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Island County, WA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing sections
Island County Code §§ 6.16.010, 6.16.020
Restricted area
Entire unincorporated Island County
State authority cited
RCW 16.24.010, stock at large
Adopted
Ord. E-73-4, June 4, 1973
Chicken-specific rules
None printed; general at-large ban only

Summary

Chapter 6.16, Stock Restricted Areas, declares the entire unincorporated area of Island County a restricted zone where no livestock may run at large. The countywide ban has applied since 1973 and traces its authority to the state's stock-at-large statute; the code prints no separate backyard-chicken keeping standard.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Island County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

6.16.010 - Restriction imposed. No livestock shall be allowed to run at large within the areas of Island County described in section 6.16.020. ... 6.16.020 - Restricted areas. The entire area of Island County shall be a restricted area for livestock.

View official code

Full Breakdown

16 of the Island County Code, adopted by Ord. E-73-4 on June 4, 1973, is short but sweeping. 020. 020, Restricted areas, then defines that area as the entire area of Island County, so the at-large restriction covers all of unincorporated Whidbey Island and Camano Island, not just designated pastures or subdivisions. 010 as the state statutory authority for county stock-restriction ordinances. 040 set the chapter's effective date at five days after passage. The chapter does not separately define 'livestock' or address backyard poultry keeping, coop setbacks, or flock-size limits; it is confined to the at-large restriction.

Anyone keeping horses, cattle, goats, sheep, or other stock animals on unincorporated land must keep them confined to the owner's property under this chapter, in addition to whatever fencing or use standards apply under the applicable Title XVII zoning district, such as Rural, Rural Residential, Rural Agriculture, or Rural Forest.

Violations & Fines

Chapter 6.16 does not print a separate fine schedule or impoundment procedure for loose livestock; it establishes the at-large restriction and leaves day-to-day enforcement to the county's general nuisance and animal-control processes. An owner whose livestock is found running at large anywhere in unincorporated Island County, including Whidbey and Camano Island rural areas, is out of compliance with section 6.16.010's countywide restriction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I let my goats or cattle roam on unincorporated Island County land?
No. Section 6.16.010 makes it unlawful to allow livestock to run at large anywhere in the area described in section 6.16.020, and that section defines the restricted area as the entire area of Island County, so the at-large ban applies countywide outside the cities.
Does Island County Code set separate rules for keeping backyard chickens?
The code text reviewed here shows no chicken-specific keeping standard, coop setback, or flock-size limit; Chapter 6.16 addresses only the countywide restriction on livestock running at large, so chicken-keeping falls under the applicable Title XVII zoning district's general use standards rather than a livestock-specific rule.
What law lets Island County restrict livestock at large?
The chapter's footnote cites RCW 16.24.010 as the state statutory authority for the county's at-large livestock restriction, which Island County implemented locally through Ord. E-73-4 in 1973 and has kept as Chapter 6.16 of the county code ever since.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Island County

Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsBreed RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsExotic PetsHeavy RestrictionsPet LimitsSome RestrictionsCat RulesLight RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesFew RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome Restrictions

All Island County rules

How Island County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Island County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview

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