6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Yakima County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Rural, unincorporated Yakima County is permissive about poultry and livestock on agricultural and larger-lot land. The City of Yakima allows up to four hens and no roosters, with coop setbacks. Washington's Right to Farm law shields established farms.
RCW 7.48.305
Agricultural activities conducted on farmland and forest practices, if consistent with good agricultural and forest practices and established prior to surrounding nonagricultural and nonforestry activities, are presumed to be reasonable and shall not be found to constitute a nuisance unless the activity or practice has a substantial adverse effect on public health and safety.
Dogs must be licensed and kept under control in Yakima County. The county code requires adult dogs licensed and prohibits running at large, and cities add leash rules. Under RCW 16.08.040 an owner is strictly liable for dog bites.
RCW 16.08.040
The owner of any dog which shall bite any person while such person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place including the property of the owner of such dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness.
Yakima has no dog breed ban today. The City of Yakima repealed its decades-old pit bull ban in 2018. Washington does not preempt breed-specific laws but regulates dangerous dogs by conduct under RCW 16.08. Unincorporated county judges dogs by behavior.
Beekeeping fits Yakima County's agricultural character and is broadly allowed, with cities setting hive placement and setbacks. Washington requires anyone owning one or more hives to register with the state Department of Agriculture by April 1 each year.
RCW 15.60.021
Each person owning one or more hives with bees, brokers renting hives, and apiarists resident in other states who operate hives in Washington shall register with the director by April 1st each year.
Washington bans keeping most dangerous wild animals, so no Yakima County resident may acquire big cats, bears, primates, or venomous reptiles. RCW 16.30 prohibits possessing or breeding a potentially dangerous wild animal, with a grandfather clause for animals held before July 22, 2007.
RCW 16.30.030
A person shall not own, possess, keep, harbor, bring into the state, or have custody or control of a potentially dangerous wild animal.... A person shall not breed a potentially dangerous wild animal.
Yakima County's foothills and shrub-steppe bring deer, elk, bears, and cougars near homes. Washington rules prohibit negligently feeding large wild carnivores, and feeding that draws wildlife into a nuisance or hazard can be abated locally. Backyard bird feeders are generally fine.
1 cities in Yakima County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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