SPOKANE – Spokane County commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday, Dec. 7, to relax county zoning restrictions on raising chickens.
Chairman Josh Kerns said a constituent approached him with the idea earlier this year.
“This is a perfect example of a citizen led process to change local laws,” he said. “For people in unincorporated Spokane County, this means that they’ll now be able to raise their chickens legally.”
The change will allow county residents the ability to increase the availability of a sustainable food supply, officials said.
Under the new law, people in low-density residential zones -- including single-family houses and duplexes -- can have hens. Raising roosters is still banned.
These residential areas are found on the outskirts of Spokane, Spokane Valley and Airway Heights.
Under the new county law, residents are limited to one hen per 1,000 square feet of lot area. Coops must be at least 25 feet from dwellings on adjacent properties.
Pens, yards and grazing areas must be kept clean and sanitary, according to standards set by the Spokane Regional Health District.
People living in unincorporated medium or high-density residential zones still aren’t allowed to raise chickens.
Many people living in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Airway Heights and rural areas have already been able to raise chickens, officials said.
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