
superintendent, positions no longer found in the City. Some household pets such as guinea
pigs, hamsters and parakeets are unnecessarily regulated in this section. Replacing prescriptive
standards for the handling of manure with performance standards such as not generating off
site odors will make the section more enforceable. Similarly, strengthening the existing vague
standards for large animals would help prevent nuisances in our densifying neighborhoods.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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Distribution of LDR Parcels by Parcel Area
1600
1415
1400
y 1239
1200
c 1000
a 800
O 650
600 M fi 491
1 a k
4007
200 x
0
2,000 6,500 6,500 10,000 10,000 20,000 20,000 or larger
Parcel Size (in square feet)
Options
The Council has several options for addressing the issue of Tukwila's animal regulations:
1) Decline to consider a change to the existing regulations at TMC 7.08.
2) Revise the sections of 7.08 that are out of date or unenforceable and provide more
flexibility to allow the keeping of chickens and other small animals on small lots. Bring
Tukwila's regulations more into line with those of neighboring jurisdictions as explored in
the above analysis, while continuing to protect public health and prevent nuisances. The
changes could lower the minimum lot size requirement for the keeping of small animals
and fowl, reduce the setback requirements, prohibit roosters, exempt certain household
pets from regulation and simplify the regulation of manure handling and removal. Staff's
proposed wording for these changes is found in Attachment A.
3) Fold a more comprehensive review of urban agriculture into the update of the
Community Image and Residential Neighborhoods Chapters of the Comprehensive
Plan. A complete rewrite of Chapter 7.08 would allow for further clarity, simplification,
and consistency. This would also allow for a more extensive public participation process
RECOMMENDATION
Select an alternative from those presented above. If option 2 is chosen staff will return to CAP
with a draft ordinance for further Council review.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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ATTACHMENTS
A Proposed Updates to TMC 7.08
B Article "Get In Touch, Raise Backyard Chickens"
C Seattle Municipal Code 23.42.052 Keeping of Animals
D King County DDES Bulletin 41A Small Animals and Livestock
REFERENCES
Butler, William. Welcoming Animals Back Into the City. Florida State University Urban
and Regional Planning Working Paper: http: /www.coss.fsu.edu /durp /research
/working papers, accessed June 16, 2011.
Miller, Kieran. Urban Agriculture in North American Cities: Lessons in Backyard
Chicken Policy. http: /gspace. library. queensu .ca /bitstream /1974/6521/1
/Final %20Report.pdf, accessed June 16, 2011.
Block, Ben. US City Dwellers Flock To Raising Chickens. Worldwatch Institute.
http: /www.worldwatch.org /node /5900, accessed July 1, 2011.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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ATTACHMENT A PROPOSED UPDATES TO TMC CHAPTER 7.08,
Proposed Changes are in strikeout/underline.
7.08.010 Chapter compliance required
It is unlawful for any person, persons, firm or corporation to keep or maintain livestock, small
animals or fowl within the City limits, except as provided in this chapter.
7.08.020 Livestock defined
"Livestock "where used in this chapter, means and includes horses, cattle, sheep, goats
llamas, alpaca and swine.
7.08.030 Small animals and fowl defined
"Small animals and fowl," where used in this chapter mean rabbits, chinchillas,
ham sters, chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pa rakeet6 and pigeons.
7.08.040 Animals Kept as Pets GhilllGhillaS, harnsters, parakeets and pigeons
S pigs, hamsters, ferrets. fish. cats, doas. carrots, parakeets, and similar
animals kept as household pets within a dwellina unit will not be subiect to the limitations of this
chapter Doas and cats are reaulated by
TMC 7.12.
7.08.050 Rabbits, ^hi^ ens, geese, durks and tUFkey Keepinq Small Animals and Fowl
Ra bbits, GhiG g eese, d6IGks and tupkey Keepina small animals and fowl will be permitted
in numbers as defined in TMC 7.08.110. These animals may oniv be kept in residential zones
as an accessory use to a permitted use on the same parcel.
7.08.060 Enclosure Construction
All livestock, small animals and fowl shall be kept within an enclosure adequately built and
maintained to prevent predation and to prevent the livestock, small animals and fowl from
breaking through, out, over or under the same. All pens, coops, hutches and housing of any
kind used for t h^1 ,ciAg livestock, small animals and fowl must
meet
applicable Zonina Code and Washinaton State Buildina Code reauirements.
7.08.07-0 Number of 10, veStGGk allowed
7.08.070 Prohibited Animals
The keepina of roosters or Deafowl is prohibited.
7.08.080 Maintaining her-sesrattle, sheep and gem Livestock other than Swine within
City limits
All livestock, except swine, may be kept or maintained within the city limits, provided they are
kept not less than 100 feet from the nearest off -site residence. Male aoats must be neutered
and all aoats must be dehorned.
7.08.090 Maintaining swine within City limits
Swine may be kept or maintained within the City limits provided they are kept within an
enclosure as herein described, the outside limits of which shall be not less than 200 feet from
the nearest off -site residence.
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7.08.100 Minimum area for keeping livestock
No livestock mall animals er few! shall be kept on any property within the City limits where the
parcelprepert does not contain a minimum of 10,000 square feet of area. One horse. cow or
swine is allowed Der 20.000 sauare feet of Darcel area. One llama. alpaca, sheep or aoat is
allowed Der 5.000 sauare feet of parcel area. Nursina offsDrina may be kept until weaned
without violatina the limitations of this subsection.
7.08.110 Minimum area for keeping Number animals per size
No small animals or fowl shall be kept on anv property within the Citv limits where the
parcel does not contain a minimum of 6.500 sauare feet of area. Small animals and fowl shall
be permitted as follows:
a- 1. Twelve One chickens. Diaeon, chinchilla or twelve rabbits
GhirL` ens A nd rNhhi +S net to ev,+eer+ +n of fiereh,e enllee +i er 10,000
square feet of property;
2 T he n, ,mbar of Gh er rabbits may be inereaserd by 1 /1 (1
1 000 square feet of mmper
3: 2. OneSix-geesegoose, slx- ducks, s+x or turkeys
er turk net +e evr+eed a total of si for per 4- 02,000 square feet of
property;
T The number of geese dUGks er turkeys may he inGreased 1 /1 (l
5. At Re tome shall the total Rumber of small animals GF fGwI eXGeed a tetal ef twelve
each 10 q ,are fee nrnneFty
7.08.120 Distance from human habitation
EnclosuresBumidings for the housing of small animals and fowl shall be built and located not less
than 6510 feet from any place of human habitation and Droperty line. ether than t ewner's nr
P,et c ac hen 20 feet from the adj pining nrene 4y; anrt T he roaming area providing
for the small animals and fowl shall be fenced and located not less than X feet from any
adjacent place of human habitation.
7.08.130 One building per- site for- housing
Net mere thaR GRe build!Rg feF the hOUSORg ef li veStGGk, small aRiFRals er few! shall be allewed
any ene building site
7.08.140 Nuisance prohibited
N- G4Livestock, small animals or fowl shall be kept in such a manner so as not to create anv
obiectionable noise, odor, annovance, or become a Dublic nuisance that a neRdi +ien resulting
fte same shall Gens+i+„te a n„isanee Provision shall be made to ensure that animal food will
not attract rodents, insects, or other animals.
7.08.150 Animal Waste and Food Waste Manure removal
All manuFe must be kept iR a GeveFed water tight pit eF Ghamber and shall be FemGved at
All enclosures, confinement areas, and /or open run areas shall be kept clean. Provision shall
be made for the removal of animal waste and food waste so that the areas are kept free from
infestation of insects, rodents, or disease, as well as to prevent obnoxious or foul odors. Animal
waste shall be DroDerIv disposed of. and anv accumulated animal waste must not be stored
within the enclosure setback area. Anv storaae of animal waste must not constitute a nuisance.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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1. Manure shall not be allowed to collect in any place where it can prejudicially affect
any source of drinking water.
2. Manure, when used as a fertilizer, must be plowed or spaded under within 24 hours
after application.
7.08.160 Enforcement
The health Code Enforcement officer for the City shall be authorized to enforce this chapter,
unless otherwise provided.
7 08 170 issu nGe of permits for hous i ng
perm Buildings must be GeMpleted, inGludiRg rnaRYFe-pit, withiR 60 days after issYaRGe of
7.08.180 Exemptions
small aRiMaIS eF fGwI within the City limits, will net be affeGted by TIVIQ 7.08.070,
A. Residents may keep all animals owned as of the effective date of this ordinance so Iona as
thev do not constitute a nuisance.
B. Any person, persons, firm or corporation who discontinues the keeping or reduces the
number of livestock, small animals or fowl for a period of more than 90 days, or who sells or
transfers his property, shall then become subject to all the provisions of this chapter.
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Get In Touch, Raise Backyard Chickens I NorthWest Hub Page 1 of 2 B
Search
rilor I
pt Your Source For La
nd Use Environmental and Real Estate News
IR ct
as
'Get In Touch, Raise Backyard Chickens
By Emily Rooney
ii
The local food movement of the past decade has
;encouraged both urban and rural citizens to
(support their environment and communities by l
jchoosing regionally grown and raised food
products. Due to obvious space restrictions and
a lack of farmers in urban settings, one might
'think that growing and raising food in the city
'would be a difficult task. Yet increasingly people
in the city are finding new ways to convert their
back and front yards into agricultural space.
I
In the United States, this has lead to a rise in
;urban chicken farming. While some cities ban a I
!residents from keeping chickens, many have
ilaws that allow the raising of a small flock. In L,� 01i( Q nh'— fry Fm A Rnn 0
Seattle, under municipal code 23.42.052, a
person may have three chickens for any lot and one additional chicken for every one thousand square feet in excess of the
zoned minimum lot size.
Unlike many other cities, Seattle allows roosters and does not require a permit to keep chickens. One would assume that the
lack of ordinances surrounding chickens would lead to disputes between neighbors concerning issues such as noise and smell.
:Testimonies from Seattleites, however, tell a different story.
:One blogger on seattlepi.com wrote, "My next door neighbor has chickens and we live in a townhouse. As long as he doesn't
keep a rooster it doesn't bother me at all. They're cute." The Seattle Times quoted one chicken owner saying, "Chickens
:create community. Neighborhood kids love to feed and watch them, you can share eggs."
,These sentiments were echoed in an interview with Renae Koepke and Ian Sutton who began raising chickens after Renae
'brought home a rescued hen from Mt. Baker Park. After her arrival the couple quickly increased their Flock, bringing in a
(couple of Rhode Island Reds known for their year round egg production and a rare Black Maran which lays beautiful chocolate
j brown eggs, a dozen of which can fetch a price of up to ten dollars. Renae explained, "The neighbors love the chickens, one
neighbor wants to start his own coop."
In Renae's experience, having chickens has been a great way for her to get to know her neighbors. Many like coming by to
see the birds and take home a few eggs. One neighbor has an extensive urban garden and the couple hopes to swap eggs for
.vegetables during the summer months.
i For Renae and Ian the cost of creating a coop and establishing a brood has been minimal. Ian is a carpenter, and he was able
to use scrap supplies to create a functional and attractive hen house. Other than a coop the chickens only other expenses are
feed and bedding. The feed comes from Scratch and Peck ,a local company that makes organic and conventional non -GMO
feed from locally sourced whole grains. The feed costs range from $25.00 -27.00 per 50 lb bag which can supply 4 chickens
with over a months worth of feed.
;For those starting their own Flock, baby chicks can be purchased for about $3.00 each or year old hens can be bought for
'$20.00 ready to lay eggs. Either way once the chickens are laying, you can expect about one egg per day from each chicken
,depending on the breed and time of year. Chickens are most productive at one year, and thereafter their egg production
;declines. After four years of age a hen will stop laying completely, while continuing to live up to another six years. At this
point one must decide the fate of the hen.
'Another thing to consider when raising chickens is how to ensure they do not irritate your neighbors. Avoiding roosters will
!eliminate most problems with noise. Although hens do cluck, their noise is limited to daylight hours and it is neither as loud
'nor as obnoxious as roosters.
'If you insist on having a rooster, keeping it in the coop while your neighbors are sleeping will help to muffle his noise.
Managing smell is equally important and requires consistent cleaning of the coop. Waste can be disposed of in the yard waste
bin supplied by the city of Seattle or incorporated into your compost as excellent fertilizer for your garden. Though noise and
.smell reduction should be high priorities, the best way to appease your neighbors is to supply them with delicious fresh eggs.
'Testimonies show that city chickens an revive communities, creating relationships between neighbors as well as an
jappreciation of our food and environment. One of the many comments to an urban chicken story on seattlepi.com stated, "The
'town isn't nuts anything that reminds folks that land is land even in the city is good. We were so much more diligent about
what got dumped on the ground for fear of poisoning the chickens and it made us realize that lots of animals lived with us in
':the city. The kids learned where food actually came from and eventually, the cycle of life. Beyond all that serious stuff, they
http: /www.northwesthub.org /urban chickens 08/19/2010
19
Get In Touch, Raise Backyard Chickens I NorthWest Hub Page 2 of 2
were pretty funny sometimes and that's worth something too!" This response is indicative of urban chicken farming's increased
popularity and the discussions it is creating.
The local movement is growing and the desire to have control over our food is likely to continue to increase. Propelling it
further requires participants to be respectful and educated about raising their food to ensure a good example is set and
.neighbors are excited and not upset by this agrarian endeavor. Raising chickens gives Seattleites a chance to bond with
neighbors over the increasingly common desire to bring food awareness and nature back to the city. Small chicken coops bring
so much more to the table and the family than a dozen eggs bought at the grocery store. Not only is it good for the individual
land the neighborhood, it is good for the chickens as well.
Keeping three to five chickens in a space where they can peck, scratch and sun bathe creates a quality of life that is impossible
for the millions of chickens kept in egg factories. Rather than sharing a yard and coop with a few other chickens, factory hens
are kept in small wire cages known as battery cages. Four or five can be packed into a space sixteen inches wide. With those
minimal space requirements a Seattle family with five thousand square feet of space could keep one thousand two hundred
fifty birds. As more people begin to raise their own, this type of production may no longer be necessary.
David Van Skike, a local chicken owner, says that knowing the source of your food is wonderful, but the real reason he is
.raising chickens is his children. "It is good for the kids. It teaches them something and its fun." His eleven year old neighbor
.has enjoyed the chickens so much, her family is thinking of starting their own coop.
For those inspired to start raising chickens there are numerous coop sketches and other information on websites such as
urbanchickens.org and backyardchickens.com. Once you have the coop, chickens, feeder and feed maintenance is relatively
(simple. Renae and Ian keep a giant feeder in their coop which they fill every month, limiting the daily chores to watering and
cleaning out old bedding and manure. For those wanting a hands -on chicken tutorial, Seattle Tilth offers urban chicken
;farming classes throughout the year. See Seattletilth.org (hup ItWilrn cry
Programs like Seattle Tilth's exist because urban people are looking for a way to become connected again to their
.neighborhood and natural communities. "Not to sound like a big hippie but now that people are in the urban environment,
they're searching for something to get back in touch with the earth," explained Seattle Tilth's Phil Megenhardt in the Seattle
'Times. There are many reasons for people to raise their own chickens, from a desire to know where their food comes from to
:having a fun pet. Whatever the motivation, the effect is a series of renewed relationships with the environment and the
community.
bloc comments cowered by Discus mttg: au o
[(diss.cml
20 http: /www.northwesthub.org /urban chickens 08/19/2010
Seattle Municipal Code Page 1 of 3 C
Information retrieved July 5, 201 1 5:22 PM
Seattle Municipal Code
Title 23 LAND USE CODE
Subtit7e III Land Use Regulations
Division 2 Authorized Uses andDeve7opment Standards
Chapter 23.42 General Use Provisions
SMC 23.42.052 Keeping of animals
The keeping of small animals, farm animals, domestic fowl and bees is
permitted outright in all zones as an accessory use to any principal use
permitted outright or to a permitted conditional use, in each case subject
to the standards of this Section 23.42.052.
A. Small Animals. Up to three small animals may be kept accessory to each
business establishment, other than an urban farm, or dwelling unit on a lot,
except as follows:
1. In no case is more than one miniature potbelly pig allowed per business
establishment or dwelling unit (see subsection 23.42.052.B).
2. In single family zones,
a. accessory dwelling units shall not be considered separate dwelling units
for the purpose of this Section 23.42.052;
b. up to four small animals are permitted on lots of at least 20,000 square
feet; and
c. one additional small animal is permitted for each 5,000 square feet of
lot area in excess of 20,000 square feet. Accessory structures, including
kennels, for four or more animals must be at least 10 feet from any other
lot in a residential zone.
B. Miniature Potbelly Pigs. That type of swine commonly known as the
Vietnamese, Chinese, or Asian Potbelly Pig (Sus scrofa bittatus) may be kept
as a small animal, provided that no swine that is greater than 22 inches in
height at the shoulder or more than 150 pounds in weight may be kept in the
city.
C. Domestic Fowl. Up to eight domestic fowl may be kept on any lot in
addition to the small animals permitted in subsection 23.42.052.A.
http: /clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us scripts /nph- brs.exe ?d= CODE &s 1= 23.42.052.snum. &Sect5 07/05/2011
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Seattle Municipal Code Page 2 of 3
1. On lots greater than 10,000 square feet that include either a community
garden or an urban farm, one additional fowl is permitted for every 1,000
square feet of lot area over 10,000 square feet in community garden or urban
farm use.
2. Roosters are not permitted.
3. Structures housing domestic fowl must be located at least 10 feet away
from any structure that includes a dwelling unit on an adjacent lot.
D. Farm Animals. Cows, horses, sheep and other similar farm animals are
permitted only on lots of at least 20,000 square feet. The keeping of swine
is prohibited, except for miniature potbelly pigs allowed under subsection
23.42.052.B.
1. One farm animal for every 10,000 square feet of lot area is permitted.
2. Farm animals and structures housing them must be kept at least 50 feet
from any other lot in a residential zone.
E. Beekeeping. Beekeeping is permitted outright as an accessory use, when
registered with the State Department of Agriculture, provided that:
1. No more than four hives, each with only one swarm, are allowed on lots of
less than 10,000 square feet.
2. Hives shall not be located within 25 feet of any lot line except when
situated 8 feet or more above the grade immediately adjacent to the grade of
the lot on which the hives are located or when situated less than 8 feet
above the adjacent existing lot grade and behind a solid fence or hedge six
(6) feet high parallel to any lot line within 25 feet of a hive and
extending at least 20 feet beyond.the hive in both directions.
F. Miniature Goats. The types of goats commonly known as Pygmy, Dwarf and
Miniature Goats may be kept as small animals, provided that male miniature
goats are neutered and all miniature goats are dehorned. Nursing offspring
of miniature goats licensed according to the provisions of this Code may be
kept until weaned, no longer than 12 weeks from birth, without violating the
limitations of subsection 23.42.052.A.
(Ord. 123378 Section 3, 2010; Ord. 122508 Section 1, 2007;
Ord. 122311 Section 23, 2006)
Definitions of terms used in Land Use Code.
Search for ordinances passed since the last SMC update (ordinances effective through April 19` 2011
through Ordinance 123 578; except Ordinance 123543 that refer to and that may amend Section
22 http://clerk.ci. seattle.wa.us /—scripts /nph- brs.exe ?d= CODE &s 1= 23.42.052. snum. &Sect5 07/05/2011
D
Web date: 12/04/2007
King County
Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES)
900 Oakesdale Avenue Southwest Renton, Washington 98057 -5212 206 296 -6600 TTY 206 296 -7217
DDESCustomer
Information Bulletin
Small Animals and Livestock
41A
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
King County DDES has created customer information bulletins to inform
the general public about the effect of codes and regulations on their
projects. These bulletins are not intended to be complete statements of site at Visit the all laws and rules and should not be used as substitutes for them. If
conflicts and questions arise, current codes and regulations are final
authority. Because the codes and regulations may be revised or
amended at any time, consult King County staff to be sure you
understand 611 requirements before beginning work. It is the applicant's
responsibility to ensure that the project meets all requirements of::
applicable codes and regulations.
For alternate formats, call 206 296 -6600.
Chapter 11.04 and Chapter 21A.30 of the King County Code (KCC) regulate the raising,
breeding, and /or fee boarding of small animals or livestock in King County. These activities are
considered to be accessory uses, which means that they are not the main uses of the property.
The intent of KCC Chapter 21A.30 is to enhance and preserve the compatibility among
neighboring properties by regulating the scope and intensity of accessory uses or activities.
The regulations in KCC Chapter 21A.30 regarding small animals and livestock are discussed
throughout this bulletin. The King County Code is online at
www. kingcounty. gov/ council /legislation /kc_code.aspx.
Note: At the end of this bulletin, definitions from the current King County Code are given
for the following:
Cattery Livestock
Household Pets Small Livestock
Small Animal Large Livestock
Kennel
Small animal regulations [See Chapter 21A.30.020 of the King County Code]
I. Small animals kept indoors
A. Those kept indoors as household pets in aquariums, terrariums, cages, or similar
containers are not limited in numbers, except as provided in Chapter 11.04 of the
King County Code (KCC).
B. The number of cats kept indoors is not limited.
C. Other small animals (excluding cats kept indoors) are limited to five, of which not more
than three may be unaltered cats or dogs.
Livestock;
Small livestock; and
Large livestock.
Bulletin 41A 12104/2007 Page 1 of 5
23
Small Animals and Livestock Bulletin 41A
Il. Small animals keot outdoors
A. The number of small animals kept outdoors as household pets, including cats and dogs,
is limited to the following:
1. Three per household on lots less than 20,000 square feet;
2. Five per household on lots of 20,000 to 35,000 square feet; and
3. An additional two per acre on lots more than 35,000 square feet, with a maximum of
20 animals.
B. All unaltered animals kept outdoors must be kept on a leash or in a confined area,
except as authorized for a hobby kennel or cattery or commercial kennel or cattery, as
provided in Chapter 11.04 of the King County Code.
C. When animals considered as household pets are kept for commercial breeding, boarding
or training, they must meet the regulations described in Item D, following.
D. Small animals and household pets kept as an accessory use outside the dwelling must
be raised, kept, or bred only as an accessory use on the premises of the owner, or in a
kennel or cattery approved through the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process.
Animals that fall into this category must meet the following standards:
1. Birds must be kept in an aviary or loft which meets the provisions described below:
a. The aviary or loft must provide the following:
One -half square foot for each parakeet, canary, or similar size bird;
One square foot for each pigeon, small parrot, or similar size bird; and
Two square feet for each large parrot, macaw, or similar size bird.
b. Aviaries or lofts must not exceed 2,000 square feet (except in Rural Forestry or
Agricultural Zones).
c. The setback for the aviary must be at least ten feet from any property line and
20 feet from any dwelling unit.
2. Small animals other than birds must meet the following standards:
a. The minimum site area must be half acre if more than three small animals are
being kept;
b. All animals must be confined within a building, pen, aviary, or similar structure;
and
c. The setback for any covered house or similar structure must be at least ten feet
from any property line (except structures used to house mink and fox, for which
the distance must be at least 105 feet).
3. Poultry, chickens, squab, rabbits, hamsters, nutria, and chinchilla are limited to a
maximum of one animal per square foot of structure used to house such animals, up
to a maximum of 2,000 square feet.
Note: This maximum structure size limit does not apply to Rural, Forestry, or
Agricultural Zones.
4. Mink and fox are permitted only on sites with a minimum area of five acres.
5. Beekeeping must meet the following standards:
a. Beehives are limited to 50 on sites less than five acres;
b. The number of beehives is not limited on sites of five or more acres;
c. Colonies must be maintained in movable -frame hives at all times;
d. Adequate space must be provided in each hive to prevent overcrowding and
swarming;
e. Colonies must be requeened following any swarming or aggressive behavior;
f. Colonies must be registered with the County Extension Agent before April 1 of
each year, on a State Registration Form acceptable to King County; and
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Small Animals and Livestock Bulletin 41A
g. Abandoned colonies, diseased bees, or bees living in trees, buildings, or any
other space except in movable -frame hives are considered a public nuisance.
They are subject to abatement, as set forth in the enforcement chapter of the
current King County Code. [See Chapter 21A.50 of the King County Code
(KCC).]
E. Kennels and catteries must meet the following requirements:
1. Kennels located in Residential Zones:
The minimum site area is five acres; and
The setbacks for structures housing animals and outdoor animal runs must
be a minimum distance of 100 feet from property lines abutting Residential
Zones.
2. For kennels located in Non Residential Zones:
Run areas must be completely surrounded by an eight -foot solid wall or
fence; and
Kennels must meet the requirements stated in Chapter 11.04.060 of the
King County Code (KCC), Livestock Management Standards, as described
under the Title of Livestock. Regulations later in this bulletin.
3. Catteries must meet the following standards:
They must be on sites of 35,000 square feet or more; and
Buildings used to house cats must be a minimum distance of 50 feet from
property lines abutting Residential Zones.
Animal regulations livestock— densities [See Chapter 21A.30.040 of the King
County Code]
I. The minimum site used to accommodate larae livestock is 20,000 sauare feet. The portion
of the total site area used for confinement or grazing must also meet the requirements in the
section of this bulletin that describes livestock densities.
II. The maximum number of livestock allowed is as follows:
A. For commercial dairy farms, the number is regulated by the Washington State
Department of Ecology's NPDES System, either through a general or a special permit;
B. For stables with covered arenas, for which farm management plans are implemented
and maintained such that pasture and paddock use does not exceed the equivalent of
three animals per acre on a full -time basis, up to six resident horses per acre;
Note: Higher densities may be allowed if a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is approved.
C. For all large livestock not covered by sections A and B above, the number is three
horses, cows, or similar -size animals per gross acre of total site area. In figuring the
number of livestock, two ponies are equivalent to one horse, and miniature horses are
treated as small livestock. (See Section E, below.) A farm management plan must be
implemented and maintained, or all Livestock Management Standards of Chapter
21A.30.060 of the King County Code (KCC), outlined below, must be met;
D. If the standards mentioned in ILC above are not met, then one horse, cow, or similar
size animal (excluding any young animals under six months of age) is allowed per two
acres of fenced grazing area; and
E. For small livestock, five of each or any combination (excluding sucklings) are allowed
per one acre of fenced pasturage, or per /z acre of total site area. The Livestock
Management Standards in Chapter 21A.30.060 of the King County Code (KCC)
(described on the following page) must be met.
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Small Animals and Livestock Bulletin 41A
Livestock management standards [See Chapter 21A.30.060 of the King County
Code]
As an alternative to a farm management plan, any property owner may implement the following
management standards for any site that is used, or proposed to be used, to accommodate large
livestock at densities greater than one animal per two acres and small livestock at densities
greater than five per acre.
I. Livestock access to streams and their buffers
A. Access is limited to stream crossing and water points that have been addressed in a
crossing plan or watering point designed to SCS /KCD specifications. The specifications
prevent free access along the length of the stream.
B. Fencing must be used, as necessary, to prevent livestock access to streams.
C. Bridges may be used instead of stream crossings, provided that piers and abutments are
not placed within the ordinary high water mark or top -of -bank, whichever is greater. The
following also applies to bridges:
1.. Bridges must be designed to allow free flow of floodwaters and must not diminish the
floodcarrying capacity of the stream.
2. Bridges may be placed without a County permit. However, with regard to such a
permit waiver, King County will neither assume liability for such a bridge or its
placement, nor will it grant a waiver from other required agency permits.
11. Grazing areas not covered by Chapter 21A.24 of the Kina Countv Code must maintain a
vegetative buffer of 25 feet from:
A. Any naturally occurring pond;
B. Any wetland edge of a Class I or II wetland (except those wetlands meeting the definition
of grazed wet meadows); and
C. The ordinary high water mark of a Type S or F aquatic area.
Animal definitions [See Chapter 21A.06 of the King County Code]
K.C.C. 21A.06.065 Animal, Small: Any animal, other than livestock or animals considered to
be predatory or wild which are kept outside a dwelling unit all or part of the time. Animals
considered predatory or wild, excluding those in zoo animal breeding facilities, shall be
considered small animals when they are taken into captivity for the purposes of breeding,
domestication, training, hunting, or exhibition.
K.C.C. 21A.06.175 Catterv: A place where adult cats are temporarily boarded for
compensation, whether or not for training. An adult cat is of either sex, altered or unaltered,
that has reached the age of six months.
K.C.C. 21A.0.6.615 Household Pets: Small animals that are kept within a dwelling unit.
K.C.C. 21A.06.660 Kennel: A place where adult dogs are temporarily boarded for
compensation, whether or not for training. An adult dog is one of either sex, altered or
unaltered, that has reached the age of six months.
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Small Animals and Livestock Bulletin 41A
K.C.C. 21A.06.695 Livestock: Grazing animals kept either in open fields or structures for
training, boarding, home use, sales, or breeding and production, including but not limited to
the following:
A. Cattle;
B. Riding and draft horses;
C. Hogs, excluding pigs weighing under 120 pounds and standing 20 inches or less at the
shoulder, which are kept as pets or small animals;
D. Sheep; and /or
E. Goats.
K.C.C. 21A.06.700 Livestock. Large: Cattle, horses, and other livestock generally weighing
over 500 pounds.
K.C.C. 21A.06.705 Livestock, Small: Hogs, excluding pigs weighing under 120 pounds and
standing 20 inches or less at the shoulder, which are kept as household pets or small
animals, sheep, goats, miniature horses, llamas, alpaca, and other livestock generally
weighing under 500 pounds.
Other bulletins and telephone numbers that may be helpful
Bulletin 1 Building and Development Permit Telephone Numbers
Bulletin 17A Zoning Code: Overview and Summary
Bulletin 18A Zoning Code: Permitted Use Tables
Bulletin 21 Critical Areas Review
These and other DDES bulletins are available via the department Web site at
www.kingcounty.gov /permits.
206 296 -6600 DDES customer service
206 263 -6566 King County Department of Natural Resources Parks
Office of Rural Resource Programs
Also see the Critical Areas Summaries on specific critical areas (i.e., wetlands or
streams) that are available at DDES, and the Kina Countv Livestock Manaaement
Ordinance. available throuah Kinq Countv. More information is available from the
DDES Web site at www.kingcountv.gov /permits, by callina DDES customer service at
206 296 -6600, and in the DDES Permit Center in Renton, WA.
FM
King County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If
Be sure to visit our Web site at. you require an accommodation to attend a meeting (two weeks' notice)
or require this information in Braille, audiocassette, or large print, please
www.kingcounty.gov/permits call 206 296 -6600 or TTY 206- 296 -7217.
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