Can You Have a Rooster in Yakima? Police Department Says 'NO!'

Locals react to a Facebook post reminder from the Yakima Police Department that you can't own roosters in Yakima. The comments didn't seem to go as expected.

Who knew that a reminder to residents that we can't have any roosters in city limits would get such a spirited response? Certainly not me.

"Really?! THIS is what you're worried about?!", replied one resident after the Yakima Police Department posted this message to their Facebook page on January 26th at 8:16 in the morning.

Another ticked off person wanted to know since the police were so concerned if they would be running around counting how many hens they had. (The post was about roosters, not hens!)

Several others piped up that their roosters identified as chickens, dogs, and ducks. Silly replies for silly times, I guess.

Photo Credit Yakima Police Department via Facebook, Dušan veverkolog on Unsplash and Canva

Why Can't People Have Roosters in Yakima?

This ain't Green Acres, y'all. There are city limits with city ordinances, including the one that says no roosters in town. A rooster is considered a domesticated animal that falls outside the allowed list.

"“Pet” means a domesticated animal kept for pleasure or as a hobby rather than utility including but not limited to: fish, dogs fewer than four, cats fewer than six, hen chickens (no roosters) fewer than five, and rabbits fewer than five." - Yakima Municipal Code 15.04.060(D)