Olympia, WA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Olympia Municipal Code § 18.04.060, subsection KK, is the City of Olympia's agricultural zoning rule. Agricultural uses, as defined in OMC 18.02.180, are allowed as a primary or accessory use in all zoning districts except Auto Services and Industrial zones. Section 18.02.180 defines agriculture as the use of land for farming, dairying, pasturing and grazing, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, apiaries, animal and poultry husbandry, and accessory activities, but excluding stockyards, slaughtering or commercial food processing.

Livestock limits are tied to lot size. Lots two acres and larger are allowed one USDA Animal Unit per acre. Ducks or female chickens are capped at five on lots of one-quarter acre or smaller and nine on lots between one-quarter acre and one acre. Lots of one acre and larger are allowed ten plus one more bird for every additional one thousand square feet, up to two acres. Roosters, geese, peacocks and similar loud fowl are prohibited. Rabbits, female quail, miniature goats and turkeys are allowed in addition, with their own lot-size limits: miniature goats need a lot of at least 5,000 square feet, and up to four turkeys are allowed only on lots larger than one acre.

Beekeeping is allowed outright when registered with the State Department of Agriculture under RCW 15.60.021. A maximum of four hives, each with one swarm, is allowed on lots under ten thousand square feet, and hives stay 25 feet from any lot line unless bees are forced to gain elevation, which cuts the distance to 10 feet.

Animal enclosures must be at least 10 feet from all property lines and cannot sit in setback areas. Sanitary enclosures are required, and fences must meet OMC Chapter 18.40. Operations must follow the Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual best management practices, and where the City finds a detrimental impact to water quality, the public works director can require a farm conservation plan or cessation of uses.

Olympia has no stand-alone right-to-farm ordinance in the code read. The nearest protection language is in § 17.04.090(A): plats, short plats and binding site plans on or within 500 feet of designated agricultural lands must carry a notice that commercial activities incompatible with residential development can occur nearby.