Kent, WA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KCC 4.01.030(B)
- Feeding fowl
- Only in designated parks-department areas
- Fishing
- Only in designated fishing areas
- Penalty
- Class 1 civil infraction, RCW 7.80.120(1)(a)
- Enforcement
- Kent Police and parks department staff
Summary
City of Kent parks code bars anyone from teasing, molesting, catching, injuring, killing, or throwing objects at any animal, bird, or fowl on park property. Feeding fowl is limited to areas the parks and recreation department designates, and fishing is confined to posted fishing areas under KCC 4.01.030(B).
No person shall, in any manner, tease, annoy, disturb, molest, catch, injure, kill, or throw any stone or missile of any kind at or strike with any stick or weapon any animal, bird, or fowl. No person shall fish on the park properties except at areas designated by the parks and recreation department. No person shall feed any fowl in the park except in designated areas.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4542, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030, titled "Same – Animals," governs conduct toward wildlife on every city park property in Kent, from Lake Fenwick to Lake Meridian Park. Subsection A bars letting any animal under a person's control run at large on park property or enter a lake, pond, fountain, or stream. Subsection B is the bird protection rule: no person may tease, annoy, disturb, molest, catch, injure, kill, or throw any stone or missile of any kind at or strike with any stick or weapon any animal, bird, or fowl anywhere in a Kent park.
The same subsection confines fishing to areas the parks and recreation department has designated, and confines feeding of fowl, meaning ducks, geese, and similar birds, to designated feeding areas only; feeding fowl elsewhere in a park is itself a violation. 03 for conduct outside park boundaries. 040) that carry misdemeanor charges up to a $5,000 fine and one year in jail. 220(A)(3).
Violations & Fines
Harming, killing, or throwing objects at birds or other animals in a Kent park is a class 1 civil infraction under RCW 7.80.120(1)(a), issued by Kent police or parks staff under KCC 4.01.220(A)(1). Feeding fowl outside a designated area or fishing outside a posted fishing area is charged the same way, and each day the conduct continues is a separate violation under KCC 4.01.220(A)(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed ducks at a Kent park?
Can I fish anywhere in a Kent city park?
What is the penalty for hurting an animal in a Kent park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kent
Compare Kent to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle bird protection.