Backyard Chickens in Bellingham, Washington

Can you keep chickens in Bellingham?

Nestled between the Salish Sea and the Cascade foothills, Bellingham has a long-standing, welcoming approach to backyard chickens. The city's animal-keeping code treats hens as an accepted part of urban life, asking keepers mainly to confine their birds securely, keep coops a healthy distance from neighboring homes, and be considerate about rooster noise. That leaves plenty of room for Bellingham's chicken keepers to enjoy fresh eggs while staying on the right side of the law.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Bellingham allows residents to keep domesticated fowl, including chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys, under BMC 7.12.060 (Keeping animals in the city – General regulations – Penalty). The code does not set a numeric cap on the number of hens a household may keep; instead it regulates chickens the same as other permitted animals by requiring secure confinement.

Roosters are not banned outright, but BMC 7.12.140(D) makes it unlawful to harbor or keep a rooster (or peafowl/turkey) that, by frequent, habitual, or loud noise, unreasonably annoys or disturbs another resident in the immediate neighborhood — effectively a noise-nuisance based restriction rather than a flat prohibition.

Violations of the general keeping-of-animals rules are infractions punishable by a fine of up to $250.00.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: No Set Limit
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 50 ft.

Peggy knows Bellingham

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under BMC 7.12.060(A), chickens and other domesticated fowl must be kept by:

Secure confinement in a stable or other building; or
An enclosure surrounded by a secure, well-built fence of sufficient height and strength to confine the animal; or
Being securely staked out in a vacant lot so it cannot get onto any street, alley, or public place.

However confined, the birds must be kept far enough away to effectively prevent them from getting within 50 feet of any dwelling or other building in which people work or are accustomed to be, and far enough from a neighbor's property to avoid causing damage or a nuisance.

BMC 7.12.060(C) requires that all coops, enclosures, and premises where fowl are kept be maintained in a clean, healthful, and sanitary condition, with no nuisance allowed to form or accumulate. The city's animal control authority is authorized to inspect premises and order correction of unsanitary conditions (7.12.060(D)).

Separately, BMC 7.12.140(D) prohibits keeping a rooster whose frequent, habitual, or loud noise unreasonably disturbs neighboring residents, so noisy roosters can still trigger enforcement even though roosters are not banned by species.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Bellingham

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 8b – Marine West Coast (Oceanic) Climate

Bellingham has a mild, wet Pacific Northwest climate with cool, damp winters and mild, relatively dry summers. Coops should prioritize good drainage and ventilation to manage near-constant winter moisture, and predator-proofing against nocturnal, damp-forest-edge wildlife common in Whatcom County.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkCoyoteOpossumWeasel

Bellingham backyards back onto greenbelts, ravines, and Puget Sound shoreline habitat, so raccoons and opossums are frequent nighttime coop raiders, while red-tailed hawks and other raptors pose a daytime threat to free-ranging birds. Coyotes and weasels are also present in and around the city's wooded edges and parks, making fully enclosed, hardware-cloth-covered runs advisable.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Orpington, Australorp, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Bellingham

▸How many hens can I keep in Bellingham?

Bellingham's municipal code does not set a specific maximum number of hens. Under BMC 7.12.060, chickens simply need to be securely confined and kept at least 50 feet from any dwelling.

▸Are roosters legal in Bellingham?

Roosters aren't banned outright, but BMC 7.12.140(D) makes it unlawful to keep a rooster whose frequent, habitual, or loud crowing unreasonably disturbs neighbors, so a noisy rooster can still lead to a citation.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Bellingham?

No permit is required for ordinary domesticated fowl like chickens under BMC 7.12.060. (Bellingham's exotic/wild animal permit rule in BMC 7.12.100 applies to different, non-domesticated species.)

▸How far must my coop be from my neighbor's house?

BMC 7.12.060(A) requires that chickens be confined in a way that effectively prevents them from coming within 50 feet of any dwelling or other building where people work or are normally present.

▸What happens if I violate Bellingham's chicken-keeping rules?

Violations of BMC 7.12.060 are infractions, and BMC 7.12.140 sets the fine for such infractions at up to $250.00.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Bellingham or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 22, 2026.