Washington County, UT Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Large animal ratio
- 1 per 12,500 sq ft, max 4
- Medium animal conversion
- 3 medium = 1 large animal
- Poultry/rabbit cap
- 8 per 12,500 sq ft, max 30/lot
- RA-zone exception
- No hard cap if ratio is met
- Civil penalty
- $250/day after 10-day cure notice
Summary
Unincorporated Washington County lets residential-zone lots keep livestock and poultry for personal food production, but caps the numbers by square footage: one large animal per 12,500 square feet (max four), three medium animals count as one large animal, and up to 30 poultry or rabbits per lot.
In no event shall the property owner be allowed to keep in excess of the following in a residential zone: A. One (1) large animal for every twelve thousand five hundred (12,500) square feet of area not to exceed a maximum of four (4) large animals on any residential zoned lot not located in the RA-2.5, RA-5 and RA-10 Residential Agricultural zones... B. Three (3) medium animals shall equal one large animal... C. Not more than eight (8) poultry or rabbits or other small animals for every twelve thousand five hundred (12,500) square feet of area, not to exceed thirty (30) poultry or rabbits on any lot.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
County zoning code § 10-4-1 permits "the keeping of animals and fowl for family food production or personal use, but not for commercial use" on a single-family residential lot, so long as the property stays under the numeric caps in the ANIMAL SIZE definition. 5, RA-5 and RA-10 Residential Agricultural zones, which have no hard cap as long as the 12,500-square-foot ratio is met. Three medium animals, defined as goats, sheep, or horses/ponies under 36 inches at the withers, equal one large animal. Poultry or rabbits are capped separately at 8 per 12,500 square feet, not to exceed 30 birds or rabbits on any one lot.
Newborn animals under six months, or still nursing, do not count toward these totals under the ANIMAL NUMBERS definition. Pigs other than weaner pigs are barred from residential lots outside RA zones and, when allowed, count against the large-animal standard because of their impact. The planning commission has discretion to classify an unlisted species as large or medium based on size. These are zoning use limits tied to residential-zone lots and are separate from the county's animal control rules on cruelty, running at large, and rabies vaccination in Title 5, Chapter 3.
Violations & Fines
Keeping animals in excess of the ANIMAL SIZE thresholds is a Title 10 zoning violation. Under § 10-1-22, the county issues a written warning with a 10 business day opportunity to cure; failing to cure triggers a $250 per day civil penalty and a Notice of Fine recorded against the property. The county may alternatively prosecute the violation as a class B misdemeanor after a separate cure notice, with a fine capped at the statutory class B misdemeanor maximum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep on a residential lot in Washington County?
Can I keep a horse on a half-acre residential lot?
Do goats count the same as a horse under county rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
How Washington County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Washington County to another location·View the Utah animal ordinances overview
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