Spokane County has no separate 'hoarding' ordinance, but excessive-animal situations are controlled two ways: keeping more than four dogs or cats triggers kennel licensing (SCC 5.04.020), and animal cruelty or neglect is a crime under Washington state law RCW 16.52, enforced by SCRAPS.
The Spokane County Code does not define 'animal hoarding' by that name. Instead, keeping five or more dogs or cats over six months old requires a private or commercial kennel license under SCC 5.04.020, giving SCRAPS a licensing hook to inspect large collections of animals. Where animals are neglected, denied food, water, or shelter, or kept in unsanitary or overcrowded conditions, Washington's animal-cruelty statutes RCW 16.52.205 (first degree) and 16.52.207 (second degree) apply and are enforced by SCRAPS animal-protection officers, who may impound animals. The county code's stated purpose (SCC 5.04.010) is to reduce or eliminate cruelty and provide for humane care and treatment of animals.
Animal cruelty is a state crime: second-degree cruelty is a misdemeanor and first-degree cruelty a felony under RCW 16.52; unlicensed kennels are enforced by SCRAPS under SCC Chapter 5.04.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
spokane-county-wa
Home composting is allowed in Spokane County and is not separately permitted. Compost must be managed so it does not become a nuisance, attract vermin, or cr...
spokane-county-wa
Spokane County has no ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf on residential property. Synthetic lawns are allowed. In regulated develop...
spokane-county-wa
Spokane County's Zoning Code actively favors native vegetation. Chapter 14.806 states that whenever possible native vegetation should be used and existing ve...
spokane-county-wa
Collecting rooftop rainwater is legal in Spokane County without a water-right permit. Under Washington Department of Ecology's 2009 policy, on-site storage a...
spokane-county-wa
Spokane County itself publishes no countywide lawn-watering schedule. Outdoor watering rules are set by each water purveyor: the City of Spokane and local wa...
spokane-county-wa
State law (RCW 17.10) requires every Spokane County property owner to eradicate Class A noxious weeds and control designated Class B and C weeds on their lan...
See how Spokane County's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.