Aha! Just found out poultry regulations for Vancouver, WA

[saraanne]

Hi, I am new to chickens. Thank you for posting this information. I was wondering where the best places to buy chickens are in the area. I have checked the hatcheries because I didn't know where to go and when I want to checkout the pullets shipping was more then the birds themselves.

 

[forklift]

Yes old thread revival. Did things change? Is there no limits on chickens? Also, where to place the coop? We are in Vancouver Heights and about to get a few birds from the neighbor whos moving and I gotta build a coop soon

First time for all of this

 

[cojack]

To answer a few questions about Vancouver and where to buy birds and where to build a coop. First I buy all my chickens from a local homesteader/farmer and she always has laying age hens for me. Call around, she will even take them back when they stop laying so I don't have to butcher them. If no luck there then Orchards Feed, Thrifty feed and garden are great and Wilco all see chicks. I like the idea of putting the coop somewhere with both sun and shade is possible. Still no regs on how many to keep and I think in unincorporated you can have roosters now. Just be kind to close neighbors and share eggs.

 

[Wendiane]

HELP!!!! I know this is years later than the original post but I just started raising chicks and have three that are only 3 1/2 months old. I have a neighbor who lets her dog run loose and poop in my yard and so I called animal control on her. Then, she called Code Enforcement on me for my chickens. It turns out, if you're in Clark County, you can't let chickens be within 5 feet of your property line on the side of your home....or within 20 ft of the backyard property lines of your neighbors yards. This has made it impossible for me to have chickens, at all then because I live on a narrow lot. I only have 5 ft of a side yard but it's long. I made a long run for them over there....5 ft wide and about 75 ft long. Now, it can't even be used for them!

I have decided to fight to get this changed in Clark County! Why is it fair for her dog to be within inches of me, barking noisily, as long as he's on his property but my chickens can't be on their own and have to stay 5 ft or 20 ft away, when it's still my property?!?

If anyone would be willing to add their names to the petition I hope to do, or come to a meeting to try and get it changed, etc....I would so appreciate it. They won't listen to one person wanting to keep her three chickens. I'm heartbroken over this and FURIOUS that a dog can be inches from me on his property but my chickens can't. It seems so discriminatory and UNFAIR!!! I am going to do my part to try and change that. I would appreciate anyone who wants to help! Thanks!

 

[cojack]

I would be more than happy to sign a petition. What specific regulations do they quote when they talk about your chickens? I have found nothing on where you have to keep your chickens. They can not regulate how you use your own land. Just let one of your sick chicken out and get killed by the dog, then the dog will have to go.

 

[Wendiane]

It's a county reg that classifies chickens as livestock and...livestock has to fit those requirements of not being with 5 ft of the side yard or 20 of the back yards.

I found out the right person to contact. City of Vancouver doesn't have that same requirement so I am hopeful to get Clark County's changed.

 

[Wendiane]

I just got the letter from Clark County Counseliors and they have decided to stick to their five foot/20 foot requirement for chickens not being allowed. That means that very few people in Clark Cpunty can actually have chickens because of how the homes are being built closer to each other. It means they now expect me to get rid of my three chickens....they originally told me I could have before I even got them. I've been given until March 10th.

This law is so unfair! I could understand if they had a limit of a certain number of chickens but to say that your chickens have to be five feet away from your OWN property line, on the side, when most homes now barely have five feet of side to begin with.....and 20 feet away from anyone's BACK yards....is redicuous! Not even the City of Vancouver has that rule. I do not want to give up without a fight!

If any of you would be willing to call the Clark County Cousel to complain, or let me add your names/numbers to a petition, etc....please let me know! A call would be so helpful. If they start getting a bunch of calls, maybe they'll reconsider.

 

[Janice123456]

You need to find other chicken owners in town to fight together. Go to their meetings together. Stop this insane regulation. I bet dog rules are not so strict. Can you neighbors dog be 5ft from your property line?

 

[CityFlockKeeper]

Found this helpful

5.Poultry and Rabbits. The keeping of chickens, ducks, geese, domesticated hare or rabbit, and similar animals is permitted with no required minimum lot size. No turkeys, peacocks, or roosters are permitted.

http://www.cityofvancouver.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/vmc/7511/20.895.050.pdf

 

[lynnehd]

HELP!!!! I know this is years later than the original post but I just started raising chicks and have three that are only 3 1/2 months old. I have a neighbor who lets her dog run loose and poop in my yard and so I called animal control on her. Then, she called Code Enforcement on me for my chickens. It turns out, if you're in Clark County, you can't let chickens be within 5 feet of your property line on the side of your home....or within 20 ft of the backyard property lines of your neighbors yards. This has made it impossible for me to have chickens, at all then because I live on a narrow lot. I only have 5 ft of a side yard but it's long. I made a long run for them over there....5 ft wide and about 75 ft long. Now, it can't even be used for them!

I have decided to fight to get this changed in Clark County! Why is it fair for her dog to be within inches of me, barking noisily, as long as he's on his property but my chickens can't be on their own and have to stay 5 ft or 20 ft away, when it's still my property?!?

If anyone would be willing to add their names to the petition I hope to do, or come to a meeting to try and get it changed, etc....I would so appreciate it. They won't listen to one person wanting to keep her three chickens. I'm heartbroken over this and FURIOUS that a dog can be inches from me on his property but my chickens can't. It seems so discriminatory and UNFAIR!!! I am going to do my part to try and change that. I would appreciate anyone who wants to help! Thanks!

This is awful. Did you know that the Vancouver City Council will be meeting to discuss (among other topics) the # of all animals (dogs, cats included) that are allowed in the city limits?
They are considering limiting the # of hens to 5.
The article did not mention property line distances, but what a ridiculous rule, given the fact that it does not apply to other 'pets'.