Ordinance 43201
ORDINANCE NO. 4320
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, AMENDING THE EDMONDS CITY CODE
RELATED TO THE KEEPING OF POULTRY IN RESIDENTIAL
ZONES
WHEREAS, Edmonds residents raising backyard chickens have expressed difficulty with
the three chicken limit because it isn’t safe to add one chicken to an existing flock; and
WHEREAS, all surrounding communities allow for larger numbers of chickens in their
codes than Edmonds does; and
WHEREAS, staff and/or councilmembers in our surrounding community were consulted
to see if there were problems in their communities with the larger numbers allowed in their codes
(from 4-8); and
WHEREAS, a limit of six female chickens balances the community climate goals of
improving sustainability with more local food production, with potential concerns about noise,
waste, and space, thus ensuring that raising chickens remains manageable for individual
households; and
WHEREAS, our residents are entrusted to responsibly care for their female chicken flock
and prevent nuisance to their neighbors, and to responsibly and expediently re-home any male
chicks that inadvertently made it into their possession; and
WHEREAS, allowing up to six female chickens encourages responsible animal keeping,
fosters compassion, and complements community values of self-sufficiency, collaboration, and
ecological awareness;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 5.05.130.1 of the Edmonds City Code, entitled “Keeping of poultry and
covered animals in residential zones,” is hereby amended to read as set forth in Exhibit A, which
is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth in full (new text is shown
in underline; deleted text is shown in strike-through).
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Section 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, clause, sentence, or phrase of this
ordinance should be held invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this ordinance.
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance is subject to referendum and shall take effect
thirty (30) days after final passage of this ordinance.
APPROVED:
MAYOR MIKE NELSON
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
CITY CLERK, SCOTT PASSEY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY:
BY
JEFF TARADAY
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: August 11, 2023
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: August 15, 2023
PUBLISHED: August 18, 2023
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 16, 2023
ORDINANCE NO. 4320
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SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 4320
of the City of Edmonds, Washington
On the 15th day of August, 2023, the City Council of the City of Edmonds, passed
Ordinance No. 4320. A summary of the content of said ordinance, consisting of the title,
provides as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, AMENDING THE EDMONDS CITY
CODE RELATED TO THE KEEPING OF POULTRY IN
RESIDENTIAL ZONES
The full text of this Ordinance will be mailed upon request.
DATED this 15th day of August, 2023.
CITY CLERK, SCOTT PASSEY
5.05.130.1 Keeping of poultry and covered animals in residen�al zones.
A. The keeping of poultry or covered animals within a residen�al dwelling unit, or upon the
premises connected therewith, shall be prohibited except as provided in this chapter.
B. Up to three six domes�c female chickens may be kept on a lot(s) or premises associated with
a single-family residen�al dwelling unit. A chicken coop or other pen or enclosure is an
accessory structure and subject to all requirements of the applicable zone. An accessory
dwelling unit shall not be considered as a separate dwelling unit when determining the number
of chickens that may be kept on a single-family lot or lots (when a single-family residence is
located on more than one lot).
C. Covered animals are permited to be kept on residen�al property zoned for single-family use
(R zones) so long as they meet the requirements of ECC 5.05.130.
See also:
5.05.115 Nuisances defined.