Richland, WA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Section 9.12.090, 'Tormenting or harassing birds and animals,' sits in Chapter 9.12, Miscellaneous Crimes, and makes it 'unlawful for any person to willfully torment or harass any game bird, game animal, or any species of bird or animal protected under the rules or regulations promulgated by the Washington State Game Commission.' The section applies citywide and reaches conduct against wildlife on both public and private property within Richland. Its single proviso exempts birds or animals 'which are lawfully hunted in areas of the city designated by resolution of the city council during such times as may be so designated,' tying the tormenting prohibition directly to § 9.12.080, the neighboring hunting section, which likewise bans hunting any bird or animal within city limits except in council-designated areas and seasons.

In practice, that means a resident cannot claim a hunting exemption for tormenting a protected bird unless the specific location and time fall within an active council resolution; outside those narrow windows, harassment of a protected species anywhere in Richland is a chargeable misdemeanor. The ordinance history traces both sections back to Ord. 99-76 and 4-85, carried forward through the Title 9 recodifications of Ord. 20-11, 22-13, 29-20, and most recently Ord. 2025-13. Richland Animal Control, operating through the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter contract, and the Richland Police Department share enforcement, since the offense covers wild birds and game animals rather than only domestic pets.