Puyallup, WA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Fowl density, lot < 0.5 acre
- 1 per 1,000 sq ft
- Fowl density, lot >= 0.5 acre
- 1 per 500 sq ft
- Fowl structure setback
- 50 ft from residences
- Miniature goat lot minimum
- 6,000 sq ft
- Large farm animal lot minimum
- 1 acre, plus 0.5 acre pasture/animal
Summary
Puyallup allows chickens and other small farm animals as an accessory residential use with lot-area-based density limits and 50-foot setbacks, while large farm animals like horses or cows need at least an acre plus a half-acre of pasture per animal.
The keeping of small farm animals, including chickens, geese, ducks or other domestic fowl, rabbits, and miniature goats, is permitted subject to the following standards: ... The maximum number of all fowl permitted accessory to a residence shall be: (a) One per 1,000 square feet of lot area on lots less than one-half acre. (b) One per 500 square feet of lot area on lots greater than one-half acre. ... Located 50 feet away from the nearest portion of any residence, dwelling, hotel, or apartment house, now existing or hereafter constructed, except that a runway or enclosure may be 25 feet. ... The keeping of large farm animals is permitted on properties over one acre; provided, that the property contains a minimum of one-half acre of lot area available as pasture, yard, or stall space for each such animal in any combination.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4985225; v6 updated 2026-07-21; through 07-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
010 permits keeping chickens, geese, ducks, other domestic fowl, rabbits and miniature goats as an accessory residential use, subject to numeric standards. Fowl density is tied to lot size: one bird per 1,000 square feet of lot area on lots under half an acre, or one bird per 500 square feet on lots half an acre or larger. 5 square feet of hutch space per rabbit, capped at two dozen rabbits. Structures housing fowl or rabbits must sit at least 50 feet from the nearest residence, dwelling, hotel or apartment house (existing or future), though a runway or enclosure alone can be as close as 25 feet, and the structure must be designed to deter rodents through raised flooring, portable pens that are regularly moved, or comparable methods.
Miniature (pygmy/dwarf) goats are allowed with neutered males only, on lots of at least 6,000 square feet, at a ratio of two goats per 10,000 square feet. 020: they're permitted only on properties over one acre with at least half an acre of pasture, yard or stall space per animal, and any pen or building must be at least 100 feet from a neighboring residence, dwelling, hotel, apartment house or rooming house.
Violations & Fines
Any of the animals covered by these two sections that are permitted to run at large on streets, alleys or public places violate PMC § 8.08.040. Chapter 8.08's dedicated penalty section, PMC § 8.08.050, has been repealed, so violations of §§ 8.08.010 and 8.08.020 fall to the general animal control violation framework in Chapter 8.04, including civil infraction enforcement and escalation to a misdemeanor for habitual violators under PMC § 8.04.260.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep on my Puyallup property?
Can I keep a horse or cow in Puyallup?
Are backyard goats allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Puyallup
How Puyallup compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Puyallup to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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