Chapter 7.10
DOMESTIC ANIMALS, URBAN LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY
Sections:
7.10.020 General requirements.
7.10.010 Definitions.
“Administrator” means the administrator of development regulations per EMC 15.06.050, or the person’s designee.
“Animal unit” means one horse or bovine, two ponies, or five small livestock.
“Domestic animal” means any animal other than livestock that lives and breeds in a tame condition including, but not limited to: dogs, cats, small birds, domesticated hares and rabbits, and other animals kept as pets.
“Large livestock” means livestock with a weight of 200 pounds or more.
“Livestock” means any horses, colts, mules, sheep, goats, cows, cattle, llamas, alpacas, jack, jennet, burro, emus, hogs and swine.
“Livestock facility” means an accessory building used to house livestock or poultry.
“Poultry” means domesticated fowl (such as chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and similar) and all game birds which are legally held in captivity.
“Small livestock” means livestock weighing less than 200 pounds. (Ord. 2455 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010).
7.10.020 General requirements.
The keeping of domestic animals, livestock or poultry within city limits is allowed subject to all of the following requirements:
A. Domestic animals are permitted in all zoning districts within the city limits with no required minimum lot size, provided not more than four of which can be kept in a home;
B. Poultry are permitted in all zoning districts within the city limits with no required minimum lot size. No peafowl are permitted. A maximum of six fowl, not including roosters, are allowed on lots smaller than one acre. A maximum of one rooster is allowed per lot over one acre in size;
C. The minimum lot size for keeping livestock is 21,780 square feet (one-half acre) for the first animal, and 14,500 square feet for each additional animal unit. Alternate lot sizes may be allowed subject to approval of the administrator in any district;
E. All livestock facilities shall meet the same side and rear yard setbacks as the primary residence. If practical, doorways and other openings shall be oriented away from neighboring properties;
F. All livestock and poultry shall be kept within an enclosure or a fence of sufficient strength to prevent the escape of or injury to the livestock. Livestock shall be confined in such a manner that intrusion onto neighboring property or damage to neighboring landscaping and fencing is avoided; and
G. All pens, livestock facilities and outdoor livestock confinement areas shall be cleaned of manure or refuse on a regular basis. More frequent cleaning may be required if the administrator determines it to be necessary to prevent nuisance. Facilities that are subject to the Dairy Nutrient Management requirements (Chapter 90.64 RCW) or operate under a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) permit from the Washington State Department of Ecology are exempt from this provision.
H. Existing legally established livestock and poultry facilities that do not meet these requirements shall be considered legal nonconforming uses and allowed to continue under the provisions of Chapter 15.10 EMC, Nonconforming Uses, Structures and Signs. (Ord. 2455 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010).
7.10.030 Other requirements.
A. The raising and keeping of animals, livestock or poultry is also subject to Chapter 7.01 EMC, Animal Control, Chapter 8.20 EMC, Noise Control, and Chapter 9.40 EMC, Public Nuisance.
B. A domestic animal, livestock or poultry nuisance, only under this chapter, shall also include the following:
1. Causes damages to the property of anyone other than its owner;
2. Is vicious in nature;
3. Causes unreasonable or detectable odor at the adjacent property line;
4. Causes unsanitary conditions in enclosures or surroundings; provided, however, that this subsection is not violated if the alleged nuisance occurs by the accumulation of expected amounts of manure, urine or other animal waste products and the manure is not allowed to stockpile, but is either composted, tilled into the ground or hauled away from the premises. Facilities that are subject to the Dairy Waste Management Act (Chapter 90.34 RCW) or operate under a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) permit from the Washington State Department of Ecology are exempt from this provision;
5. Barks, whines, or howls or makes other disturbing noises in an excessive, continuous, or untimely fashion; and
6. Is determined by the King County health department to be a public nuisance by virtue of being offensive or dangerous to the public health, welfare or safety. (Ord. 2455 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010).