Backyard Chickens in Spokane, Washington

Can you keep chickens in Spokane?

Thinking about keeping hens in Spokane? The Lilac City welcomes backyard chickens in nearly every residential zone — no permit, no certification, and no flat bird cap, just a simple square-footage ratio. Here's exactly what City code requires before your flock moves in.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Under Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) 17C.310.115 – "Keeping of Small Domestic Animals", chickens may be kept outright as an accessory use on residential property in the RA, R1, R2, RMF, and RHD zones (essentially any zone that allows dwelling units). The code sets a ratio rather than a flat cap: "One animal or fowl, other than small livestock, per one thousand square feet of lot area." A typical 6,000–10,000 sq ft city lot can therefore support roughly 6–10 hens. Roosters, however, are restricted — the code states "Roosters and peacocks are only allowed in RA zone within the City," meaning they are prohibited in the standard R1/R2/RMF/RHD residential zones most Spokane homes sit in.

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: 5 ft.

Peggy knows Spokane

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Spokane regulates chicken numbers by a lot-area ratio, not a hard cap: one fowl per 1,000 sq ft of lot area (SMC 17C.310.115(2)(a)). The city's own example: a 10,000 sq ft lot could keep up to ten chickens. Coops and enclosures must meet the same setback standards that apply to accessory structures generally (SMC 17C.310.115(5)-(6), referencing SMC 17C.111.240). In practice this means: coops/covered structures are not allowed in the required front setback, and for most single-family (R1/R2) lots the standard side setback is 5 feet (a neighbor-signed waiver can reduce this for some detached structure types, though covered accessory structures like sheds/coops generally cannot use a waiver to sit inside the side setback). Rear placement is more flexible and coops may often be built close to the rear property line, especially on alley lots.

Unlike goats, sheep, or swine, chickens are specifically exempted from the City's WSU "animal keeping certification" requirement — the code requires certification for small livestock "but excluding chickens." No City permit or license is required simply to keep hens. Animal counts are cumulative across species (e.g., chickens and mini-goats share the same square-footage "budget" and cannot both be maximized on the same lot). All animals must be kept contained in a structure, fenced yard, or on a leash, and owners must control noise and odor nuisances.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Spokane

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6b/7a

Spokane sits in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6b and 7a, with a continental climate shaped by the Cascade rain-shadow effect. Winters are cold and can bring sustained snow and sub-zero nights, while summers are warm, dry, and sunny. Coop insulation and draft-proofing for winter, plus shade and ventilation for hot, dry summer days, are both important for backyard flocks here.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkCoyoteFoxSkunkWeasel

Spokane's mix of urban neighborhoods, river corridors (Spokane River, Latah Creek), and nearby pine forests supports healthy populations of raccoons, hawks, coyotes, red foxes, skunks, and weasels, all of which are known backyard-flock predators. Secure, fully enclosed runs with buried hardware cloth and locking coop doors are strongly recommended, particularly near greenbelt or river-adjacent properties.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Buff Orpington, Australorp, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Chantecler (all cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds well suited to Spokane's snowy winters and dry summers)

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

Questions people ask about Spokane

▸How many chickens can I keep in Spokane?

There's no fixed maximum — Spokane uses a ratio of one fowl per 1,000 square feet of lot area (SMC 17C.310.115). A typical 8,000 sq ft lot could support around 8 hens.

▸Are roosters legal in Spokane?

Only in the RA (Residential Agriculture) zone. In the standard R1, R2, RMF, and RHD residential zones, roosters are not permitted.

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

No. Spokane requires an animal-keeping certification from WSU Extension for small livestock like goats and sheep, but the code explicitly excludes chickens from that certification requirement, and no separate permit is needed.

▸How far must my coop be from property lines?

Coops follow standard accessory-structure setback rules: no placement in the required front setback, and typically a 5-foot side setback in single-family zones (per the City's accessory structure standards referenced in SMC 17C.310.115).

▸Can I keep chickens along with other animals like goats?

Yes, but the totals are cumulative. Chickens and small livestock (e.g., miniature goats) share the same lot-area allowance, so maximizing one reduces room for the other.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Spokane or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 3, 2026.