Am I reading this right?

[backtobasics]

Quote:
Where did you see these numbers? Did I completely miss this part?

I checked with a local organization (Seattle Tilth) and they agreed that it appeared to be 3 for under 1/2 acre, 2,000 for over. I'm still confused since we have some differing opinions here. Guess I need to call the county offices tomorrow!

 

[Davis5454]

Sounds like you checked with the organization.....but depending on where you live, it may not be much of an issue.

We are just across the city limit line, they can have none...but we are unlimited for small farming as long as it's not one of those big commercial hen houses. If you haven't checked, I would call and explain the situation (without giving the address or name) and ask if it is ok to have (???) number of chickens that you are looking for.

If you are rural like us....they may say no problem....that it's just for protecting subdivisions, etc...

Not sure of your particular situation though. Good luck.

 

[theFox]

The key as to weather 2A applies is.

Are chickens household pets?

My answer is no, chickens are not household pets.

The city of Seattle considers chickens and animals kept outside as accessory use animals. The count starts at a 3 + 1 for every 1000 square feet of land beyond the minimum lot size for the residential zone the house is in. The minimum lot size is sometimes 5,000 square feet which for a 20,000 square foot lot in that zone would allow 3 + 15 or 18 chickens.

At the same time this must not be in conflict with the county law or the state law. The upper levels codify the powers that get delegated to the lower levels.

For example if the state says that the local jurisdiction is the only power that can set zoning law, then any attempt by a county if you are in a city to set the rules is moot, likewise any covenant or restriction recorded in the registry that restricts what you can do with your property that is at odds with local zoning is also moot, if the covenants and restrictions do not have a sever-ability clause in them and any clause is mooted by law then the entire covenants and restrictions may be moot.

While some domestic fowl are kept by some people as pets in their homes they are not always considered as household pets by the law.

Seattle Municipal Code for Keeping Chickens

Read the city code about keeping chickens.

Title 23 - Land Use Code
Subtitle IV - Land Use Regulations
Division 2 - Authorized Uses and Development Standards
Chapter 23.44 - Residential, Single-Family