Lacey, WA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

The only bird-specific protection in the City of Lacey's boating chapter is § 9.56.226, titled Harassment of wildlife and waterfowl. It sits in Chapter 9.56, Vessels and Motorboats on Lakes, and it speaks to operators of motorized watercraft and personal watercraft. Four verbs define the conduct: chase, intimidate, injure, or otherwise harass. The target is any type of wildlife or waterfowl, so ducks, geese and other water birds are covered along with other animals. The conduct must be purposeful, which separates a deliberate run at a flock from a boat that passes birds without aiming at them.

The chapter's definitions set the reach. "Waters" includes any lake, pond or other body of fresh water within the city. A "motorboat" is any vessel propelled in any respect by machinery, including those temporarily equipped with detachable motors. A "personal watercraft" is a watercraft of less than sixteen feet that uses a motorized water jet pump as its primary propulsion and is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling. The "operator" is the individual in physical control of the watercraft.

Penalty comes from § 9.56.230. Any violation not classified as an infraction is a misdemeanor, and the infraction list names only §§ 9.56.070, 9.56.090, 9.56.120, 9.56.130 and 9.56.200, so § 9.56.226 is not on it. Under § 1.12.010, a misdemeanor under city ordinance carries a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed ninety days, or both. Section 9.56.224 adds that a person signaled to stop by a commissioned enforcement officer must stop, by hand, voice, emergency light or siren, and must identify himself or herself, give a current address and sign an acknowledgment of the notice of violation. Willfully failing to stop is a gross misdemeanor.