20.20.130 Animal keeping and services.
A. General. Animal services as defined in LUC 20.50.010 are subject to the requirements of this section and BCC Title 8, Animal Regulations.
B. Minimum Requirements. The following chart, entitled “Animal Regulations,” sets forth the minimum requirements for certain types of animal keeping.
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Type of Animal/Use |
Maximum Number (1) |
Minimum Lot Size |
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|---|---|---|---|
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1. Household Pets (6) |
No minimum |
May not be restrained or enclosed outdoors so that the animal is able to come within 15 feet of a property line. This limitation does not prohibit the keeping of a household pet within the following areas, provided it must be allowed to roam freely therein: 1) A lot which is fenced along all lot lines so as to enclose the entire lot, or 2) An enclosed portion of a lot which is bounded by fences along either the entire front lot line or entire rear lot line, and along a portion of both side lot lines, which utilizes the house or primary structure as one side of the enclosure and which may include all or a portion of either or both side yards. 3) No structure to house the household pet may be within 15 feet of a property line. |
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2. Small Domestic Animals or Hobby Kennel (6) |
10: 20,000 sq. ft. and an additional 1,500 sq. ft. for each animal; 6: 10,000 sq. ft. and an additional 1,500 sq. ft. for each animal over 6 |
20,000 sq. ft. or 10,000 sq. ft. |
May not be restrained or enclosed outdoors so that the animal is able to come within 25 feet of a property line. This limitation does not prohibit the keeping of a small domestic animal within the following areas, provided it must be allowed to roam freely therein: 1) A lot which is fenced along all lot lines so as to enclose the entire lot, or 2) An enclosed portion of a lot which is bounded by fences along either the entire front lot line or entire rear lot line, and along a portion of both side lot lines, which utilizes the house or primary structure as one side of the enclosure and which may include all or a portion of either or both side yards. 3) No structure to house the household pet may be within 25 feet of a property line. |
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3. Large Domestic Animals (6) |
1: each 10,000 sq. ft. |
20,000 sq. ft. |
May not be restrained or enclosed outdoors so that the animal is able to come within 25 feet of a property line. This limitation does not prohibit the keeping of a large domestic animal within the following areas, provided it must roam freely therein: 1) A lot which is fenced along all lot lines so as to enclose the entire lot, or 2) An enclosed portion of a lot which is bounded by fences along either the entire front lot line or entire rear lot line, and along a portion of both side lot lines, which utilizes the house or primary structure as one side of the enclosure and which may include all or a portion of either or both side yards. 3) No structure to house the animal may be within 25 feet of a property line. |
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4. Bees (7) |
Maximum of four hives, each with one colony: Lots containing 15,000 sq. ft. or less; Maximum of 15 hives, each with one colony: Lots containing more than 15,000 sq. ft. but less than 35,000 sq. ft.; Maximum of 25 hives, each with one colony: Lots containing 35,000 sq. ft. or more |
7,200 sq. ft. |
Hives must be at least 25 feet from a property line, except when situated 8 feet or more above adjacent ground level, or when situated less than 6 feet above adjacent ground level and behind a solid fence or hedge at least 6 feet high parallel to any property line within 25 feet of the hive and extending at least 25 feet level, or when situated beyond the hive in both directions. |
|
Determined in Conditional Use Process |
35,000 sq. ft. |
May not be restrained or enclosed outdoors so that the animal is able to come within 50 feet of a property line. This limitation does not prohibit the keeping of an animal within the following areas, provided it must be allowed to roam freely therein: 1) A lot which is fenced along all lot lines so as to enclose the entire lot, or 2) An enclosed portion of a lot which is bounded by fences along either the entire front lot line or entire rear lot line, and along a portion of both side lot lines, which utilizes the house or primary structure as one side of the enclosure and which may include all or a portion of either or both side yards. 3) No structure to house the animal may be within 50 feet of a property line. |
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6. Commercial Stable or Riding Academy (3) (9) |
Determined in Conditional Use Process |
35,000 sq. ft. |
May not be restrained or enclosed outdoors so that the animal is able to come within 50 feet of a property line. This limitation does not prohibit the keeping of an animal within the following areas, provided it must be allowed to roam freely therein: 1) A lot which is fenced along all lot lines so as to enclose the entire lot, or 2) An enclosed portion of a lot which is bounded by fences along either the entire front lot line or entire rear lot line, and along a portion of both side lot lines, which utilizes the house or primary structure as one side of the enclosure and which may include all or a portion of either or both side yards. 3) No structure to house the animal may be within 50 feet of a property line. |
Notes: Animal Regulations
(1) Number of adult animals: One unweaned litter of offspring and foals are not included in the number of animals allowed.
(2)More than three rabbits are regulated as small domestic animals.
(3)Requires a Conditional Use Permit.
(4)More than six fowl are regulated as small domestic animals.
(5)The purpose of these setback requirements is to prohibit the confinement of an animal within specific distances from neighboring property, as by leashing the animal to a stake or placing the animal in an enclosure, but to allow animals to be kept in yards fenced on their perimeter so long as the animal is free to roam within the fenced area.
(6) Special Regulations: Open pasture, foraging or grazing may extend to the property line.
(7)Special Regulations:
(a)Must register with the Washington State Department of Agriculture or any successor organization responsible for oversight of beekeeping.
(b)Must requeen annually or any time following swarming or aggressive behavior with a breeder-raised queen of suitable docile strain.
(c)Hives must be maintained to avoid overpopulation and minimize swarming.
(d)Must be maintained in a movable frame hive at all times.
(8) Special Regulations: See LUC 20.10.440.
(9) Special Regulations: See LUC 20.10.440. Open pasture, foraging or grazing may extend to the property line.
C. Prohibited Animals. The keeping of mink, foxes or hogs is prohibited.
D. Pet Day Care. In addition to the development standards applicable to the land use district, including BCC Title 8 and Chapter 9.18 BCC, pet day cares are subject to the following requirements:
1. Facilities for the boarding of animals may occupy no more than 25 percent of the gross floor area of the pet day care center.
2. Applicants shall submit at the time of permit application written operating procedures, such as those recommended by the American Boarding and Kennel Association (ABKA) or the American Kennel Club (AKC). Such procedures, which are to be followed for the life of the business, shall address the identification and correction of animal behavior that impacts surrounding uses, including excessive barking.
E. Veterinary Services. In addition to the development standards applicable to the land use district, including BCC Title 8 and Chapter 9.18 BCC, veterinary services are subject to the following requirements:
1. A veterinary clinic designed for the treatment and care of pet animals shall be operated by a registered veterinarian.
2. Animals shall be confined within the exterior walls of the building at all times.
3. Pet day care services may be allowed as a subordinate use subject to the provisions of subsection D of this section and LUC 20.20.840. All pet day care services shall be isolated by soundproofing from all adjacent property and uses.
4. Walls of interior-court animal runs shall be a minimum of eight feet high. Interior-court animal runs shall be roofed and if there are open air spaces between the top of the wall and the roof, they shall be enclosed with wire mesh.
5. All rooms housing animals shall have ample natural or mechanical ventilation.
6. There shall be no cremation or other disposal of dead animals on the premises. (Ord. 6197, 11-17-14, § 9; Ord. 5876, 5-18-09, § 9; Ord. 5480, 10-20-03, § 6; Ord. 5089, 8-3-98, § 10; Ord. 4654, 6-6-94, § 25; Ord. 3413, 9-24-84, § 1)