Backyard chickens in Pasco, Washington

Yes. The City of Pasco allows homeowners to keep a limited number of chicken hens as an accessory residential use. In lots with a minimum of 5,000 square feet but less than 22,000 square feet containing only one single-family dwelling unit, residents may keep dogs, cats, rabbits, and chicken hens, with the total number of animals not to exceed six; animals shall not be allowed to roam or fly to other properties, and roosters are not allowed. This is codified at Pasco Municipal Code § 25.25.030(6). The City's Code Division also confirms that roosters are not allowed in city limits, and farm animals such as chickens are only permitted in the city's R-S-20, R-S-12 and R-S-1 zones, known as the 'suburban districts,' which require a minimum lot size to own farm animals.

Pasco sits in the Columbia Basin of southeastern Washington within the Tri-Cities area (Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco), which sits in zone 7b. The region has a dry, semi-arid climate: it is in a desert climate that is dry with little precipitation, receiving only about seven to eight inches of rain each year, with hot summers and cold winters. Chicken keepers should plan for both summer heat stress and winter cold snaps, along with strong seasonal winds common to the area.

The shrub-steppe and riverside habitat around Pasco supports significant wildlife. Animals such as coyotes, eagles, deer, falcons, and hawks are just some of the wildlife that flourishes in the Tri-Cities area, so secure, fully-enclosed coops with hardware cloth (not chicken wire) and covered runs are strongly recommended to protect hens from aerial and ground predators, especially around dawn and dusk.