Chickens, turkeys and geese have been allowed to strut and preen all they like in the Lea and West Hill annexation areas and in “residential conservancy” zones.
But elsewhere about the city of Auburn, domestic fowl, miniature goats and pot belly pigs have been strictly no no’d for years. A number of city residents have told the City that would change, that larding a bit of agriculture into the urban mix would be a good thing.
On Monday, the Auburn City Council adopted an ordinance laying out the welcome mat for the formerly verboten critters.
orman, chair of the Planning and Community Development Committee (PCDC) that had studied the issue, noted the ordinance references already existing City rules regulating sound and stink.
Since April, planners have studied the approach other cities have taken and brought what they learned to committee members, with suggested changes to the City code.
“There will be standards, whether they be noise or other things,” Planning Director Kevin Snyder recently told the PCDC “This will be a privilege, not a right, and they will be asked to abide by the rules.”
When the City annexed Lea and West hills in 2008, it let residents keep some of the King County rules that had allowed certain farm animals, including chickens. The code amendment standardizes the rules across the City. It reflects a preference to follow regulations put forward by the City of Renton that allow such animals but tie their number to the square footage of the lot.
Here are some of the highlights:
• Extends the definition of permitted household pets to include: domestic fowl, including all species of chicken, turkeys, geese and ducks, but excluding roosters; miniature potbelly pigs known as Vietnamese, Chinese, or Asian potbelly pigs; and miniature goats commonly known as pygmy, or Nigerian dwarf.
• As many as four domestic fowl can be kept on lots that are at least 6,000 gross square feet in size. On lots larger than 6,000 gross square feet, one additional small lot domestic animal may be kept per additional 2,000 gross square feet.
• Miniature goats may be kept as pets if they are licensed as follows: males must be neutered, all miniature goats must be dehorned, and up to two are allowed on lots that are at least 12,500 gross square feet. On bigger lots, one additional medium-size domestic animal may be kept per additional 7,500 gross square feet.
• As for miniature potbelly pigs, they may be kept as a small animal, provided that none is greater than 22 inches high at the shoulder or more than 150 pounds heavy. Nursing offspring licensed according to the Code may be kept until weaned, but only up to 12 weeks old. Two such pigs may be kept on lots at least 12,500 gross square feet. On lots larger than that, one additional medium-sized pig animal may be kept per additional 7,500 gross square feet.
The specified minimum lots sizes are absolute requirements, allowing no variances, waivers or modifications. The keeping of animals requiring lesser lot size is allowed to be cumulative when lot size requirements have been met. Domestic fowl, pigs and goats would be permitted outright in the RC, R1, R5 and R7 zoning districts, conditional in the R10, R16 and R20 zoning districts, and miniature goats are allowed outright in the C3 (commercial) zoning districts.
The proposed rules specify structures and setbacks.
Members agreed on one noisy critter they wouldn’t allow.
“No roosters, we definitely don’t want roosters crowing at 4 o’clock in the morning,” said Councilwoman Nancy Backus.
