Port Townsend, WA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- PTMC 9.04.070
- Covers
- any bird, hunting/trapping/capturing
- Penalty class
- gross misdemeanor
- Fine
- $250–$1,000
- Jail exposure
- up to 364 days
Summary
Port Townsend bans hunting, trapping, or capturing any bird within city limits, carving out only law enforcement, vermin control, and nonlethal, welfare-focused capture as exceptions.
It is unlawful to hunt, trap or capture, or attempt to hunt, trap or capture, any animal or bird within the city; provided, that this section shall not apply to the following persons or activities:
A. Hunting, trapping, or capturing of animals or birds by law enforcement officers or game department personnel while engaged in the performance of their official duties;
B. Hunting, trapping or capturing of rats, mice, moles, or similar vermin; or
C. The nonlethal trapping or capturing of animals or birds by means designed to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals. (Ord. 2616 § 3, 1997).
9.04.080 Penalties.
A. Any person convicted of a violation of PTMC 9.04.010, 9.04.020, 9.04.030, 9.04.040, 9.04.050 and 9.04.060 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 180 days, or by both the fine and imprisonment.
B. Any person convicted of a violation of PTMC 9.04.070 shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less then $250.00 and not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment of not more than 364 days, or by both the fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 2616 § 3, 1997).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
PTMC 9.04.070 makes it unlawful to hunt, trap, or capture, or attempt to, any bird (or animal) anywhere within the city. The ban exempts law enforcement or game-department personnel acting in an official capacity, trapping of rats, mice, moles, or similar vermin, and nonlethal trapping or capturing done to protect the animal's own safety and well-being. Everything else involving hunting or trapping birds inside city limits is prohibited outright, regardless of species or property ownership.
Violations & Fines
Violating PTMC 9.04.070 is a gross misdemeanor under PTMC 9.04.080(B): a fine of $250 to $1,000, up to 364 days in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trap a bird that's stuck in my yard?
What happens if I'm caught shooting or trapping a bird in Port Townsend?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port Townsend
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