Puyallup, WA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone name
- Agriculture, Recreation and Open Space, § 20.36.000
- Density cap
- 0.1 dwelling unit per acre
- Minimum lot size
- 10 acres
- Height limit
- 40 feet
- Prohibited uses
- Feed lots and stand-alone dog kennels barred
- Impervious surface cap
- 5,000 sq ft or 5% of lot
Summary
Puyallup's Agriculture, Recreation and Open Space (ARO) zone, established under PMC § 20.36.000, sets aside land for farming, recreation and open space uses on the comprehensive plan's future land use map. Development is capped at 0.1 dwelling unit per acre on a 10-acre minimum lot, and the zone exists partly to shield working farms from zoning and nuisance complaints.
The agriculture, recreation and open space (ARO) zone is intended to apply to properties so designated on the future land use map of the comprehensive plan and/or in any pre-annexation zoning ordinance. The ARO zone is intended to ensure that agricultural lands within the ARO designation are treated in such a way as to encourage the continuation of agricultural activities as defined herein, while also allowing certain accessory, recreational and open space uses that are also compatible with ongoing agricultural operations. ... It is also the intent of this zone to protect agricultural activities from zoning and nuisance complaints.
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
005 as intended for properties shown on the comprehensive plan's future land use map or established through pre-annexation zoning, where agricultural lands should be encouraged to stay in production alongside compatible accessory, recreational and open space uses. 1 dwelling unit per acre, the minimum lot size is 10 acres with a 250-foot minimum lot width, setbacks run 60 feet from a state highway or major arterial and 25 feet from other roads, 30 feet on the front, rear and interior lines, and building height is capped at 40 feet.
015 include agricultural use, agricultural production (including commercial greenhouses, though feed lots are prohibited), agricultural support uses, horticulture, plant nurseries and roadside produce stands selling what is grown on site; raising or boarding livestock and small farm animals is an administrative conditional use, but dog kennels and feed lots are barred outright. 020(9) specifically states agricultural activities must follow accepted best management practices but shall not be restricted by time of day or day of the week. 035 requires notice on any short plat or subdivision within the ARO zone warning buyers that agricultural activities are legal and permitted there.
Violations & Fines
A use in the ARO zone that exceeds these standards, such as a feed lot, an unpermitted dog kennel, or development beyond the 0.1 du/ac density cap, is a Title 20 zoning violation. PMC § 20.95.005 lets the planning and community development director investigate a written complaint, § 20.95.010 requires a notice of violation and a compliance deadline, and § 20.95.020 makes an uncorrected violation a misdemeanor: up to a $100.00 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day counted separately, plus a Class I civil infraction under Chapter 1.02 PMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I build on ARO-zoned land in Puyallup?
How much can I build on a 10-acre ARO parcel?
Are ARO agricultural operations protected from complaints?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Puyallup
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Agricultural Zoning Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle agricultural zoning protection.