Spokane County, WA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Density cap
- 3 livestock units per acre
- One unit equals
- Horse, cow, or hog
- Goat or sheep
- One-half unit
- Setback from homes
- 50 ft (swine 200 ft)
- Governing code
- SCC 14.616.230(7)
Summary
Livestock keeping in unincorporated Spokane County's agricultural and forestry zones is capped at three livestock units per gross acre. A horse, cow, or hog equals one unit; a goat or sheep equals one-half. Barns, pens, and manure must stay 50 feet from neighboring homes (200 feet for swine).
Equivalency units: A livestock unit equals one horse, mule, donkey, burro, llama, bovine or swine. A goat or sheep equals one-half of a livestock unit. Animal density requirements: i. Large animals: Three livestock units per gross acre.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
Spokane County Zoning Code 14.616.230(7) sets livestock standards in the Large Tract Agricultural, Small Tract Agricultural, and Forestry zones. A livestock unit equals one horse, mule, donkey, burro, llama, bovine, or swine; a goat or sheep equals one-half a unit. Large-animal density is limited to three livestock units per gross acre. Any building or structure housing animals, plus any yard, runway, pen, or manure pile, must be at least 50 feet from any occupied structure other than the occupant's own dwelling, or 200 feet in the case of swine, and manure piles must be 100 feet from a water well. Enclosures must be kept clean and sanitary as enforced by the Spokane Regional Health District.
Violations & Fines
Overstocking or non-compliant enclosures are zoning code-enforcement matters handled by Spokane County Building and Planning, with sanitation enforced by the Spokane Regional Health District.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many horses or cows can I keep per acre?
How far must a barn be from my neighbor's house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
How Spokane County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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