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

Under Land Use Code 20.20.130, residents may keep up to 6 fowl per lot as household pets in residential districts without any permit or license. Fowl include chickens, ducks, geese, swans, and similar birds. Keeping more than 6 requires classification as small domestic animals and may trigger minimum lot size requirements and additional setback rules. Any animal enclosure must be set back at least 15 feet from all property lines, unless the entire lot is fenced along every lot line (in which case the setback does not apply). Roosters are effectively prohibited because continuous crowing violates the BCC 9.18 noise ordinance and BCC 8.05 animal nuisance provisions. The city partners with Kelsey Creek Farm to offer classes on chicken keeping, coop construction, breed selection, and predator protection. Slaughter of animals is prohibited in residential zones. HOA covenants may impose stricter rules than city code, including outright bans. Sales of eggs or meat from backyard flocks are limited by Washington state agricultural regulations.