Backyard Chickens in Lacey, Washington

Can you keep chickens in Lacey?

Thinking about keeping hens in Lacey, Washington? The city's Urban Agriculture ordinance gives residents a clear, density-based path to backyard chicken-keeping — no permit needed for personal use — but it draws a hard line on roosters. Here's exactly what Lacey Municipal Code § 16.21.015 allows.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard chickens are allowed in Lacey. Under the city's Urban Agriculture chapter, limited animal husbandry of small farm animals (which includes chickens) is a permitted accessory use to a single-family residence (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(b)). Chicken-keeping for personal use (including incidental egg sales) does not require a special permit beyond normal accessory-use rights, though commercial sales trigger home-occupation permitting requirements under Ch. 16.69 LMC.

Roosters, however, are expressly prohibited city-wide, regardless of lot size (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(b)).

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 10
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Lacey

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Lacey regulates the number of fowl by lot size rather than a flat hen cap: the maximum number of all domestic fowl permitted accessory to a single-family home is one bird per 1,000 square feet of lot area, up to an absolute maximum of ten birds (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(a)). This applies to hens; roosters, geese, turkeys, peacocks, and other 'exotic species' are prohibited outright (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(b)).

Coop/structure placement: Structures housing domestic fowl must be located at least 10 feet from all property lines, and may not be located closer to the front property line than the dwelling itself (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(d)).

Rodent-proofing: Fowl structures must be designed to deter rodents, using one of the following: raising the floor 8–12 inches above grade, using portable pens that are moved every few days with cleanup of the ground beneath, or another comparable technique (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(d)).

Larger lots (1+ acre): On lots of one acre or more, the same fowl density/rooster rules still apply, but property owners may also keep additional livestock at a ratio of one head per half-acre of lot area, with livestock housing structures set back at least 35 feet from all property lines (§ 16.21.015(A)(2)(b)).

Multifamily lots: Urban agriculture activity (including fowl-keeping) may also be allowed on multifamily lots if the building owner approves in writing and assigns adequate area, subject to Community & Economic Development Director approval (§ 16.21.015(A)).

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Lacey

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Lacey sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b, with average annual extreme winter lows around 15–20°F, and it shares the mild, wet Pacific Northwest marine climate typical of the South Puget Sound region. Winters are cool and rainy rather than bitterly cold, and summers are mild, which is generally favorable for keeping chickens year-round with modest cold-weather coop precautions (e.g., draft-free but ventilated housing, and moisture control to prevent frostbite on combs during rare hard frosts).

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkCoyoteOpossumWeasel

Backyard flocks in Lacey and the broader Thurston County area face pressure from common Pacific Northwest predators, particularly raccoons and opossums (frequent nighttime coop raiders), hawks and other birds of prey (daytime free-range risk), coyotes (increasingly common in suburban green spaces), and weasels, which can squeeze through very small gaps. Secure, rodent-proof coop construction — as required under Lacey's own coop design standards — also helps deter these predators.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds do well in Lacey's damp, mild climate, including Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Australorps, and Rhode Island Reds. These breeds tolerate the region's wet winters well and are generally calm, which helps with the city's density-based flock limits.

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

Questions people ask about Lacey

▸How many chickens can I keep in Lacey?

Lacey caps the number of domestic fowl at one bird per 1,000 square feet of lot area, up to a maximum of 10 birds per single-family home, per § 16.21.015(A)(1)(a).

▸Are roosters allowed in Lacey?

No. Lacey's ordinance explicitly prohibits roosters (along with geese, turkeys, peacocks, and exotic species) on residential lots, regardless of lot size (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(b)).

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

No permit is required for personal-use chicken-keeping as an accessory use to a residence. A home-occupation permit is only triggered if you engage in commercial sales beyond incidental farmers-market or on/off-site distribution (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(a)-(b)).

▸How far from my property line does my coop need to be?

Structures housing chickens must be set back at least 10 feet from all property lines, and cannot be placed closer to the front property line than your house (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(d)).

▸Does my coop need to be rodent-proof?

Yes. Lacey requires fowl structures to incorporate rodent-deterrence measures, such as raising the floor 8–12 inches off the ground or using portable pens moved regularly with ground cleanup (§ 16.21.015(A)(1)(d)).

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