Vancouver Food Network

There are relatively few restrictions on livestock within Clark County and, although individual cities may regulate animals, for the most part the county has a complaint-driven system. This means that small domestic animals (such as fryer rabbits or egg-laying hens) are allowed for personal use, so long as they and their products are not sold, traded or bartered.

City of Vancouver (Washington) Chicken Law

Poultry and livestock within the City of Vancouver are defined in section 20.150.040 and governed under chapter 8.24 of the Vancouver Municipal Code (VMC). Roosters, swine and peacocks are explicitly prohibited under VMC 20.895.050 (C) while larger animals are only allowed on properties with one acre or more as per VMC 20.150.040 (B).

Clark County Urban Livestock Task Force

In late 2008 the Bureau of Clark County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to establish the Urban Lifestock Task Force (ULTF) to address the issue of horses and other livestock within Clark County within and outside of designated urban growth areas (UGA's).

First meetings of the task force were scheduled for 10 December 2008, then on 14 and 28 January 2009 at the county's Public Services Center, 1300 Franklin in Vancouver, 98660. In addition to identifying minimal conditions for the lawful upkeep of livestock, the ULTF is also asked to help with legal definitions of livestock and related concepts such as "stable" and "agriculture." The designated contact person for this is Gordy Euler of Clark Community Planning. ULTF task force members appointed include: Art Stubbs, Cheri Cornelius, Clarence Petty, Denise Smee, Loren Carlson, Mary Ann Simonds, Norm Welsh and Tom Meyer.

For more information and minutes please visit the offical ULTF web page at http://www.clark.wa.gov/longrangeplan/projects/urban-livestock-review.html.

Clark County 4-H Programs for Washington Youth

4-H is a nationwide youth organization, administered through state extension services under the United States Department of Agriculture. Historically the program has had a strong rural focus. In Clark County, Washington, the 4-H program is managed through Washington State University's cooperative extension office at the "CASEE Center" (Center for Agriculture, Science, and Environmental Education) 11104 NE 149th St, #C100, Brush Prairie WA 98605. For more information on 4-H in Clark County, including youth programs related to livestock, please visit http://clark.wsu.edu/youth or phone (360) 397-6060.

For Further Information

• Clark County Washington's 4-H program is administered through the WSU Extension Office.
• Vancouver Municipal Code (VMC) Section 20.150.040 defines a domestic animal as "Any animal other than livestock that lives and breeds in a tame condition including, but not limited to: dogs, cats and other pets."
• Vancouver Municipal Code (VMC) 8.24 "Animals"
• BackYardChickens.com has more information on keeping chickens than you can shake a stick at.