Lacey, Wa I want to change to law!

So, this is the zoning ordinance as it relates to animals now:

"16.13.050 Lot area.
B. Other or related uses permitted:

2. Agricultural uses not involving retail sales on the premises;

6. The keeping of common household animals or pets, provided that their keeping does not constitute a nuisance or hazard to the peace, health and welfare of the community in general and neighbors in particular;

16.13.040 Environmental performance standards.
C. Agricultural uses shall be limited as follows:

1. On lots or parcels of one acre or more, poultry and/or livestock may be kept provided that the number of head of livestock shall not exceed one for each half acre of lot area, and not more than twenty birds or fowl per acre; and that barns or other structures for the housing or sheltering thereof be set back not less than thirty‑five feet from all property lines."

The problem is that I live on 1/3 of an acre, which prevents me from having any chickens. Olympia and Tumwater (cities sharing borders with Lacey) both allow chickens. Olympia allows 3, and Tumwater has no limit on the number.

How are do you think this would be to change? Is there anyone in Lacey, Wa, that would like to join me in my quest to make chickens legal?

Hi there and a mighty welcome from OLY!
I don't have any idea how hard it would be to change the zoning laws, but I've seen it happen when a developer wants something, that's for sure!
I'd be happy to look around and pick a few brains of folks I think might know how. After all, there should be a Chicken in Every Yard!! We'll band together and bring the Newsweek add
Maybe this bump will catch someone's eye.

I don't know--Lacey seems to want to be a step "up" from the others. Some parts are quite rural though, and maybe your neighbors would allow you an "outlaw" coop. I don't think those laws are enforced unless someone reports you, and I know a guy who has a lot of chickens in Lacey. In fact, I can think of several places in Lacey and Olympia that have quite a few chickens.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They changed the laws guys! I am sooooooo happy! I want to find each and every person who helped get this through and bake them cookies! Here is what it is now:

1. Residential lots less than one acre. The following urban agricultural activity is permitted as an accessory use to a residence:
a. All horticultural activity for personal use and incidental sales or distribution on site and off site at a farmers market or approved retail area. Provided commercial sales may be accommodated subject to the 2001 FDA food code WAC 216-415 and requirements of a home occupation pursuant to LMC 16.69.
b. Limited animal husbandry of small farm animals for personal use. Provided commercial sales may be accommodated subject to the 2001 FDA food code WAC 216-415 and requirements of a home occupation pursuant to LMC 16.69. This activity shall be limited to the following:
(1) Domestic fowl and rabbits:
(a) The maximum number of all fowl permitted accessory to a single family residential home on an urban lot, shall be 1 per 1000 square feet of lot area, up to a maximum of 10.
(b) Roosters, geese, turkeys, peacocks and exotic species are prohibited.
(c) Rabbits kept in accordance with recommendations of the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) and a minimum 3.5 square feet of hutch space per rabbit up to a maximum of two dozen rabbits.
(d) Structures housing domestic fowl or rabbits must be located and designed as follows:
Located 10 feet away from property lines. Designed to prevent rodents by incorporation of one of the following:- Raising the floor area 8 to 12 inches above grade
- Portable pens moved every few days with clean up of ground.
- Other techniques that have similar results.
(2) Miniature Goats commonly known as Pygmy, Dwarf and Miniature Goats provided:
(a) Male miniature goats are neutered.
(b) Lots accommodating miniature goats must be a minimum of 7,500 square feet and may be allowed at a ratio of four miniature goats per one acre of property.
(3) Beekeeping provided:
(a) Beekeeping may include honey bees, mason bees, cutter bees, cavity nesting bees or similar bees used for honey or pollination purposes.
(b) Honey Bees must be registered with the State Department of Agriculture according to provisions of RCW 15.60.021 and meet the following restrictions:
A maximum of four honey bee hives is permitted as an accessory use to a single family home, Honey bee hive shall not be located within 25 feet of any lot line, provided this distance may be reduced to 10 feet if strategies are employed to require bees to gain elevation before crossing the property line. This may include elevation changes, solid fencing or other techniques that can achieve this objective.(c) Area housing bee varieties other than honey bees must be a minimum of 10 feet from adjacent properties and limited in size appropriate for pollination of the owner’s lot.
(4) Other poultry and small animals not specified may be permitted or prohibited by the Director of Community Development upon finding that the species can or cannot reasonably be accommodated without impacts to adjacent properties. Limitations shall be applied as considered appropriate to mitigate potential impacts. Approval under this provision shall be at the sole discretion of the Director of Community Development based upon written findings articulating the intent of this chapter.

Wow! Only 3 years. But congratulations!!!

Sorry to see another "no roo" zone go up but yeah for the most part!

Thank you for doing your homework.
I'm in Thurston County in the Lacey Urban Growth Area. Do the same rules apply to me? Or do Thurston County regulations apply?

Cherry Bird said:

Thank you for doing your homework.
I'm in Thurston County in the Lacey Urban Growth Area. Do the same rules apply to me? Or do Thurston County regulations apply?

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Anyone know the answer to this question? Im wondering now too.

DirtCreature said:

Anyone know the answer to this question? Im wondering now too.

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The rules only apply if you are inside Lacey's city limits. If you have service from the Lacey city Police and Fire or you pay your property taxes directly to the city of Lacey you are most likely in the city of Lacey. If your Police services come from the Thurston County Sheriff or you write your property tax cheque to the Thurston County Assessor, you will be covered by County land rules. The Urban Growth Area is nothing more than a zoning/taxation area related to shared services like transit, water, sewer between the County and City governments. The city/zip code in your mailing address also has nothing to do with Lacey's chicken ordinance. The zip and city simply indicate the location of the main Post Office that serves your location.

I live in Lacey. I have two rabbits in a big hutch, several feet off the ground. We use the manure for our plants and the rabbits are quite clean. Anything I should be aware of with keeping these pets in our yard in a hutch? I also want to get chickens for pets and for their eggs. My lot is pretty big for a house in Lacey, but not sure exactly how much property. I am thinking 3 or 5 female chicken, but want to make sure I don't break any rules.

mrsaubrey said:

I live in Lacey. I have two rabbits in a big hutch, several feet off the ground. We use the manure for our plants and the rabbits are quite clean. Anything I should be aware of with keeping these pets in our yard in a hutch? I also want to get chickens for pets and for their eggs. My lot is pretty big for a house in Lacey, but not sure exactly how much property. I am thinking 3 or 5 female chicken, but want to make sure I don't break any rules.

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The ordinance above says you can up to ten animals, but only one for every 1,000 square feet.

1 acre is 43 560 square feet
.5 acre is 21 780 square feet
.33 (a third) is 14 520 square feet
.25 acre 10 890 square feet


so if you have a least 7,000 square feet so at least a litte under .25 acres and 5 hens and 2 rabbits would be fine.