Kennewick, WA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Max per kind
- 3 (chickens, rabbits, etc.)
- Combined cap
- 6 animals total
- Roosters
- Not allowed
- Zones covered
- R, HMU, UMU districts
Summary
Kennewick allows up to three chickens (no roosters), plus rabbits, guinea pigs, pigeons and similar small animals, capped at six total, in R, HMU and UMU districts under KMC 18.12.040: enclosures must stay clean and can't create a nuisance.
In R, HMU and UMU districts, dogs and cats of the age of ten weeks or older, rabbits, guinea pigs, fowl, pigeons, chickens (excluding roosters) and similar small animals may be kept so long as no more than three of each kind or a combined total of six are kept. All cages, pens, and runs must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and meet setbacks. Animals and birds must not roam or fly to adjacent properties. Animals and birds and their surroundings must be maintained to prevent a nuisance due to noise or smell. An increase in the allowable number will be permitted upon issuance of a Land Use Permit in accord with Section 18.42.
(Ord. 5712 Sec. 6, 2017; Ord. 5542 Sec. 4, 2014; Ord. 5180 Sec. 1, 2007)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
KMC 18.12.040 permits dogs, cats over ten weeks, rabbits, guinea pigs, fowl, pigeons and chickens, excluding roosters, in residential (R), Historic Mixed-Use (HMU) and Urban Mixed-Use (UMU) districts, so long as no more than three of each kind, or six combined, are kept. Cages, pens and runs must stay clean and sanitary and meet applicable setbacks; animals and birds can't roam or fly onto neighboring properties, and their keeping can't create a noise or odor nuisance. A property owner can seek a Land Use Permit under KMC 18.42 to raise the cap above the base combined total of six. This section governs pet-scale poultry and small-animal keeping, distinct from the separate Farm Animals footnote covering horses, cows and sheep in RS-zoned lots.
Violations & Fines
Keeping roosters, exceeding three of a kind or six animals combined without a Land Use Permit, or letting animals roam, fly loose, or create a noise/odor nuisance violates KMC 18.12.040 and is subject to code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are backyard chickens legal in Kennewick?
Can I keep more than six chickens or small animals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
How Kennewick compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Kennewick to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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