Lacey, WA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Lots under one acre
- Horticulture and limited small animals as accessory use
- Lots over one acre
- Adds livestock at one head per half acre
- Community agriculture under two acres
- Limited administrative review under Chapter 11.04
- Community farming over two acres
- Site plan review approval required
- Commercial urban farms
- Farming existing at first GMA Plan adoption
- Open Space Institutional lot standard
- Five acre minimum, § 16.21.050
Summary
In the City of Lacey, Washington, urban agriculture is an accessory use on single-family lots, with multifamily lots allowed only under written owner approval and a director determination. Commercial urban farms are limited to farming that existed when Lacey's first GMA Plan was adopted, mostly zoned Open Space Institutional, under Lacey Municipal Code § 16.21.015.
A. Urban agriculture activities are described and permitted according to expected compatibility with other urban uses. It is expected that urban agricultural uses will be located on a single-family residential lot with space to adequately accommodate the use. However, a multifamily lot may accommodate an urban agricultural activity if all of the following requirements are satisfied: ... (5) Commercial urban farms: A commercial urban agricultural use or farm activity in Lacey and its growth area is a farming activity that existed at the time Lacey’s first GMA Plan was adopted. Most areas with small commercial farm activity are zoned Open Space Institutional to provide for the continuation of these existing activities. Future provision may be made for small farms in other zoning designations under criteria necessary to ensure compatibility. ... B. Permitted where: All zoning designations will reference the urban agriculture activities and appropriate provisions of this chapter applicable to the zone.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 16.21 of the Lacey Municipal Code is the City of Lacey's urban agriculture chapter, and section 16.21.015 is its operative rule. Urban agriculture is expected on a single-family residential lot with room for the use. A multifamily lot qualifies only if the building owner approves the use in writing, assigns land area in writing, the area meets the thresholds of the title, the intent of the section can be fully satisfied, and the director of community and economic development determines the use is appropriate to the multifamily complex.
The permitted activity scales with lot size. On residential lots under one acre, horticulture for personal use is an accessory use, with incidental sales on site or at a farmers market; commercial sales must meet the FDA food code, Chapter 246-215 WAC, and the home occupation requirements of Chapter 16.69 LMC. Lots over one acre allow everything permitted on smaller lots plus livestock. Community or communal agriculture on a lot under two acres goes through limited administrative review under Chapter 11.04 LMC, and the director can require formal site plan review and an urban agriculture impact mitigation plan at the director's sole discretion. Any urban farming on more than two acres requires site plan review approval.
Commercial farming is treated as a legacy use. Section 16.21.015(A)(5) defines a commercial urban farm as farming that existed when Lacey's first GMA Plan was adopted, and most such areas are zoned Open Space Institutional. Section 16.21.010(E) keeps that designation as a place holder pending transition to more intensive urban uses. Section 16.21.050 prints lot standards of a five acre minimum, with 15 percent building coverage and 25 percent development coverage for five acres or more. Every zoning designation references this chapter, and activity must still comply with all other local, state and federal rules.
Violations & Fines
Section 16.21.015 has no penalty clause. The chapter states that its permissions are not an exemption from other local, state or federal regulations. The general penalty in section 1.12.010 applies except where a different penalty is specifically provided: a misdemeanor conviction under Lacey ordinances carries a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed ninety days, or both, and each day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I farm on a multifamily lot in the City of Lacey?
Can I sell what I grow on a residential lot in Lacey?
Does Lacey allow commercial farms?
When does a community garden in Lacey need site plan review?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lacey
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