Auburn, WA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

220(B) treats domestic fowl and poultry as an accessory use to a single-unit detached dwelling only, and it draws a hard line on species: roosters and peafowl are not permitted anywhere in the city, regardless of lot size. Coops, pens or runs must sit in the rear yard, defined as the area between the rear lot line and the extension of the rear facade of the house, and must be set back at least 10 feet from both the rear and side yard lot lines.

The numeric cap starts at four birds on a 6,000-square-foot lot; every additional 2,000 square feet of lot area buys one more bird, up to a citywide maximum of 10 domestic fowl per lot, except that the 10-bird cap does not apply on RC (residential conservancy) or R-1 (one dwelling unit per acre) zoned property. The same section, in subsections (C) through (E), extends similar lot-size-scaled keeping rights to other livestock: two neutered, dehorned miniature goats on lots of at least 12,500 square feet (one more per additional 7,500 square feet); two potbelly pigs, capped at 24 inches at the shoulder and 150 pounds, on the same 12,500-square-foot threshold; and two large domestic animals (such as horses) on lots of at least one acre, with one more per additional 21,780 square feet. 220 states flatly that the specified minimum lot sizes are absolute requirements, with no variances, waivers or modifications available under the Auburn City Code.